The Dancemaker

The Dancemaker is an enthralling, intimate, and deeply moving documentary from 1998 that offers viewers an inside look at the intense, challenging, and incredibly rewarding world of professional dance. Directed by Matthew Diamond, this film focuses on the renowned Paul Taylor Dance Company and offers insightful commentary on not just dance, but also human strength, passion, and creativity. The film skillfully uses key figures including then company dancers Andrew Asnes, Rachel Berman Benz, and Patrick Corbin to highlight the emotional and physical trials and glories of the dance world.

As the film opens, viewers are introduced to the company by way of an intensive and exhausting dance rehearsal in New York City. The film’s titular “dancemaker”, Paul Taylor, a pioneer of modern dance, is seen pushing his dancers, guiding them through a complex choreography. He challenges them to not only execute technically perfect dance, but also to emotionally inhabit the unique roles of each impressive dance piece. This visceral presentation of Taylor's demanding yet inspiring coaching style helps us understand how he has managed to contribute significantly to elevating modern dance on the global stage.

Andrew Asnes, Rachel Berman Benz, and Patrick Corbin, three company dancers at different stages of their careers, each bring a unique perspective to the film. Asnes, with his seasoned and judicious understanding of what it means to perform in such a rigorous and competitive environment, provides a grounded, mature view into the grueling nature of dance. On the other hand, Benz, luminous with youthful eagerness, represent the incandescent flame of aspirations and ambitions that each dancer carries within them. Corbin, caught between the struggle and the transcendence of a career in dance, provides a human and heart wrenchingly honest view into the glory and sadness of this demanding profession.

The tone of the film is consistently reverential not only towards Paul Taylor himself, but also towards the art of dance. Consistently throughout the film, we see and experience through the dancers' eyes the physical demands, the blood, sweat, and tears that underpin the grace, beauty, and effortless seamlessness seen on stage. Coupled with a superb selection of dance sequences, from contemporary tracks to classical standards, the movie successfully accomplishes showcasing the fact that dance is not just about movement, but about an expression of deeper human sentiments and thoughts.

One of the standout features of The Dancemaker is its unfaltering honesty. The film does not shy away from presenting the many harsh realities of the professional dance world. It delves into the emotional toll taken by constantly battling the looming swords of injury and age, the struggle felt by dancers in their pursuit of perfection, and the commercial pressures that can threaten the artistic integrity of dance. Hearing these realities from the dancers themselves lends an emotional authenticity to the film that is palpable.

There are also moments of pure joy and celebration within the film: the thrill of a perfectly executed performance, the exhilaration of audience applause, the achievement of creating a piece of art that transcends boundaries of time, place, and culture. There is also a strong undercurrent of camaraderie and family-like feeling among the members of the dance company, a bond that transcends the professional sphere and extends to shared meals, travels, and candid, light-hearted moments.

In its gut-wrenching honesty and moments of absolute jubilation and triumph, The Dancemaker manages to be a graceful homage to the world of dance. From showing every sinew-straining rehearsal to the triumphant culmination of these efforts on the performance stage, the film reaches far beyond mere documentary. It poses as a testament to the art of dance, shedding light on the determination, resilience, and passion required to translate abstract concepts into tangible, awe-inspiring dance. It’s a moving tribute not just to Paul Taylor and his work, but to all the dancers who inhabit his pieces and bring them to life through movement, grace, and unwavering dedication.