Liz Dibble, Assistant Professor in the Department of Dance, Is Recognized Internationally for her Hopeful Dance Film
The phrases “debate” or “civil discourse” can stir feelings of unease, discontentment or even anger — but in the face of uncertainty, assistant professor Liz Dibble saw hope. In Dibble’s award-winning dance film, “Zero Sum Game,” she crafts a narrative that challenges the winner-takes-all mindset of many political and social conversations. Through striking movement and vulnerable storytelling, Dibble offers a new vision — one where empathy triumphs and every step brings us closer to peace.
Q: What inspired this piece, and why did you want to make it a dance film?
Dibble: The beginnings of this piece actually started in 2020 — there was a pandemic, a very contentious election cycle and lots of contention over some hot-button issues. It felt like people were entrenched in what they thought was right. They were not listening to the other side or thinking through the feelings of someone else. I was ruminating on what it means to communicate and how that communication can lead to pain in all kinds of relationships.
In 2021, I started creating a duet based on this idea of civil discourse. I went to a wikiHow page called “How to Win an Argument” and recorded my husband reading it. Then I went into the dance studio with two phenomenal dancers (Hannah Hardy and Brady Swanson) and created this story. After the dance was performed at venues in Salt Lake and Arizona, I wanted a permanent artifact of this piece; I thought it could reach a broader audience in a dance film forum. My fantastic collaborator, Scott Cook, also wanted to tell a story through the medium of film that just a dance on stage could not tell.
Q: What was it like working with students to make this piece?
Dibble: It is the best part of making a piece. As a professor, all of my research is inherently collaborative. I cannot tell all these stories with just my body — especially in a duet where we are sharing weight and doing lifts. I have to trust the creativity and willingness of the students to bring to light these dreams and ideas circling in my head.
The four featured students (Dominique Cordon, Baylee Van Patten, Caler Tregeagle and Spencer Waddell) are beautiful movers. Each one has such a genuine performance quality and artistry. They loved being covered in mud and climbing up a mountain — they were game for anything.
One of the featured dancers, Dom Cordon, was pregnant at the time and was fighting terrible morning sickness. Thankfully she felt decently that day, but we were moving nonstop from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. — she was such a trooper.
We also had a bunch of students who acted as extras in the crazy fight scene. I handed them props and asked them to figure out a fight to do with a partner, and again they jumped in with incredible ideas. All of these students are really who made this film amazing.
Q: What has been the biggest surprise in working on this project, either during filming or seeing how the film has been received?
Dibble: I feel like my work is really sincere, and there is a clear gospel perspective that I am trying to shine on this topic. You never really know how that is going to play in the contemporary dance world — usually something dark and cynical will win. These judges are often looking to feel disturbed or shocked, so I was pleasantly surprised that it has been received so well; it made me tear up.
Q: Of the awards that “Zero Sum Game” has been nominated for, which accomplishment meant the most to you?
Dibble: “Zero Sum Game” won best of festival at Dance Camera North, presented by Borealis Dance Theatre. I watched some of the other films that were involved, and they were beautiful. There were hundreds of applicants from all over the world; it’s insane to think that this humble film won best in festival, even with time and budget restraints. We also won Best Story in Toronto’s Experimental Film & Music Video Festival, and that is my favorite part of this film: the story.
Q: What advice would you give to students who want to create their own dance film?
Dibble: I think this was a reminder to me that all of our students have important stories to tell. We need Latter-day Saint perspectives in the world. We need disciples of Christ sharing their stories — even on non-gospel topics. This authenticity will resonate with viewers. I want to share hope and light in places where this may be uncommon.
