Dance of the Isle

Isle recalls her traumatic past by reconnecting with dance after many years. During her youth, she experienced extreme burnout, physical trauma, and stress because of dance. Young Isle had to give it up, hoping one day she would be able to love it again.

  • Autumn Nicole Martin
    Director
  • Autumn Nicole Martin
    Writer
  • Summer Alexis Martin
    Key Cast
    "Isle"
  • Piper Blair Harvin
    Key Cast
    "Young Isle"
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Drama, Contemporary
  • Runtime:
    6 minutes 33 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 18, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    130 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - University of Central Arkansas
Director Biography - Autumn Nicole Martin

Autumn is a Filmmaker from Fort Smith, Arkansas who specializes in Editing and Cinematography. She is currently working towards her Bachelors Degree in Film and Electronic Media at the University of Central Arkansas (2024).

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

As a retired dancer myself, I felt the need to express my own experience of the stress and pain that dance can be. But it is also something that I loved so much. I experienced burnout many times during my days of dance. From ages 3 to 19, similarly to Isle, I dedicated myself to being the best I could be. But dance was also an escape. It was something I could express myself with. So together, the expression we see with Isle in her routine alongside Young Isle experiencing the hardships, makes the film so personal to me.

“Dance of the Isle” is not just a film about a little dancer who doesn’t want to dance anymore. It is a film about what happens when you push yourself so far off the edge that sometimes, all you can do is stop, breathe, and maybe one day, you’ll learn to love again.