Tribeca 2023 Review: Then Comes the Body Is a Beautiful Short Film About the Art of Dance

One thing I like about shorts is their variety, especially when I see them as part of a festival. Then Comes the Body fits that bill perfectly, blending what many have come to expect from a documentary short (talking heads, background on the subject, etc.) with interspersals of students of Leap of Dance Academy, located outside Lagos, Nigeria, dancing. Perhaps for the viewer or maybe to express themselves. Who knows, but it makes for a compelling experience.

For those unfamiliar with the story, the short covers The Leap of Dance Academy, a non-profit organization operating as a dance school located in the area of Ojo in Lagos Badagry, Nigeria, founded in 2017 by Daniel Owoseni Ajala with interviews from Ajala, Olamide Lawale, and Precious Duru, among others.

First things first, I want to call out how great the interviews flow. There is nothing artificial sounding to them, little to no interjections from director and producer Jacob Krupnick, and they serve their intended purpose: telling the story of The Leap of Dance Academy and a few of its students for those who may be unfamiliar. It also produces some profound quotes such as "This is a diamond in a place you have already probably forgotten." and the quote the short got its name from, "Because first comes the heart, then comes the body."

As if these nuggets of truth weren't enough, cinematographer Soren Nielsen showcases the beauty of dance through stunning wide shots and overhead shots and is overall observant and utilizes the camera to document the ballet dancers. My favorite shot is in the gallery below, showcasing a ballet dancer reflected in a puddle of water. It's a simple shot, but it takes my breath away whenever I see the photo.

I also appreciated the score from Martin Velez. Comprised of instruments native to the area, such as the Mbira, Timbrh, Janzi, and Calabash, among many others, Velez's compositions root themselves into the narrative of the short and gives the viewer a sense of the musical landscape that surrounds the dancers at The Leap of Dance Academy.

This blending of conventional and unconventional is nothing short of art in its purest form. I'm not the biggest fan of ballet dancing (mainly because I was rarely exposed to this form of dance), but through the dancers' passion, Then Comes the Body may make a fan of me yet. Especially if it's as beautiful as Krupnick, Velez, and Nielsen make it out to be.

★★★★★

Then Comes the Body had its world premiere at the 2023 Tribeca Festival.

Until next time!

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