Seriously Moving Images

Here’s another mash-up of “Pro-Rec” (Provincial Recreation) footage from Vancouver — this time, from their annual public displays. The footage featured here is drawn from demonstrations at Stanley Park (ca. 4 May 1945) and at Maple Grove Park on West 51st Avenue in Kerrisdale (ca. 24 June 1951).

Besides the massed calisthenic exercises that punctuate the program, the women and girls perform in a bewildering array of costumed specialty dances. There’s a notable section of “nautch dancing,” based on a popular court dances performed by young women in Mughal and colonial India. Another early section has the dancers in garish yellow and black dresses and bonnets. (Are they meant to be BEES?)

There’s also a segment devoted to ethnic or folk dancing, although where the “folks” hail from isn’t really clear. (I’m thinking maybe Greece, or some Slavic and Russian culture?) In some novelty dances, the girls are costumed as circus animals; in these eye-catching (and damn near surreal) sections, they are dressed as zebras and as elephants (accompanied by their tamers). Later on, they appear briefly as human circus performers from the centre ring, led by a top-hatted “ringmistress” in dazzling red.

Another big section is devoted to square dancing by a large group, with the girls dressed in rustic male and female attire. This footage went on rather long, so I employed some rather clunky editing tricks and special effects. See, it shows “square dancing” — so I broke the image up into dancing squares. (Because I could, I suppose.)

One especially pleasing section has dozens of the women dancing in a circle, hand-in-hand; as they swing by the camera, some of them break away and perform charming duet dances — which seem familiar, but whose name escapes me. And look at those high kicks!

I also like the “chariot team” dance, where three silver-maned “horses” are being driven (with red-ribbon “reins”) by helmeted “charioteers.” Watch out for that Messala, Mr. Ben-Hur!

It’s worth noting that just four days after the “Stanley Park” footage was shot, Vancouver celebrated V-E Day.

In this new incarnation, the mash-up has been rejuvenated with original music by my colleague DAVID MATTISON. David’s tracks — especially “Thrill Seekers Anthem” and “Arcade Jungle Beat” — reflect the feeling that the women are really having fun, dancing and working up a sweat. And the brief “Electron Ghosts in the Machine,” heard under the final credits, provides a strong finish; the music (and the dancing) continue after the picture fades out. Just like life.