By Ali Grutchfield
Society has focused on encouraging kids to follow their hearts and minds in whatever direction this might take them. However, in the face of change or challenge, how does a young person tackle fear and lack of self-confidence? Andrea (Andy) Mangano’s Dance! tells the beautiful story of a young girl who’s inspired to become a dancer after seeing a performance. Mangano’s animated story employs simple visuals and no dialogue to highlight that no matter what is thrown at each of us, our inspiration to succeed must come from within.
Dance! captures the reality of inspiration perfectly. The strong visuals and stylized animation highlight that while the young girl is inexperienced and insecure, she already has talent. The dancer was not the first artist she’d seen perform, but this role model was the “straw that broke the camel’s back,” allowing the young girl’s inner light to shine through. Mangano does not assert that one’s desire alone is enough to propel one to success. The young girl is scared once she makes the commitment to dance. She has to face the harsh realities of her choice by learning new skills and growing as a dancer. The messages of encouragement from family and friends help bolster her self-confidence along the way until she becomes a grown woman who knows her self-worth.
This story beautifully highlights the cycle of inspiration and how powerful self-confidence can be to others. I’d give this story a 4/5 because of the strength in its messaging and realism of the tale, however, the dulled visual appearance makes it tonally confusing at times.
Ali Grutchfield is a junior pursuing Film and Television Production at the Savannah College of Art and Design. She spends her time producing both visual and written content for District, the school’s online news platform, being President of the SCAD’s Film Club, producing and editing student films, reading mystery novels, and drinking coffee with her cat, Jingle.
Recent Comments