Synopsis
The Poet is a poetry film on Rumba dance, performed by Ballroom champion, Carlos Olavide, and film artist, Samita Nandy. The screening includes an in-person poetry presentation by Samita Nandy and workshop Q&A on film and dance career, livestreamed with Carlos Olavide
Inspired by the poem a “A Library of Rumba” (2025) by Samita Nandy
Review by Joseph Colangelo (E:jcolange@istar.ca)
“This short by Samita Nandy and Carlos Olavide is an excellent presentation of dance and
choreography. The artistry and finesse of the piece have the potential for many individual
interpretations. I encourage other viewers to share their personal insights.
The setting is a library or studio on a sunlight autumn afternoon. Carlos and Samita are found reading
from separate books. But Carlos’ book is a bit different; bound in red, is it poetry, prose or a bit of
both? Something in it inspires him. But he does not read it to Samita. Instead, it motivates him to
engage Samita in a dance to express and share the message which he has just read. He gently offers
his hand to Samita and they engage in a slow rumba which includes a series of breaks, walks, turns
and lifts.
As Carlos leads Samita in the dance, he tries to tell her what he has read. The first lift is clockwise, a
sign of the beginning of the story. Perhaps the poem started with an expression of a challenge in life
to be overcome. The breaks and walks symbolize the challenges which they encounter in their
journey. They execute each step with precision and grace. Challenges of the journey are met and
overcome.
The music is an enchanting, simple piece based on two piano melodies. Its underlying, recurrent
musical theme sustains and powers the dancers forward in a journey of successive walks. The
secondary musical theme tells the story about the individual events of the journey and is punctuated
with the breaks and rumba walks. It motivates the dancers to express what they have learned from
journey it. It becomes become easier, more fluid and joyful.
Samita becomes engaged in the dance and its story. She comes to understand its message as Carlos
tells it in movement and rhythm. She is not just a follower, she becomes an active participant in the
telling of the story. Samita breaks into a smile which delivers the message. She now understands what
motivated Carlos to dance instead of reading the poem to her. At the end of the dance, Carlos lifts and
rotates her again in a clockwise direction. The story is now complete. The challenge has been met
and overcome.
In a final scene, Samita, now alone, picks up the red book which Carlos had been reading. But what is
she reading? The same poem which Carlos read? Something else? Perhaps a new dance-story?
Perhaps a waltz or a tango in which Samita will invite Carlos to engage with her again. We are left
wondering but the message is clear; the dance can inspire the reader to take the story beyond the
written word.”