Keyword Dance Documentary

"Dance or Die" is a moving documentary about a young Syrian dancer who escapes the war and finds a new life in Holland. But the ghosts of the past won't let him go. With the war and the advance of the Islamic State in Syria, the young classical dancer Ahmad Joudeh lost everything – part of his family, his home, but also the right to practice his art. However, he will use dance as a weapon against Daesh. Three words adorn the neck of Ahmad Joudeh: Dance or Die. The tattoo is a declaration of war against IS if it takes him over. (Text: arte)

Discover Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo (The Trocks), an all-male company that for 45 years has offered audiences their passion for ballet classics mixed with exuberant comedy. With every step they poke fun at their strictly gendered art form.

Alonzo King, winner of the San Francisco Foundation 2007 Community Leadership Awards (the Helen Crocker Russell Award). Alonzo redefined classical ballet and builds community through his commitment to dance. His racially diverse company transformed the dance scene and our collective perception of dance by combining cultural traditions with classical ballet. His striking and creative performances exhilarate audiences around the world.

Anna Halprin, choreographer, for pioneering the post-modern dance movement. For more than 60 years, you have been a seminal force in dance and music and have developed and performed dances that teach, inspire, heal, and transform. Your creativity and experimentation break the walls between art and life, creating opportunities for generations of artists. In the spirit of the Helen Crocker Russell Award, made to an under-recognized, mature artist who has made a significant and ongoing contribution in the Bay Area.