Narrated by Mura Dehn; artists of the Savoy Ballroom of Harlem Teddy Brown, Sugar Sullivan, Jack Asquiew, Leroy Appens, Milton 'Oaky' Hayse, Clarence 'Scoby' Strohman; dancers of the Palladium Ballroom, Tandaleo & Jackie, Dottie Adams, A. Vasquez, Teddy Brown, Cuban Pete and Millie Donni.
DVD.
Contents:
Flying home : Harlem style -- Bebop time -- P.S. 28 -- Chateau Gardens grand ball -- Mambo
Summary:
Mura Dehn was a Russian-born dancer, choreographer, and filmmaker. Her pioneering work in documenting the various styles of American black social dance is found in "The Spirit Moves," a rare and vital social document. This video archive of the evolution of black dance styles features dancers renowned for their exploits at the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem in the 40s and the Palladium Ballroom during the 1950s. The dances of the 40s chronicle the prewar optimism of black Americans, while the pessimism and disaffiliation of postwar be-bop styles illustrate its elimination. Essential for dance and music research, this film documents the vital contribution of African American dance to the Jazz scene, and thus, to America's cultural heritage.
