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The Dolphin Dance Project
See our debut film NOW
and on the BIG SCREEN
“When you approach dolphins with dance, they recognize
it as intelligence.”
Wild dolphins and talented human dancers collaborate as equals to create underwater dances expressing their mutual understanding. The films of the Dolphin Dance Project offer audiences a visceral experience of forging meaningful communicative relationships with individuals of another species whose creativity and intelligence rivals our own. Our goal is to inspire respect for and protection of dolphins and their habitats and to awaken a renewed sense of responsibility towards them and all the wild creatures with whom we share the planet.
Features Chisa Hidaka (speaker and dancer), Erzsi Palko (dancer) and wild Atlantic Spotted Dolphins and Pacific Spinner Dolphins. Underwater videography by Bryce Groark, Brett LeMaster, Loui Terrier, Benjamin Harley and Chisa Hidaka. Produced and edited by Benjamin Harley.
Awards
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Finalist, Ocean Inspiration celebrating Jacques Cousteau -
Dance Films Association Finishing Fund Award
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2011 NYSCA Composer Commission for film score
finalist
Visit our Press page
for a complete Media Kit.
June 8, 2012 at 6.30 pm
We are thrilled to announce that our debut film, ‘Together: Dancing with Spinner Dolphins,’ won ‘Best Experimental Film’ at its world premiere at the Big Apple Film Festival. To download the film, get a DVD, see it at a film festival or even send it as a gift, please visit our Together page.
In preparation is a more extensive feature-length dance film and documentary about the extraordinary interactions when several human dancers meet a pod of wild dolphins. ‘Reunion: Sharing the Dance’ will not only feature human-dolphin dancing but the commentary of dolphin scientists, bio-ethicists, and the dancers themselves to explain the significance of this unique collaboration. To support this future work, please visit our Donate page.
We are confident that our beautiful footage of the creativity, intelligence, and spirit of wild dolphins who voluntarily engage with humans will be an important contribution to the conservation and well-being of all dolphins. We only work with wild dolphins on their terms, in the open ocean, never feeding or coercing them in any way. We do not disclose our film locations, so as not to increase tourism pressure on the dolphins. For more information about man-made threats to dolphins, please see our Protect page .
Please use this site to learn more about the progress of the Dolphin Dance Project and about how you can help to protect wild dolphins. Please join the mailing list or subscribe to our blog to be alerted when we post new videos, photos or stories about the human-dolphin dance and subscribe to our blog.
Interview with Chisa Hidaka, Founder of the Dolphin Dance Project and Director of “Together: Dancing with Spinner Dolphins”
Video of the interview and sample clip of contact improvisation filmed by Sanford Lewis and provided courtesy of his 'Contact Improvisation: An Intimate Dance' production
Watch ‘Up and Coming’
Featuring Chisa Hidaka, Benjamin Harley, and a young (as yet unnamed) Atlantic Spotted Dolphin; Cinematography by Howard Hall
Learn more about this clip in our blog post: Up and Coming
for more video clips and photos, please visit our Gallery
... the first clip from our next work ...
(play in fullscreen, high definition, for best experience)
... then watch the Trailer for ‘Together’, our first film and get a copy ...
design: ben harley
©2010 Dolphin Dance Project
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