FIVE DANCES (2013)

Gay writer/director Alan Brown’s 2013 romantic drama FIVE DANCES.

Today’s post was written by author/critic Gary Kramer (@garyemkramer on Instagram) - Be sure to follow his Instagram account for fantastic reviews, as well as information on new queer film releases!

FIVE DANCES

2013. USA.

 Director: Alan Brown

Screenplay: Alan Brown

 Starring: Ryan Steele, Reed Luplau, Catherine Miller, Kimiye Corwin & Luke Murphy

The exceptional FIVE DANCES, set in the modern dance world, is a hypnotic drama that showcases four performers and a choreographer working on a routine for an upcoming show. The story, which alternates between narrative and performance, benefits from its “action” being movement and from the actor/dancers’ assured body language.

Filmed largely in a Soho studio, FIVE DANCES has Chip (Steele), an 18 year-old from Kansas, living his dream of dancing in a company. His mother wants him to return home, but he prefers to stay in New York—even though he is, it is revealed, experiencing homelessness. A fellow performer, Katie (Catherine Miller) offers to take care of Chip, while Theo (Luplau), another member of the company initiates a sexual relationship with him.

Writer/director Alan Brown makes these dramatic interactions involving by shooting FIVE DANCES in an almost documentary style. Yet it is the various dance sequences that break up the narrative that truly form the story. Chip and Theo’s relationship is best depicted without words, in a highly erotic nude pas de deux. And give FIVE DANCES extra credit for not making the gay male dancers stereotypes. Steele gives a remarkable performance as Chip but the entire film is impressive.

FIVE DANCES is available on DVD, streaming on Tubi (Canada/USA), Kanopy (USA), OUTtv (UK) and also available for rent/purchase through AppleTV