Dancing Stands for Life

Documentaries are tricky. You either come out of the theater feeling over-whelmed by some subject you knew nothing about, or you come out bored. Most of the time, you probably just catch one on PBS while channel-surfing on a lazy afternoon.

Dancemaker, however, is different. An Oscar-nominated film about dance legend Paul Taylor, known by some as "the world's greatest choreographer," is not something you want to miss. Directed by Matthew Diamond, it presents many aspects of the modern dance world that Taylor helped shape. Diamond, who was himself a dancer and choreographer, is very successful in capturing poignant moments that will captivate any type of audience. From behind-the-scenes looks at his ballets revealing the creative process which went into them to interviews with company members that expose an ultra-competitive artistic world, Diamond paints an vibrant picture of Taylor's life-long passion.

Scenes such as those from a majestic company tour of India and of an opening night performance in New York make the dancers' excitement and energy almost palpable. Fantastic productions and crisis situations seem to be all in a day's work. The film even tracks a tango-inspired ballet, "Piazzolla Caldera," from initial inspiration to final fruition. Director of photography Tom Hurwitz does a superb job of transporting the audience from intensive rehearsals to exhilarating shows.

Taylor's endurance is reflected not only in his company member's loyalty, but in his own words, "just go into the rehearsal studio and try to create something that I won't mind seeing over and over again," say Taylor. Watching a true genius at work can make one jealous of the company members that are lucky to work with him day in and day out.

However, neither Diamond nor executive-producer Walter Scheuer (Oscar-winning From Mao to Mozart: Isaac Stern in China) paints a one-sided picture. After Taylor fires a company member simply because he "just didn't want to work with her anymore," one questions whether jealousy is an appropriate emotion. With honor and splendor come fatigue and exhaustion, and Diamond tells no lies. Both the professional pressure of being a modern dancer and the realities of continued physical exertion often climax to create an emotional and physical strain that is often unbearable for both dancer and choreographer.

Though Taylor's views on life (rooted in a disillusioned foster childhood) are questionable, 43 years of extraordinary contributions to the modern dance world have made Taylor an incredible symbol of hard work and talent. Even if you're not savvy on the topic of modern dance and its rightful place in the world, rare footage of Taylor performing his own work makes this film worth seeing.

So, forget your anxieties about watching another documentary, and prepare to be inspired. "It stands for life, dancing."