Portfolio of the week: Dancing Davey August 04, 2008

Strange Internet World. Even if you dance on some goddam lonely spot, somewhere in the middle of nowhere, you are not that innovative anymore.
So what's the deal with David Fishel? Is there any reason we should pay attention to this young filmmaker from New York who is slowly growing to be one of the next youtube darlings?  Of course there is!
Take a look at the hobbling potato Matt and compare it to Davey.
If you don’t get it now, you probably never really had it. Q.: First of all how did this whole dancing thing start?

A.: It was very simple actually. I was on a trip to Pisa with a friend of mine and it just dawned on me that it might be silly and fun for my friends back home if I were to dance before the tower of Pisa to the song “Don’t Let Me Down.”  The more I considered the idea, the more I grew attached to certain aspects of creating an impromptu performance which is rather public and private at the same time. Q.: What about the spaces you choose? Are they just a randomly chosen postcard background or are they an indispensable part of your performance?

A.: Usually the spaces are chosen based on where I am traveling. I have not danced in India yet because I have not visited there yet. For the most part the spaces and backgrounds do have a connection to the song, the dance, and the video as a whole. I try to make a connection (sometimes more obvious than others) where the background is a symbol for a place or an idea.

Q.: From time to time you are using your videos for private messages like the NYC timesquare-birthday shot or the happy christmas–rockefeller thing? Have you ever thought about using your dance for ads or political messages?

A.: I have considered political messages and I, actually, have a few minor ones planned. I would consider advertising, I suppose, but that could be tricky.
I suppose if Stride Gum wanted to pay me a shitload of money to travel around for six months and make dancing videos, I would consider it. Q.: Which of your own videos is your favorite one? A.: That is difficult for me to say, and in every interview I have probably given a different answer.  I suppose if I had to choose right now, I still really love "Satisfaction" at Versailles. I think the footwork, the light and the nostalgia of it make it on the top of my list.Q.: After shooting nearly about 50 videos, do you notice any development in your dancing style? Got something like a favorite move?A.: Not that I can tell. I guess now I notice, since I know the audience is broader, that sometimes I make more of an effort to try new things and be entertaining, but most of the time I am either concentrating on having fun and getting through the song without tripping.Q.: Have you got any cool story happing during your shots worth talking about?A.: When we shot the dance blog at times square a Rockefeller center security guard tried to make us stop. I could not hear what he was saying, because my headphones were blasting, but my friends who were dancing with me told me they heard him shout into his radio, "All units, I need backup. We have a situation here!"  It makes me laugh to think that someone would find people dancing in public for a few minutes to be such a nuisance.  If you watch closely, you can see him in the video toward the back of the crowd.Q.: Have you ever get any reaction from a band you are using a song of?A.: I saw that Sunshine Underground put the video I made on their myspace page. I thought that was very cool of them. One record label which owns the rights to one of the songs alerted me via YouTube that they were aware I was using their song, but they did not ask me to take it down or anything, which I thought was fairly nice.
So far, no C&Ds Q.: In your videos you look like a real brave guy. What's the difference between David Fishel and Dancing Davey? A.: It is the same difference between Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne.Q.: Are you already feeling like an Internet/Youtube star?A.: No. People say that sometimes, but I really don't get that many hits compared to other stuff that is out there. I am not out to be a star. There are a lot of people who actually follow the dance blog and some even made a "fan video" on Vimeo. But I would not say "star."  If the internet is made up of lots of different communities, I have the celebrity of the local weatherman in a small town.Q.: Who's your favourite Youtube Star? Tronman, the angry German kid, sniffing panda, etc...?A.: To be honest I do not know that many. I guess I really like the "Charlie bit me" video of the two british children. I think it is adorable.Q.: You are also a director and an actor? Which significance has Dancing Davey for you?A.: I am not really an actor. I was drawn to the dance blog idea because of its ease. I set up rules so that it involves very little directing, if any. In that way, DaveyDanceBlog is somewhat of a break from my work or craft. I like to dance. I like improvisation. I like performance art (especially when it plays with social norms). Q.: Are you working on any other projects right now?A.: Always. I have a couple short films I am in the final stages of post production on. I am also in pre-production for a short puppet film I will be shooting in a couple weeks. Very excited about that one.  In a couple months, I will hopefully be directing a music video which I'm currently choreographing with a friend of mine. I am also a full time video/film editor. So I keep busy. Q.: Have you got any plans for future videos? Shooting in Asia or something else?A.: I would love to take DaveyDanceBlog everywhere. Currently, I am limited by money and time, but someday, hopefully. Q.: Who are the people dancing with you? Friends or just random internet strangers? A.: They are a little of both sometimes, but mostly friends.Q.: One last question: What comes to your mind when you think of „ceative use of space"?   A.: Everything from this piece of paper to untouched wilderness in Siberia. Related Links Davey at MINI Space Daveys Dance Blog More Photos by Kyle Fasanella