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Crossing the Bar

A film by Tim BrunsdenFeaturing Men! Dancing!

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A group of 8 men dancing together on a beach
A birds eye shot underneath 8 men stood in a circle with their hands coming together
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Duration: 7 minutes

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A group of 8 men stand with their feet in the edge of the tide at the beach
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Duration: 9 minutes

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Against the background of a cityscape and sea wall, Men! Dancing! gather on a deserted beach.

This film considers what it is to be human, exploring life’s beginning, with the creation and formation of cells, organs and consciousness, to the inevitability of our own mortality.

Inspired by Tennyson’s poem of the same title, the dancers swarm together in unity at the point of existence and finality.

Part of Elixir on Digital Stage 2024

Credits

Choreography by Jennifer Hale and Men! Dancing!
Music written by Rani Arbo
Sung by The Spooky Men’s Chorale
Musical arrangement by Stephen Taberner with thanks to Craig Morgan Robson
Poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Directed and edited by Tim Brunsden
Filmed by Peter Carr and Tim Brunsden

Audio description by Amanda Bright

Men! Dancing! are

Mark Allerton
Chris Ball
Tim Brunsden
Peter Gommon
Trevor Hood
Glen Jones
Robert Marten
Nigel Robinson
Paul Whelan

Filmed in New Brighton, Merseyside November, 2023