About this project
I first met the Nrityagram Dance Ensemble when I was assigned by the New York Times to photograph their debut performance In New York in 1996. I was so enchanted by the dancers, and the concept of Nrityagram (www.nrityagram.org) - a village devoted to dance - that I jumped at the late Protima Bedi’s invitation to visit the school in India. Surrounded by beauty at every turn, I was inspired to make a documentary film about the Nrityagram Dance Village and Ensemble. Over the last 14 years I have become a great friend of Nrityagram, photographing many of their New York performances, and putting up dancers on my sofa when hotels overflowed! I've traveled to India three times at my own expense to film life in the dance village, and research archival materials.
My mission is twofold: to capture for posterity the story of the dance village, the dancers, and how they promote and develop the classical Indian Odissi dance form – and to promote awareness of Nrityagram, and assist with fundraising for the school. Dance institutions in India are still very reliant on individuals for financial support, and it is a constant struggle for Lynne Fernandez, Executive Director, to find the funds to maintain the school and to enable the Ensemble to perform abroad. When the Dance Films Association invited me to participate in the 2010 Dance on Camera Festival, I rushed to create a short documentary. "Nrityagram: For the Love of Dance" was very well received when it opened the festival in New York City on January 25th. This positive reception – and the hours of unused footage I have of the exquisite Nrityagram dancers - have strengthened my resolve to produce a feature-length documentary. I am passionate about this project and have invested over $10,000 of my own money to date – but without further monetary support I will be unable to complete the planned 50-60 minute film plus 10 minute 'extra' featuring major sponsors. In his review of the short documentary, Alastair Macaulay of the New York Times says "I wanted the film to be twice as long." It is my hope that with your help, this will happen!
Learn more about the Nrityagram Documentary Project at www.nanmelville.com/nrityagram.
Rewards
Learn more about the Nrityagram Documentary Project at www.nanmelville.com/nrityagram.
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Funding Unsuccessful
This project reached the deadline without achieving its funding goal on May 6, 2010.
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Exclusive "Nrityagram: For the Love of Dance" wallpaper. All standard sizes available.
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Receive one 8 x 10 print of a Nan Melville photograph - Nrityagram dancers.
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Receive a set of two 8 x 10 Nan Melville Nrityagram dancer prints.
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Receive a set of three 8 x 10 Nan Melville Nrityagram dancer prints.
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In addition to a set of three 8 x 10 Nan Melville Nrityagram dancer prints, you'll get a patron credit on the documentary website, with a link to a site of your choice.
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Receive a 12 x 18 Nan Melville Nrityagram dancer print, signed by Nan. You'll also get a patron credit on the documentary website, with a link to a site of your choice - and your name listed in the film credits.
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Receive a 16 x 20 wrapped canvas of a Nan Melville Nrityagram dancer print, signed by Nan. You'll also get a patron credit with your logo and/or message in the film itself, on DVD materials, and on the documentary website. Plus... an option to appear in the final 10 minute Patrons Extra.
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Receive two 24 x 36 signed wrapped canvases of Nan Melville prints - of your choice. You'll also get a patron credit with your logo and/or message in the film itself, on DVD materials, and on the documentary website. Plus... an option to appear in the final 10 minute Patrons Extra.
Project By
Connected as Nan Melville
Nan Melville is an accomplished photographer and videographer. She has been based in New York City, USA since she left South Africa in 1986. There are very few internationally known dance photographers, but Nan is one of them.
She has been assigned to photograph international figures and performers, and often travels abroad on photo assignments. Her photographs are syndicated world-wide and have appeared in many overseas publications – both magazines and newspapers.
As more of her clients began requesting video work, Nan expanded her expertise into videography. She is much in demand to film performances as she has the unique ability to capture an event in both still and video simultaneously.
Her video experience led to an interest in documentary film making. She has produced a documentary on the Saeko Ichinohe Dance Company, and is now working on the Nrityagram documentary.
