The Unity of Dance from HopSkip Cinema on Vimeo.

An inspiring interview with filmmakers Michael Bromberg and Kyle Lau about their short film “The Unity of Dance” and the universal power of movement to bring people together.

Michael Bromberg and Kyle Lau Share ‘The Unity of Dance’

Michael Bromberg and Kyle Lau took their combined talents, a shared network, a university class, and a dream to create the short film, “The Unity of Dance”.

They shot the film in one day using dancers from a variety of genres to send a message that can, and will, resonate with dancers and non-dancers alike: We are all so much more similar than not.

Regardless of your dance ability, or lack thereof, a community centered around the joy of music and movement crosses all cultures. Their film captures that, and, no coincidence, it matches both Bromberg and Lau’s enthusiasm and determination toward this project. It was quite obvious in our interview.

The Birth of a Dream Project

AML: What was the impetus behind this project?

Kyle: Michael and I are friends. We went to UCLA together. We both make films. For me, I come from a dance background. It sounds corny, but I had this dream where I saw this ballerina on stage doing a pirouette and that transitioned into a breakdancer doing a windmill.

It just showed me how unity in dance was great. Michael and I met up at a friend’s wedding, hanging out, and he had a great idea of making a video featuring dancers from around the world, and our ideas just matched up perfectly.

And then one idea led to the next, and we were like ‘then we could go from this style of dance into this style’, and our whole piece seemed to travel.

Michael: Kyle and I have been friends for a long time and we were always looking for opportunities for us to work together, and the fact that we sort of had a similar idea just seemed like the perfect opportunity.

AML: So was this a school project?

Michael: I’m back in UCLA in graduate school for film, but Kyle is out in the world working.

The thing that was really the catalyst for this is that I’m in a class where we have access to stages, and cameras, and lenses, and lighting all available to us, and the teacher said, ‘if anyone has an idea for something that we can make while we are in this class together’, and I said, ‘I do’.

I pitched the idea to the class, and I called Kyle that night, and I said, ‘this is the opportunity. We can basically do all of this for a really minimal cost’, and we set a deadline. Then we said, ‘Okay, in about a month and a half we are going to do it, and we are going to do all the work it takes to get the eight different dance crews, and we’re going to make it happen.’

Overcoming Doubt and Making It Happen

AML: How did your class respond?

Michael: They really doubted our ability to make it happen. You’re going to get all these dancers to come in on the same day? You’re going to get a song created? No way. No way are you going to be able to do this. And I just said, ‘No I will, trust me, trust me.’

But once they all saw that it was all real, they loved it.

My teacher was there the whole time, and was having a blast. We did it all in one day. There’s a good amount of things happening, so logistically it was as much an achievement as anything.

Capturing Dance on Film

AML: Was there anything unique about capturing dancing on film versus other things you guys have done?

Kyle: Well I shoot a lot of dance videos, but the big difference between this and, say a short film, is to capture the breadth and the spectrum of what is going on.

To have a lot of wide shots and having to see the full body and capture the lines of the dancers is something that we emphasized and wanted to make sure that we are true to the dance form.

Like West African versus Samba versus Ballet have all their own unique styles and flows, so matching that with camera movement was, hopefully, our goal and I think we achieved that pretty well.

The Magic Moment When It All Came Together

AML: Was there a point where you felt like the project was really coming together?

Michael: Yeah, absolutely. The first dance that we did was with the Polynesian dancers. We spent an hour or two hours before, before the dancers even came on stage, just setting up the lights, hanging curtains from these hangers to set up a miniature black box for the dancers to dance in, and still that was all just technical stuff.

But once those Polynesian dancers came on stage, I feel like everybody, all our crew members, felt the buzz. ‘Wow, they’re really doing it. They’re dressed up, they’re looking good.’ And then the ball was rolling. At that point we had an hour for every dance crew and then it was time to move. And I think the crew really fed off the energy of the dancers.

Kyle: On top of that, another credit to UCLA, for giving us, basically, we had a whole side sound stage, a rehearsal sound stage, where all the cast members would come into town, hang out, warm up, get into costume, stretch, that was the prep room so that once they were ready, boom, we could go back to back to back to back.

Which was fun because we could go from Polynesian dancers, to a tap dancer, etc.

The Time Machine Question

AML: If you could go back to a moment in time and be the best dancer in the room, what moment would that be?

Michael: I’m a huge fan of Singing In The Rain, like that era. To be honest, I’m a film guy, I’m not a very good dancer. Kyle is amazing, but I’m not a good dancer at all. But if I could be on the set of Singing In The Rain, and dance with the guys and girls in that movie, that would be great. I love that movie. I saw that movie as a little kid. I know that’s sort of the all-time dancing classic. That’s a place I’d like to be.

