Private Project

Dance With Me

Imagine putting on a blindfold on a busy street corner and inviting strangers to dance with you. That's what Gabriel Diamond did in Berkeley in 2018. Two years later he finally got the courage to revisit the footage and create this touching short documentary about the potential of strangers to meet in unique ways using the power of dance and trust.

  • Gabriel Diamond
    Director
    Less, Made In China, We Are In The Field, Street Workers Unite!, The Slum Dwellers, The Tyranny of Distance, Vulnerable Rally/Rise
  • Candice Holdorf
    Producer
    Vulnerable Rally/Rise, Generations
  • GABRIEL DIAMOND
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Mar al'Dao
    Cinematographer
    ONI la palicula, Vulnerable Rally / Rise,
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Genres:
    Site Specific Experimental Dance
  • Runtime:
    5 minutes 20 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 17, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    1,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    DSLR
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Gabriel Diamond

Gabriel is a filmmaker, dancer, artist and experimental activist.
By day he’s the staff video producer for the Skoll Foundation where he helps tell stories about people working to solve some of the world’s thorniest problems.
His interest in Blindfolded Contact dance emerged from a desire to find freedom from judgment, increase attunement, and connect to source.
He created the Vulnerable Rally (vulnerablerally.org) as a radical experiment in vulnerability, street theatre, shadow work, community building and social/political commentary. His work explores the intersection between high ideals (non attachment, altruism), fear (of shame, rejection, death, etc), art, sensuality and play.

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Director Statement

The idea for this did not start out as a film. It was just something I wanted to do. Or something I was terrified to do.

Eventually I mustered up the nerve and realised I should probably have the experience filmed. Since I'd be blindfolded, I would have no idea how I looked or who was with me, and if it got filmed, I'd be able to look at it later.
After it was over, I watched the footage briefly, and didn't look at the project again for 2 years.
Once sheltering in place started I found myself craving some sort of creative risk taking project, something that could bring people together. But it wasn't possible. So I sent the footage to an editor. Seeing the piece now fills me sadness that this kind of interaction is no longer possible in our COVID world. It leaves me feeling the loss of what we had. I miss people.