Bruce
Dance Film (1998)
35mm • 3 Minutes • B&W
A duet for camera + dancer that challenges expectations of grace and disability.
The film features dancer Bruce Jackson and the song “We Are….” by Dr. Ysaye Maria Barnwell. Performed by Sweet Honey in the Rock on Sacred Ground.
Bruce premiered at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival and was broadcast on PBS.
Selected screenings include: National Museum of Women in the Arts, Anthology Film Archives, The Place (London), Passages (Milan), Exploratorium (San Francisco),IDAT 00 (International Dance and Technology), Dance on Camera, El Infinito (Mexico), American Dance Festival, Toronto Worldwide Shorts, General Roca Festival (Argentina), Do Boy’s Dozens, Sisyphus Emerging (Limelight Nightclub), Aurora Picture Show, Cinéwomen, Projections (Toronto), Stony Brook Film Festival, Brooklyn Disability Film Festival, Alice’s 3 MInutes Film Festival, Dis This…Film Festival, CMJ Music Fest, Care Of (Italy).
Director/Cinematographer Ruth Sergel Editor Juliette Olavarria Production Design Paul Weathered Assistant Director: Kate Sergel Buncher Camera Assistant Tricia Clark 2nd Camera Assistant Peter Gabriel Gaffer Eric Neason Best Boy Alexi Williams Stills Pamela Griffiths Props Dominic Toto Sound Tim Mangin Catering Claudia Sidoti
Dancer Bruce Jackson
Photo by Pamela Griffiths
Lyrics for We Are… from Lessons by Y.M. Barnwell ©1993
For each child that’s born
a morning star rises
and sings to the universe
who we are.
We are our grandmothers’ prayers.
We are our grandfathers’ dreamings.
We are the breath of our ancestors.
We are the spirit of God.
We are
Mothers of courage
Fathers of time
Daughters of dust
Sons of great vision.
We are
Sisters of mercy
Brothers of love
Lovers of life and
the builders of nations.
We are
Seekers of truth
Keepers of faith
Makers of peace and
the wisdom of ages.
We are our grandmothers’ prayers.
We are our grandfathers’ dreamings.
We are the breath of our ancestors.
We are the spirit of God.
For each child that’s born
a morning star rises
and sings to the universe
who we are.
WE ARE ONE.
