Drama Fantasy

Short Film

2024

A misguided filmmaker is transported into a dark fairytale world of her creation, where the dance never stops.

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A Disauthority Original

Elegancia

Writer / Director / Producer / Casting Director

Maria Shevtsova

Producer

Marcus Hundsnes

DOP

Tran Anh Zwee

Editor

Louis Holder

Starring

Maria Shevtsova, Orla Vellacott as the Star, Katriona Brown as the Mother & Queen, Amber Sylvia Edwards as Josie & The Fairy Godmother, Imogen Smith as The Crone, Georgia Aspinall, Anita Nicole, Hiromi Toyooka, Holly-Marie-Davenport, Natasha Davenport, Natasha Elise, Harry Bonelle, Nick Brittain, Ioannis Melekis, Joshua Broadbent & Olly Christopher

Assistant Producer / Colourist

Zain Haris

Assistant Producer

Alina Bichieva

Development Producer

Sarah Fielding

Supervising Producer

Nick Hampson

Script Consultant

Aleksandra Sykulak

1st AD

Josie Connor

Production Designer

Collette Creary-Myers

Hair & Make-Up Designer

Grace Davis

Sound Designer & Re-Recording Mixer

Dom Storrs

Gaffer

Max Elliot Lovell

1st AC

Joshua Baylis

Key Grip

James Moriarty

Key Rigger

Carl Opara

Unit Stills Photographer

Luke Ross

Script Supervisor

Jess Lipinski

Costume Designer

Amada Piedra

Stunt Coordinator

Gareth Henry

Special Effects

AGOG VIVID

VFX Supervisor

Raiyan Chinoy

Composer

Richard Collins

The dance never ends.

Elegancia was DISAUTHORITY’s Head of Production Maria Shevtsova’s BA graduation project, shot over three days in April of 2024 at Garden Studios.

There were more than a 100 people involved in the making of the film from development to delivery.

Maria wrote, produced, cast, directed and acted in the film. Elegancia was initially envisioned as a documentary short about the exploitation of children in professional ballroom dancing. However Maria ultimately decided to focus on the healing power of imagination and fantasy - transforming this project into a semi-autobiographical meta fantasy fiction short.

Poster by Dan Anscombe

Building a Fairytale

The extensive set builds were courtesy of Cloud & Horse with intricate rigging by Ideal Crew Services and props by numerous companies such as Superhire and Living Props.

Panavision and Panalux generously supported the project, allowing us to shoot on ARRI LF with the exquisite Canon K35 lenses and using a combination of tungsten and LED lighting.

Choreographer and movement director Monica Nicolaides created 10 unique movement and dance sequences for the 15 person ensemble cast (including a child performer) that brought Maria’s ambitious vision to life.

Costume designer Amada Piedra and her team created and hired more than 35 distinct costumes that illustrated the theatrical and vibrant nature of the world with the hair and makeup designer Grace Davis and her team enhancing the looks for each character.