We return to sharing film with a unique short that offers an intimate portrait of Toke Broni Strandby, a Danish dance artist, based in London. It also presents a many-layered empathetic vision of those behind its making, there is a visual poetry throughout – the musical composition by Paulo Gallo, the choice of location, angles and unusual perspectives, the remarkable editing as well as an intensity that is constantly bubbling beneath the surface. The choreography of Stuart Shugg has an honest intimacy that reflects both passion and turmoil while Kazuya Kojima’s costume designs bring a surreal and almost dystopian feel to the film, accentuating that feeling of alienation as Toke performs in a deserted urban London.
While you are watching a remarkable performance, it is much more. There are some very real and intense personal moments, accentuated by the creative visuals and Toke’s words as he talks of exploring what dance is alongside identity, contemporary alienation, and acceptance.
“I’ve never been categorised as a person with a disability before I started dancing. From the outside perspective, people would put me in the disabled box because I don’t have my left arm, but I don’t feel that I’m a disabled dancer. The greatest fear is to not be accepted by what you do.”
It is a celebration of the beautiful resilience of the human spirit and a remarkable short film.