“an arresting chronicle”
—Rendez-vous with French Cinema Festival
The Dancer (2016)
Film
French feature film “The Dancer” (La Danseuse, Dir. Stephanie Di Giusto 2016) is a visually sumptuous drama set amidst the opulence of Belle Époque Paris that charts the saga of modern dance icon and dance technologist Loïe Fuller. Time Lapse Dance Artistic Director Jody Sperling, who is the world’s leading expert on Fuller’s dance style, was choreographer, creative consultant, and coach for the film. Sperling worked intensively with the film’s star, Soko, training her 5-6 hours per day for a period of 5 weeks helping her embody the role of “La Loie.”
The film garnered 6 César Award nominations, including a win for Best Costume Design. Sperling earned a 2017 World Choreography Award nomination for her work on the film.
“The Dancer” premiered at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival in the “Un Certain Regard” category and made its NYC debut at Lincoln Center Film Society’s Rendez-Vous with French Cinema Festival in March 2017.
DIRECTOR: Stephanie Di Guisto
CHOREOGRAPHER & CREATIVE CONSULTANT: Jody Sperling
DANCER (“LA LOIE”): Soko
COSTUME DESIGN: Anaïs Romand
DANCE SEQUENCE FROM FILM LA DANSEURE
“It is a sumptuous, respectful tribute to a female pioneer, a master of abstract eroticism.”
—Deirdre Towers, The Dance Enthusiast
TRAILER FOR THE DANCER / LA DANSEUSE
Press
Impressions of: The Film “The Dancer”
— Deirdre Towers, The Dance Enthusiast
“Coaches et danseurs . . . “
—Le Figaro, 2016 (French)
“3 Questions for Jody Sperling, Choreographer of La Danseuse“
— Nicolas Villodre, Mouvement Magazine Culturel Indisciplinare (French)