Dance Films Association

Dance Films Association (DFA) is a nonprofit organization devoted to the development and promotion of dance film as an art form. Founded in 1956 by Susan Braun, the association emerged with the support of influential figures in dance, including José Limón, Ted Shawn, and Alicia Markova, who were among its charter members. Its stated purpose is to further the art of dance film, positioning the organization at the intersection of choreography, performance, cinema, and arts presentation. Rather than operating as a conventional commercial brand, DFA functions as a cultural and presenting organization. Its activities have centered on exhibiting dance-related films, supporting public access to the form, facilitating connections between filmmakers and audiences, and helping dance films circulate beyond their original production or screening locations. The association's work reflects the distinctive needs of dance on screen: movement must be translated through framing, editing, camera position, sound, and cinematic structure rather than presented solely in a theater or live-performance setting. A major part of DFA's public identity is its annual film festival. The organization has presented a festival every year since 1971, making the event a long-running platform for dance films and a recurring point of contact for artists, programmers, critics, and audiences. Since 1996, the festival has been co-sponsored by the Film Society of Lincoln Center, linking DFA's specialist focus with one of New York's most prominent film-presentation institutions. DFA has also arranged touring programs of dance films. These programs have reached venues in the United States and abroad; in 2010, more than forty venues were booked, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and locations in Bialystok, Havana, Manipur, and Istanbul. This geographic range illustrates the association's role in expanding access to dance cinema across different cultural and institutional settings. The available reference material does not establish a current executive roster, a permanent headquarters, a standalone commercial website, or a corporate parent. DFA is best understood as an independent cultural nonprofit whose principal offerings are festivals, touring exhibitions, and other forms of advocacy and presentation for dance on film. Its historical significance rests on the longevity of its programming and on its contribution to treating dance film as a distinct artistic field rather than merely a record of live dance performance.

Dance Films Association was founded in 1956 by Susan Braun as a nonprofit organization focused on advancing dance film. Its formation was associated with several important figures from the dance world: José Limón, Ted Shawn, and Alicia Markova were identified as charter members. From the outset, the organization treated film as more than a documentation tool for choreography. Its purpose was to support dance as it is transformed by cinematic methods, including editing, camera movement, framing, sound, and the use of locations. The organization's public mission is expressed in the phrase "Dedicated to furthering the art of dance film." This emphasis places DFA within the broader history of arts nonprofits that develop specialized fields through exhibition, education, advocacy, and audience building. The available historical record does not provide a detailed account of its internal administration, funding structure, or individual program directors, but it does identify festivals and touring activity as central components of its work. A significant turning point came in 1971, when DFA began presenting a dance film festival. The festival has been held every year since then, establishing a durable annual framework for showing dance-related cinema. Its continuity has allowed the organization to serve as a recurring platform for filmmakers and choreographers while helping audiences encounter work that might otherwise have limited distribution. The festival also reinforces dance film's identity as a field with its own programming context rather than as a secondary category within either cinema or live dance. Since 1996, the festival has been co-sponsored by the Film Society of Lincoln Center. This relationship connected DFA's specialist mission with a major film institution and strengthened the festival's visibility within New York's established film culture. The available source does not specify the precise terms, duration, or operational structure of the co-sponsorship, so its institutional details remain undocumented here. DFA has also expanded access through touring programs. These programs have brought dance films to multiple venues and countries, allowing the organization to reach audiences outside a single festival location. In 2010, more than forty venues were booked, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and sites in Bialystok, Havana, Manipur, and Istanbul. The range of locations demonstrates an international orientation and an effort to present dance film in museums, cultural institutions, and other public venues. On the basis of the available material, Dance Films Association is best characterized as a long-running nonprofit presenter and advocate for dance cinema. Its principal historical contributions are its early institutional commitment to the medium, the uninterrupted annual festival tradition documented since 1971, its association with the Film Society of Lincoln Center from 1996, and its international touring activity. Further information about later leadership, current programming, organizational status, and present-day operations is not established by the supplied references.

• 2010

  International touring expands

  [1]Dance Films Associationen.wikipedia.org

  DFA arranged bookings at more than forty venues, including institutions and locations in North America, Europe, the Caribbean, and Asia.

• 1996

  Lincoln Center film partnership begins

  [1]Dance Films Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The Film Society of Lincoln Center began co-sponsoring DFA's annual festival.

• 1971

  Annual festival launched

  [1]Dance Films Associationen.wikipedia.org

  DFA began presenting a dance film festival that has continued annually according to the cited reference.

• 1956

  Organization founded

  [1]Dance Films Associationen.wikipedia.org

  Susan Braun founded Dance Films Association as a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing dance film. José Limón, Ted Shawn, and Alicia Markova were among its charter members.

A specialist nonprofit cultural organization promoting dance film as an independent art form through recurring festivals, curated screenings, and international touring.

• Film festival · 1971

  Annual dance film festival

  DFA's principal recurring public offering is an annual festival devoted to dance films. Documented as running every year since 1971, the festival provides a dedicated exhibition context for films that explore choreography, performance, movement, and cinematic form. Since 1996 it has been co-sponsored by the Film Society of Lincoln Center.

• Touring exhibition

  Dance film touring programs

  DFA organizes tours that bring curated dance film programs to venues beyond its principal festival setting. The documented 2010 program reached more than forty venues, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and sites in Bialystok, Havana, Manipur, and Istanbul, indicating an international distribution and presentation role.

• 2010International Dance Film Touring Program

  United States · Poland · Cuba · India · Turkey

  DFA arranged touring screenings at more than forty venues across several countries, including museum and cultural venues.

  Outcome. The program broadened the geographic reach of dance film presentation; the cited source does not provide attendance or financial results.

  Source
• 1971Annual Dance Film Festival

  United States

  DFA established a recurring festival platform for dance cinema, creating a long-term exhibition channel for filmmakers, choreographers, and audiences.

  Outcome. The festival has reportedly been held every year since its launch.

  Source

• 1996

  Annual festival co-sponsorship with the Film Society of Lincoln CenterStrategy

  Background

  DFA's specialist annual festival was connected with a major film-presenting institution.

  Action taken

  The Film Society of Lincoln Center began co-sponsoring the festival.

  Aftermath

  The partnership is documented as continuing to support the festival's presentation, although the supplied source does not detail its operational terms or later changes.

  Source

1. 1Dance Films Associationen.wikipedia.org