I spotted this early December, but finally got round to sharing: Quiksilver Women have upped their cultural credentials by sending surfing legend and Quik Women ambassador Stephanie Gilmore to explore the connection between dancing on waves and in traditional studios in their new short film The Water Dancer.
The World Champion Surfer heads to New York, to speak to the city's premiere dancers - from ballerinas, to tango senoritas - and discover how the magical mind/body connection she's spent cultivated throughout her surfing career, is shared by these not-so-seemingly removed fellow professional 'athletes' of sorts. It looks beautiful and inspiring - and reminds me of a recent Degas and the Ballet exhibition I went to at London's Royal Academy on 'picturing movement.' (Haha, yeah, sorry - had to drop that in there...)
I've been a fan of what Quiksilver Women have been trying to achieve since the beginning. But after a disappointing false start - recruiting 'ambassadors' more for their model looks and height than their talent, thankfully after Quiksilver signed Steph the brand refound it's inspirational path.
This latest project is a perfect example of what female focused brands should be trying to achieve: giving women who surf (or snowboard, skate, ride bikes etc) the respect they deserve as curious cultural curators in our scene. (A nod to the work of Element Eden here) - interweaving between passions for travelling, exploring, nurturing and creating as they ride sideways. Encouraging us to share our life experiences and gained knowledge with like minds to develop our sports, loves and skills - not be 'girls' who spend more time on bikini shoots than surfing (hello Stab magazine) thanks to a persistant patriarchal culture. Ha - rant over.
Deserved high fives for keeping it high brow Quik - and creating some beautiful cross-culture cinema. We're limbered up and eagerly awaiting the next episode...
