Senior Capstone Project | Presented at ACDA New England 2023 & Hampshire College Dance Hall
A multidisciplinary dance film that fuses movement, music, and visual rhythm into a high-energy performance. I directed, choreographed, and managed all aspects of production—from cinematography and lighting to editing and sound design—creating a cohesive piece that blends physical expression with dynamic storytelling.
Rhythm & Beats is a three-part interdisciplinary dance film that explores the deeply personal relationships two dancers have with movement, identity, and storytelling. Developed as my senior capstone project, the film is structured as a cinematic triptych—each segment focused on an individual dancer, Kylee Miller and Samara Wilson—allowing their distinct movement styles, emotional narratives, and personal histories to shape the choreography and overall tone of the work.
Rather than simply document dance on film, Rhythm & Beats intentionally merges choreography with cinematography, sound design, and lighting to craft a multidimensional experience. Each section of the film serves as a chapter in the dancer’s journey, exploring themes of resilience, vulnerability, transformation, and rhythm as a personal language. Through expressive camera work, ambient soundscapes, and carefully timed edits, the piece blurs the line between performance and portraiture—placing the viewer inside each dancer’s world.
The creative process was highly collaborative, yet artist driven. As the director and choreographer, I worked closely with the dancers to translate their stories into movement vocabulary that was both authentic and stylistically distinct. I also served as cinematographer, lighting designer, and co-editor, bringing visual cohesion to the project by guiding the emotional arc of each frame—from lighting choices to editing rhythms. Every decision—from camera angle to audio cue—was made to emphasize the embodied storytelling and to amplify the emotional resonance of the performers.
Rhythm & Beats was screened in its entirety at the Hampshire College Dance Hall and selected segments were featured at the American College Dance Association (ACDA) New England Conference in 2023. The work received positive feedback for its emotional clarity, artistic direction, and integrated technical design.
My Roles:
Director – Led the creative vision, narrative structure, and pacing of the entire film.
Choreographer – Designed original choreography specific to each dancer’s story and movement language.
Cinematographer – Shot and framed each performance in collaboration with Tyler Solis, capturing spatial dynamics and emotional nuance.
Lighting Designer – Developed mood-driven lighting with Ezekiel Baskin and Anya Krouse to deepen the visual storytelling.
Editor & Sound Designer – Co-edited the film with Tyler Solis using Adobe Premiere Pro and Audition, layering music and ambient textures to align rhythm and emotion.
Credits:
Dancers: Kylee Miller, Samara Wilson
Edited by: Tyler Solis, Debbie Ampong
Cinematography: Tyler Solis, Debbie Ampong
Lighting Design: Ezekiel Baskin, Debbie Ampong, Anya Krouse
Produced by: Hampshire College Dance
Technical Director: Hayden Gadd
Tools Used: Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, Adobe Audition, DSLR cameras, professional lighting rigs
Rhythm & Beats is ultimately a celebration of identity through movement. It reflects my commitment to storytelling that crosses disciplines—bridging dance, film, and design—to create work that feels personal, immersive, and visually resonant.
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