What to do in LA – DCW dance film festival

Dance Camera West (DCW) recently announced that you can choose to pay what you can for screenings at the DCW2025 dance film festival.

This decision allows equal access to the arts for everyone, to some of the best dance films from international and local filmmakers from recognizable names like Wim Wenders and subjects such as modern dance pioneer Pina Bausch.

Despite the cancellation of the Roussève retrospective, the festival will take place starting January 29. Find out about other changes and select highlights at this year’s festival below.

In its 25th year, the festival showcases over 50 films from 20 countries, representing the pinnacle of creativity, and of dance on film. Each work in the festival marks an international, American or Los Angeles premiere.

Participants will see works of art in the form of shorts and docs from around the world and connect with other artists in unique settings such as workshops and creative labs. DCW2025 runs from January 29 – February 2, 2025.

DCW festival highlights 

Opening night (January 29, 7:00 pm, Barnsdall Gallery Theater in East Hollywood) offers a series of short films with representation from seven countries, as well as Dance Map, a one-hour world premiere feature documentary inspired by La Ville Dansée and narrated by Benjamin Millepied.

Dance Map traces the impact of dance on Paris as it follows four residents as they go about their daily lives, which involves interacting with La Ville Dansée along the way. This part of the program is sponsored by the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, directed by Fabien Truong, and co-produced by L.A. Dance Project and Paris Dance Project

Some highlights include DCW’s signature VISIBILITY program, LA POPS UP, curated by Hysterica’s Kitty McNamee (Thursday), celebrating L.A.’s unique industry choreographers, Dance as a Cultural Language (Friday) and a reprise screening of auteur Wim Wenders’ (2011) iconic dance film PINA in 3D! (Saturday, Feb. 1, 7:00 p.m., Philosophical Research Society, 3910 Los Feliz Blvd, 90027) featuring dancer-choreographer Pina Bausch. Documentaries will be shown in the afternoon (1:00 p.m.) on Sunday.

Pay-what-you-can screening tickets

Several measures have been introduced to assist those who are under financial strain including a pay-what-you-can ticket option to present a more accessible festival.

Co-Creation Lab

The five-day Co-Creation Lab is now pay-what you can and will be structured to support full film creation and/or skills acquisition via daily drop-in attendance. Sessions are open to filmmakers, performers, and dance enthusiasts: https://www.dancecamerawest.org/dcw-2025-co-creation-lab. Core Magazines recommends that you register to secure a spot.

Get a refund or donate to the arts

The DCW dance film festival was forced to postpone David Roussève retrospective. Funds already received will be donated to the LA Dance Emergency Relief & Recovery Fund through the Dance Resource Center. Donations can also be made to DCWs VISIBILITY program to assist underrepresented dance filmmakers or get a refunded upon request.

Situation in LA

The situation in the Los Angeles area is continually being monitored to ensure the safety and well-being of participants. If you’re planning to travel into LA, you are encouraged to carefully assess the current conditions and consider plans.

by Cherryl Bird – Toronto, Ontario, Canada
@ladycbird | Instagram @cherrylbird


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