Kyle: Well then, I hate to toot my own horn, but I have never lost a dance battle. I’ll jump off of Michael’s answer though and say that I would’ve loved to have done a one-on-one dance off with a Fred Astaire or a Gene Kelly. Those guys are insane.

I just watched a video of Gene Kelly doing a tap routine with simple props, like just a piece of paper and other things on an empty stage, and it was amazing. No one does that kind of stuff any more. It’s so incredible.

The Power of Connection

AML: What was the coolest thing about this project for you?

Kyle: One of the coolest things about this project is networking with dancers from all different facets.

The choreographer, this amazing woman named Karen Chuang, dances for Lady Gaga and Will Smith and all these famous people, but she took the time and came out and corralled a bunch of different styles and was able to really make it happen.

Karen and I are friends from UCLA too. I worked Family Guy, and now I work for CBS Studios, so this was a nice way to collaborate with some of the coolest UCLA alums out there right now.

So Karen did all the dancing stuff, one of our musician friends is touring with a hip hop artist named Logic and he was able to help create the music for it.

All these friends-of-friends who like each other’s work came together to really make this work.

The Message: We Are All United

AML: What do you hope the audience feels from watching your film?

Kyle: The biggest message, kind of tapping into what’s going on right now, is that despite it all we are all the same.

We are all united by music and dance.

It doesn’t matter where you’re from: you could be poor, you could be rich, you could be white, you could be black, you could be Asian, but the movement of your body, that joy, unifies people.

That message, personified through dance, is what we’re trying to get out. And hopefully that can propel further spreading of love and joy. Very cheesy I know, but especially I feel like in times like these, we need that more than ever.

Why Dance Creates Unity in Your Community

The message from “The Unity of Dance” film resonates with what we see every day at Arthur Murray studios around the world. Dance has an incredible power to bring people together across all demographics and backgrounds.

The Universal Language of Movement

When you step onto a dance floor, your job title, age, background, and everyday worries fade away. All that matters is the connection between you, your partner, the music, and the movement. This creates an equalizing effect that few other activities can match.

Building Community Through Dance

At Arthur Murray, we see this unity in action every day:

At Group Classes: Students from all walks of life come together to learn new patterns and techniques. Executives dance with teachers, retirees partner with young professionals, and everyone is there for the same reason: the joy of learning to dance.

At Practice Parties: The social dancing environment creates natural connections between people who might never interact otherwise. Dance partners become friends, and friends become a community that celebrates each other’s progress and milestones.

At Events and Competitions: Whether it’s a local showcase or a national competition, the Arthur Murray community comes together with a shared passion that transcends individual differences.

Starting Your Own Unity Story

You don’t need to be in a film to experience the unity of dance. Every person who steps into a dance studio begins their own story of connection:

Connection with Partners: Dance teaches you to move in harmony with another person, building trust, communication, and cooperation skills that extend far beyond the dance floor.

Connection with Music: Learning to hear and interpret music creates a deeper appreciation for artistic expression and the emotions that music can convey.

Connection with Community: The dance studio becomes a second home, filled with people who understand your journey because they’re on the same path.

Connection with Yourself: Through dance, many people discover aspects of themselves they never knew existed: creativity, grace, confidence, and joy.

How to Experience Dance Unity at Arthur Murray

The Arthur Murray Unit system is designed to provide multiple opportunities for connection:

Private Lessons build the foundation of your dance skills and create a strong relationship with your instructor who guides your journey.

Group Classes introduce you to the broader community and provide opportunities to dance with various partners in a structured learning environment.

Practice Parties bring everything together in a social setting where the unity of dance becomes tangible as you share the floor with fellow dancers of all levels.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Unity of Dance

Do I need to be a good dancer to experience this sense of community?

Absolutely not! The dance community welcomes everyone from complete beginners to advanced dancers. Your willingness to learn and participate is all that’s needed.

Will I fit in if I’m different from other dancers?

The beauty of dance is that it brings together people from all backgrounds. What you’ll find is that your differences become unimportant as you share in the joy of movement and music.

How can dance improve my connections with others?

Dance teaches nonverbal communication, builds trust through partnering, and creates shared experiences that form the foundation for lasting friendships.

Can I start dancing even if I don’t have a partner?

Yes! Many people begin their dance journey solo. You’ll work with instructors in private lessons and have opportunities to dance with various partners in group settings.

Final Thought

The Unity of Dance, both the film and the concept, reminds us of something fundamental about human nature: we are built for connection. Music makes us want to move, and movement brings us together.

Whether you’re watching a beautiful film showcasing diverse dance styles or taking your first steps on a dance floor, the message is the same. Despite our differences, we share the universal desire to express ourselves through movement and connect with others in the process.

As Kyle Lau so eloquently stated: “We are all united by music and dance.”

Ready to experience the unity of dance for yourself? Visit your local Arthur Murray Dance Studio for a complimentary introductory lesson and discover how dancing can connect you with a welcoming community.