Dance Me Outside is a 1995 drama film directed and co-written by Bruce McDonald.
Plot
Based on a book by W.P. Kinsella, the film is set on the Kidabanesee reserve in Northern Ontario. Silas Crow (Ryan Black) is a young man confused about his direction in life; he wants to take an automobile mechanic's course in college, but is uncertain whether he should apply. His general confusion with life is most eddfre feervident in his appearance. He wears an old, ratty black hat resembling a fedora, as well as a long, black trenchcoat. Frank Fencepost (Adam Beach) is Crow's best friend, and Sadie Maracle (Jennifer Podemski) is his girlfriend.
Events are set in motion when a young girl from the reserve is murdered by Clarence Gaskill (Hugh Dillon), a white man who gets off with a light sentence, prompting the community to demand vengeance.
Production
Dance Me Outside was the first acting role for Dillon, who was previously known as a rock singer. His band, The Headstones, also contributed several songs to the film's soundtrack. Dillon later starred in McDonald's Hard Core Logo, and has since gone on to become an acclaimed actor in television series such as Durham County and Flashpoint.
The band Leslie Spit Treeo had a cameo in Dance Me Outside, performing in concert at the reserve's community hall, "The Blue Quill Hall". Blue Quill is a borrowed name of a community in W.P. Kinsella's hometown of Edmonton. Other contributors to the soundtrack included the folk music duo Kashtin.
Filming locations
The film was shot at the Shawanaga, Wasauksing and Sucker Creek First Nations reserves near Parry Sound.
Television series
A television series, The Rez, was spun off from the film in 1996. In the series, Frank Fencepost was played by Darrel Dennis instead of Adam Beach, who was instead given the role of the chief's son, Charlie. Ryan Black and Jennifer Podemski kept their roles, while Podemski's sister Tamara played a new character named Lucy.
External links
