Tajana B. Williams delivers a powerful and creative short film. With music by Deanté Hitchcock, JEFF & cktrl, and a talented ensemble cast of dancers, this 9-minute film explores the challenges and triumphs of black professional dancers. It showcases their unique stories of strength and camaraderie, creating an impactful and inspiring experience.
About The Film:
Tajana Bunton-Williams is a former professional dancer known for her remarkable performances at Coachella alongside Beyoncé and on the Formation World Tour. With a career filled with award shows, music videos, and prestigious venues, she has always recognized the healing power of dance in communities. Combining her experiences as a Black dancer with her passion for filmmaking, Tajana has created a captivating short film called “Back Beat.” This film highlights the challenges, beauty, strength, creativity, resilience, and unity of Black professional dancers.
“I wanted to create a film that honors the Black community by showcasing the voices of Black professional dancers in Los Angeles,” says filmmaker Tajana Bunton-Williams. “The commercial dance industry often hinders the career growth of Black talent and limits their opportunities to monetize their gifts in sustainable ways. Unlike ballet or contemporary dance, hip-hop dancers struggle to establish themselves beyond being background performers for music artists. Their innate gifts and artistry are rarely highlighted outside of music videos or live tours. With ‘Back Beat,’ I aim to empower Black individuals, celebrate their joy, and showcase the vulnerability and storytelling skills inherent in hip-hop dance.”
While the dancers share their challenges, they also express the happiness they find in their experiences. The film emphasizes the unifying power of dance in family gatherings and the reclaiming of ownership over their movements, often appropriated by others. Featuring music from artists such as Deante’ Hitchcock, JEFF, and cktrl, the film captures the essence of Black talent and creativity.
Tajana’s Background
Tajana Bunton-Williams is a Sierra Leonean Queen, she spent her childhood in London. Currently, Williams calls both Los Angeles and London home. Williams’ dance career fueled her passion for the arts, leading her to become a sought-after visual artist specializing in film, branded content, and commercials. She has directed music videos and live performances for renowned artists like Ari Lennox, Chika, Bas, and more. Additionally, she has created captivating short films that showcase her talent for capturing movement and composing striking visuals. Explore her portfolio at https://vimeo.com/user99366315.
Watch “Back Beat” on Nowness: https://www.nowness.com/series/just-dance/back-beat-tajana-b-williams
“Back Beat” embed code: src=”https://www.nowness.com/iframe?id=6263018760001″ width=”500″ height=”315″ frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen></iframe>
“Back Beat” Credits:
Director – Tajana B Williams
DP – Kalea Calloway
Production Company Somesuch
1st Assistant Camera Minami Crease
Photography – Tajana B Williams
Duet Choreography – Zavion Brown
Wardrobe – TYDRYN
Colour – Gabe Sanchez, Roundhouse Post
Edit – Tajana B Williams
Title Graphic – Medar De La Cruz
Please contact Michelle for Andrea or more info.
Tajana Bunton-Williams
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Tajana Bunton-Williams As a Director
Tajana’s directing style reflects her professional dance career. With extensive experience collaborating alongside Beyoncé and Janelle Monáe, she possesses valuable insights and inspiration from her involvement in groundbreaking creative projects with a worldwide impact. Her passion for dance greatly influences her artistic process, incorporating choreography, abstract storytelling, and vibrant musicality into each of her creations. She is currently working on projects in the music, fashion and branded content space. Most recently, Williams has worked with Ari Lennox, Chika, Victoria Monét and Destiny Rogers.
About SomeSuch
Somesuch is a leading global production company known for its innovative and award-winning commercials, music videos, branded content, and films. It has received accolades from prestigious awards and festivals such as Cannes, D&AD, The British Arrows, Ciclope, AICP, MTV, UKMVAs, and BAFTA. With multiple “Production Company of the Year” titles and the recent honor of “Production Company of the Decade,” as recognized by UK’s Campaign Magazine, Somesuch consistently delivers exceptional work.
Beyond its creative output, Somesuch is dedicated to sustainable production practices and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the industry. With offices in London and LA, it operates globally and represents Serial Pictures in the UK.
Links: [Insert relevant links here]
“Beat Back”: https://www.nowness.com/series/just-dance/back-beat-tajana-b-williams
