Dancing with David Lynch: Watch the Best Moves from the Master’s Work

Though David Lynch hasn’t directed a film in over a decade, his body of work still remains in the popular imagination, including and especially his groundbreaking TV series “Twin Peaks,” which will return next year. In a new video essay for Fandor, Philip Brubaker examines the recurring motif of characters dancing in his work, including in crucial scenes from “Wild at Heart,” “Blue Velvet” and “Mulholland Dr.” Watch the short video essay below.

The summary written for Fandor articulates further that Lynch’s exploration of dance contributes to the unique feeling his films inspire in the audience. “Whether the accompanying soundtrack is speed metal or Roy Orbison,” it reads, “dance scenes in Lynch films bring vibrancy to an already kaleidoscopic palette of sound and vision, unlocking dramatic possibilities. These scenes, like the films themselves, are strikingly diverse. We have sweet teenage slow dances, bizarre black-and-white footlight parody, and, let’s not forget, a super-cool mystery man with dwarfism dancing backwards. The feel of a film is of the utmost importance to Lynch, and he often puts it across with a sensual celebration of movement.”

Lynch has been nominated for four Oscars, four Golden Globes and two BAFTA Awards. He won the Best Director award at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival for “Mulholland Dr.” and his film “Wild at Heart” won the Palme D’Or in 1990.

The “Twin Peaks” revival series will premiere sometime in 2017 only on Showtime.