On Monday, July 8, at 8:30 p.m., Kinodvor in Ljubljana will host a screening of the documentary film "Aerowaves at 25," directed by Enya Belak.
The documentary explores the history of the pioneering dance network Aerowaves, highlighting its unique contribution to the evolution of contemporary dance across Europe. It includes archival festival footage, in-depth interviews with the founders and artists, and beautifully filmed dance performances created specifically for the film.
Director’s Statement
In 1996, John Ashford created Aerowaves, ushering in one of the most innovative dance networks in Europe. In many ways, this documentary is an homage to him and his legacy. For myself and others within the dance community, Aerowaves represents daring to explore the unknown.
I started following Aerowaves many years ago as a young choreographer. I later joined the organisation as a filmmaker and developed various projects within the network. We were pioneering and established new formats in performing arts with our live-streaming programmes, online festivals, digital performances and, excitingly, dance performances in VR.
Aerowaves continues to transform; it appointed new Co-Directors in 2022 to steer the organisation in a potentially new direction. At the celebratory age of 25, I felt the urge to tell the visionary story of Aerowaves. The journey of making the film took me to various places, including Greece, the United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Luxembourg, Croatia, and Italy, where I met so many inspiring people. We shared laughter, tears, nostalgia, and questions like: what happens next?
By making this film, I ultimately want to give young makers a spark of hope, to show them that there's always a way to keep moving forward. Following John’s death in 2023, I am reminded of the words of our colleague Sanjoy Roy, who wrote that while history is typically remembered by its headline makers, John worked at the other end: at the entry point. He saw value not only in the few who achieved public recognition, but in the sea of others who did not. “I stand by them too,” he once said. “Every ripple changes the beach.”
You can find more information about the film HERE.