RADIANCE, A DANCE FILM
Radiance is a hauntingly beautiful contemporary dance film created for Jonathan Fitas’s neo-classical piece from the EP Leap of Faith. Directed by longtime collaborator Théo Gottlieb, the video explores a moment of quiet inner transformation through movement, light, and minimalistic cinematography.
The film unfolds between two spaces: a stripped-down dance studio in Paris (Strauss Room of Centre de Danse du Marais) and the forests of Francheville, Verneuil d’Avre et d’Iton in Normandy. Dancer Anastasia Senikova embodies the music with an intimate, introspective performance that reflects the emotional rise of the track. Gottlieb’s naturalistic direction — static frames, gentle camera movements, and refined lighting — allows the choreography and the music’s fragility to remain central.
Radiance has already gained significant international attention:
🏆 Best Dance Film — Toronto Couch Film Festival 2025
🏆 Best Dance Video — Berlin Indie Film Festival 2025
🌿 Official selections: MONTIFF Montpellier, Bratislava International Film Awards, On Art – Dance & Music, Toronto International Music Video Festival
📌 Featured on Directors’ Library
Théo Gottlieb
“The film is an introspective journey of a dancer exploring her artistic quest, delving into the question of rediscovering who she truly is and who she was as a child. I wanted to convey this longing for authenticity through a simple and minimalist approach to direction and staging, using static frames and very gentle movements. The aesthetic is refined yet naturalistic, aiming to embrace reality with a touch of poetry, without over-stylizing the narrative. The focus is on Anastasia's dance and her unique style. We shot with a small, highly portable camera, allowing us to be creative and agile, finding the perfect angles that harmonize with Anastasia's movements.”
Jonathan Fitas
“Theo and I go a long way. We started collaborating on Theo's shortfilm ideas when he was just out of highschool and we professionally grew up together, going our personnal ways and meeting occasionnaly for a project. It's been a long time since we wanted to make a music video for one of my track. For most part, it was film here, in Normandy, near where I live.”
Credits
Choreography & Performance — Anastasia Senikova
Director / Cinematography / Editing — Théo Gottlieb
Produced by Poolside Theory & Maison Mujō
Poolside Theory production team : Valentin Fretillet, Leo Sattin, Léna Turlot-Ehlen, Léonie Truin
Maison Mujō production team : Sophia Vesna & Jonathan Fitas
Lighting — Camille Benariac, Kyllian Bouvet
Make-Up & Hair — Sophia Vesna
Styling — Marine Arnoul, Cassandra Harang
a special thanks to Theo, Anastasia, Sophia, the whole PSTH team, Nathalie & Jérome Pouly and the cities of Verneuil d'Avre et d'Iton & Francheville for their support.