ABOUT THE PROJECT
LOGLINE
Dancing to the rhythm of her own silence, a young Cooks Islands deaf woman uses the power of dance to defy expectations.
SYNOPSIS
DEAF GIRL DANCING introduces us to Ella, an 18-year-old Cook Islands Maori teen who is deaf. A sensitive vaine (woman), Ella often struggles with confidence, preferring to stay home instead of going out with her best friend, Tiare. But Ella has a secret passion: dancing and creating her own choreography. Only her close friends and family know of her true talent and potential. Recently, Ella found a platform on TikTok where she can express herself, merging her choreography skills with her unique ability to see a ‘glow’ around moving objects. Her online persona is a confident dancer, but in public, she remains cautious and shy. Tonight, however, she must overcome her fears. Encouraged by her mum and best friend, Ella attends her cousin Ituís farewell party. There, she encounters a familiar group of foes who enjoy teasing and intimidating her, reigniting her doubts about being there. When Tiare stands up to them but then leaves her alone, Ella’s internal dialogue and visual noise become overwhelming. Feeling isolated, she closes her eyes to calm herself. Upon reopening them, she sees her tormentors again, delighting in taunting her from a distance. But this time, the ‘glow’ reveals that meanness never glows. With this realisation, a powerful choreography draws Ella to the dance floor, where she lights it up with her dance.
PROJECT TYPE Narrative Short
DIRECTOR Glenda Tuaine
SCREENWRITER Glenda Tuaine
PRODUCER Glenda Tuaine
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Karin Williams
CO-PRODUCER Gina Tavioni Bamber
WEBSITE motone.biz
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