Hillsborough County's talented performers and iconic scenery bring awareness to area's robust dance industry through film
A unique collaboration forged by Dance Tampa Bay between local dancers, filmmakers, and musicians created two short films featured in the 2025 Gasparilla International Film Festival (GIFF). Both films, "Dance Rising: Tampa Iconic" and "Dance Rising: The Power of Water," were recently shown at University of Tampa's Charlene Gordon Theater on March 28.
Creating visibility, awareness, and advocacy for Hillsborough dance arts
The inspiration for the films partly originated from dancers and dance advocates in New York during the COVID-19 pandemic. In October of 2020, Dance Rising NYC, a collective of New York City dancers, performed "dance-outs" across town. Hundreds of dancers let loose in the city streets, performing and creating awareness of the art form, industry, and its enduring, dedicated community. In response to performance venues being shuttered due to the pandemic, art was created in the open, for free, public consumption.
Years later, Dance Tampa Bay ran and leaped with a similar idea. The nonprofit organization brought together local dancers, musicians, and filmmakers to create short films that highlighted Hillsborough County's rich dance scene.
Area musicians, Nick Ewing and Sean Bucheck, produced original scores for the films. Mad Bear Productions used video footage submitted by dancers to create short movies that showcase the area's talent.
The dancers' skill and the scenic backdrops they chose to perform in resulted in powerful visuals. Film locations from the two pieces include Tampa Theatre, Ballast Point Park, Ben T. Davis Beach, Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park, the USF Botanical Gardens, and Centennial Park in Ybor.
The films advocate for awareness and appreciation of Hillsborough County's dance industry and encourages others to get involved with local dance initiatives.
Heidi Marks, VP and Creative Director at Mad Bears Productions, directed the films with the hopes of creating stronger connections between artists and the wider community. For her, dance is a powerful form of communication. Presenting the art form through unconventional means -- such as a video compilation of dancers performing in locations of their choice -- was a way to help more people experience dance and its emotionality.
Arts Council of Hillsborough County
"Dance Rising: Tampa Iconic" was made possible by funding from the Arts Council of Hillsborough County through the Community Arts Impact Grant (CAIG) Program. This program strives to make arts and cultural opportunities more accessible for underserved populations across Hillsborough County. The grant supports programs with geographic, ethnic, and age diversity, as well as those that serve veterans and people with disabilities.
The Gasparilla International Film Festival was also sponsored by the Arts Council through a Special Event Partnership Grant. This grant is for events organized by nonprofits only and designed to strengthen and promote cultural assets through growing and supporting arts and cultural events. Grants fund events that encourage place-making and community-building outcomes aligned with Hillsborough County's economic and community prosperity goals.
To learn more and see first-hand the works of past Arts Council grant recipients, view the Art813 series on YouTube. For more information about grant funding, visit the Arts Council of Hillsborough County and sign up to receive the Arts Council monthly e-newsletter.