Sheila
an experimental short bio doc starring Sheila Rohan, one of the founding dancers of Dance Theatre of Harlem—
associate producer
Laurels from Pure Magic International Film Festival, New York Movie Awards, ScreenDance Miami Festival, Experimental Dance & Music Film Festival, Lonely Wolf International Film Festival London, Harlem International Film Festival, and Cinedans Festival.
A dancer blows out a candle and finds herself in a magical world of memory , dance and presence.
Sheila is an experimental short bio documentary created by Gabri Christa and starring Sheila Rohan, one of the founding dancers of Dance Theatre of Harlem. More Information︎︎︎
“This is fantastic. A dream like journey through time and one's previous selves. Beautifully imagined, shot, edited and strongly directed.” — Lisa Cortes, Filmmaker/ Producer And Director
“The camera lingers on her but does not fetishize; it does not call out otherness but instead builds a lexicon of iconic imagery. She is a woman, of color, a dancer, someone with a history and a story. The other women that come and go in the film support some kind of ancestry, or community legacy, and the small projections on her body tattoo history onto her flesh in a way that is deeply poetic.” — Douglas Rosenberg, PhD. Award Winning Filmmaker, Author, and Editor
Sheila Rohan is one of the founding members of Dance Theater of Harlem (DTH), under the direction of Arthur Mitchell, former Premier Danseur with the New York City Ballet, and Associate Director Karel Shook. She toured extensively in the United States, Caribbean and Europe, performing as soloist in several works – Geoffrey Holder’s “Dougla,” Arthur Mitchell’s “Biofera,” “Tones,” and “Rhythmetron.” Sheila has performed with dance companies both contemporary and ballet. She toured China and South Korea with the Myung Sook Chun Dance Company, a modern dance troupe. She danced the role of Rosa Parks in Gordon Parks’ film for television “Martin…the ballet,” and performed in a production of “Porgy and Bess,” choreographed by Carmen De Lavallade at the Metropolitan Opera House. She performed with the Louis Johnson Ensemble, Fred Benjamin Dance Company, Rod Rodgers Dance Company, Walter Nicks Dance Company, Clive Thompson Dance. Sheila co-founded and is a performer with 5 Plus Ensemble, a theater group for dancers over 50. She is also one of the founders of The 152nd Street Black Ballet Legacy, whose mission is to collectively preserve, educate, and give voice to the essence of Black Ballet.
Sheila is an experimental short bio documentary created by Gabri Christa and starring Sheila Rohan, one of the founding dancers of Dance Theatre of Harlem. More Information︎︎︎
Praise for Sheila
“This is fantastic. A dream like journey through time and one's previous selves. Beautifully imagined, shot, edited and strongly directed.” — Lisa Cortes, Filmmaker/ Producer And Director
“The camera lingers on her but does not fetishize; it does not call out otherness but instead builds a lexicon of iconic imagery. She is a woman, of color, a dancer, someone with a history and a story. The other women that come and go in the film support some kind of ancestry, or community legacy, and the small projections on her body tattoo history onto her flesh in a way that is deeply poetic.” — Douglas Rosenberg, PhD. Award Winning Filmmaker, Author, and Editor
About Sheila Rohan
Sheila Rohan is one of the founding members of Dance Theater of Harlem (DTH), under the direction of Arthur Mitchell, former Premier Danseur with the New York City Ballet, and Associate Director Karel Shook. She toured extensively in the United States, Caribbean and Europe, performing as soloist in several works – Geoffrey Holder’s “Dougla,” Arthur Mitchell’s “Biofera,” “Tones,” and “Rhythmetron.” Sheila has performed with dance companies both contemporary and ballet. She toured China and South Korea with the Myung Sook Chun Dance Company, a modern dance troupe. She danced the role of Rosa Parks in Gordon Parks’ film for television “Martin…the ballet,” and performed in a production of “Porgy and Bess,” choreographed by Carmen De Lavallade at the Metropolitan Opera House. She performed with the Louis Johnson Ensemble, Fred Benjamin Dance Company, Rod Rodgers Dance Company, Walter Nicks Dance Company, Clive Thompson Dance. Sheila co-founded and is a performer with 5 Plus Ensemble, a theater group for dancers over 50. She is also one of the founders of The 152nd Street Black Ballet Legacy, whose mission is to collectively preserve, educate, and give voice to the essence of Black Ballet.
Credits
Sheila: Sheila Rohan
Additional Dancers: Sajda Musawwir Ladner, Makeda Thomas, Nyah Love Thomas, Idea Reid, Malasia Bell, Niyah Bell
Writer, Director, and Producer: Gabri Christa
Cinematographer: Guy de Lancey
Editor: Abby Lee
Camera: Gabri Christa and Manuel Molina Martagon
Associate Producer: Allison Costa
Set Assistant Producer: Nkima Stephenson
Composer: Mazz Swift
Sound Design: Eve Cuyen
Additional Dancers: Sajda Musawwir Ladner, Makeda Thomas, Nyah Love Thomas, Idea Reid, Malasia Bell, Niyah Bell
Writer, Director, and Producer: Gabri Christa
Cinematographer: Guy de Lancey
Editor: Abby Lee
Camera: Gabri Christa and Manuel Molina Martagon
Associate Producer: Allison Costa
Set Assistant Producer: Nkima Stephenson
Composer: Mazz Swift
Sound Design: Eve Cuyen