In a Jazz Way: A Portrait of Mura Dehn (1985)

In a Jazz Way: A Portrait of Mura Dehn (1985) poster

Provides a colorful portrait of dancer Mura Dehn. Born and trained in Russia, she went to Paris in 1925, met Josephine Baker and discovered jazz. Tells how she came to New York and choreographed jazz tunes. Includes a live interview with Mura Dehn along with archival footage. In the 1930’s, the heart of jazz dancing was Harlem’s Savoy Ballroom. Mura Dehn, a Russian dancer who was converted to jazz dance by Josephine Baker, spent her life documenting this cultural explosion from jazz to be-bop. As excerpts of her film, THE SPIRIT MOVES are shown, she discusses the eras. The film concludes with Dehn, at 82, filming a break-dance troupe. Blue Ribbon winner, American Film Festival.

Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 30 min
Release Date:

Cast

  • Mura Dehn - (Self) Dancer/Choreographer/Filmmaker
Production: Filmakers Library
Original Language: en
More Films in Genre: Documentary

Frequently Asked Questions

What is In a Jazz Way: A Portrait of Mura Dehn about?
Provides a colorful portrait of dancer Mura Dehn. Born and trained in Russia, she went to Paris in 1925, met Josephine Baker and discovered jazz. Tells how she came to New York and choreographed jazz tunes. Includes a live interview with Mura Dehn along with archival footage. In the 1930’s, the heart of jazz dancing was Harlem’s Savoy Ballroom. Mura Dehn, a Russian dancer who was converted to jazz dance by Josephine Baker, spent her life documenting this cultural explosion from jazz to be-bop. As excerpts of her film, THE SPIRIT MOVES are shown, she discusses the eras. The film concludes with Dehn, at 82, filming a break-dance troupe. Blue Ribbon winner, American Film Festival.
Who stars in In a Jazz Way: A Portrait of Mura Dehn?
In a Jazz Way: A Portrait of Mura Dehn stars Mura Dehn.
How long is In a Jazz Way: A Portrait of Mura Dehn?
In a Jazz Way: A Portrait of Mura Dehn has a runtime of 30m (30 minutes).
What genre is In a Jazz Way: A Portrait of Mura Dehn?
In a Jazz Way: A Portrait of Mura Dehn is a Documentary film.