UK Film Premiere and Question and Answer session

In August 2005 London DJ Alex Reuben set out across America's deep south, fulfilling a lifelong dream to document the social dance of the region. Reuben traveled from Kentucky to North Carolina and onto Mississippi and Tennessee filming as he went. The arrival of Hurricane Katrina would temporarily halt his journey towards childhood hero Fats Domino and New Orleans. Now in its final form and incorporating new footage of Mardi Gras, Routes is a dance road movie that gives a unique insight into rarely seen forms of American dance culture and the lives of many extraordinary Americans. Set against the US governments' woeful response to the destruction left by Hurricane Katrina and made at a time when America started to question its role in Iraq, Routes explores vibrant musical and dance forms like Appalachian Clogging, Hip-Hop, African American Stepping, Memphis Marching bands, Mississippi Fife and Drum, Cajun and Zydeco.

As well as taking questions Alex Reuben will also discuss how his experience as a DJ influences his creative work. Driven by his passion for music he investigates the link between improvisation and structure in both dance and film, and pursues his enduring fascination in how music - both on and off the dance floor - can illicit such different styles of dancing.

The evening will also include two other short films by Alex Reuben.

Line Dance (2004)
Using 24 cameras, and Brazilian music in Motion Capture animation. Commissioned by The Arts Council of England & Channel 4 TV for 4dance. Nominated for Best British Short Film 2004.

Que Pasa (2001)
A dance short based upon club dance, Blue Note Jazz and abstract, expressionist, painting. Distributed by the British Council & screened on Channel 4 TV in 4dance.

Routes was Commissioned by Capture4 for Arts Council England.

To catch Alex Reuben as a DJ come to Sadler's Wells Sampled on Saturday 3 February, and hear him in the foyer from 6pm on.