Making a Dance Film for Philadelphia-Based Contemporary Dance Company, Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers (KYL/D)
Over the last 10-months, Kun-Yang Lin has been collaborating with Gus Solomons jr and Pallabi Chakravorty in a discovery process as they navigate their lives as mature creators with physical limitations.
Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers (KYL/D) hired us to document the process’s engagements in New York City. Over the course of the project, Caroline Haidet on our team visited Kun-Yang and Gus at Gus’s studio in Manhattan and filmed 8 sessions with them.

“As a dancer myself, this was an incredibly unique experience for me. While documenting the process with Kun-Yang and Gus, I felt like a fly on the wall, witnessing decades of wisdom and the incredible talent of these mature artists. I learned so much from being in the studio with them. These two are living legends!! Not to mention, they are an absolute joy to be around – many laughs were shared.”
– Caroline Haidet, Videographer & Editor
The compilation video (above) showcases the intellectual project in a digestible 5-minute film. We hope you’re able to catch a glimpse into the extensive, thoughtful, and rich process of Kun-Yang, Gus and Pallabi.
“Videographer Nel Shelby first came to Jacob’s Pillow as an intern in 2001. Now she runs Nel Shelby Productions, working with dance companies and arts organizations to create new films and events in the pandemic era. She also leads a talented team that captures Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival footage and produces new films as our Director of Media.
We recently caught up with Nel to ask her about her work, what she has learned about creating and supporting a media team, and what she is excited about looking ahead.”
Read more via Jacob’s Pillow’s blog >
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Nel Shelby is Owner & Filmmaker for Nel Shelby Productions, her New York City-based company dedicated to dance videography and editing. Nel shares her mission to preserve and promote the art of dance with her husband, Christopher Duggan, a dance and wedding photographer. They collaborate on projects with dance companies of worldwide renown, up-and-coming choreographers, dance educators, dance schools and more. Nel is Video Producer at Jacob’s Pillow and Vail Dance Festival and is also the proud Director and Producer of PS DANCE! — a New York Emmy-nominated documentary about dance education in NYC’s public schools.

So much good going on. So wonderful to celebrate inspiring and talented dancers like Kun-Yang and Gus !! Bravo Caroline, and your experience with them is so well expressed here!!
Nel, Christopher and team — WONDERFUL WORK ALL ROUND!!
Love you all lots, Nan