Elena Del Mar, a freediver and underwater dancer, brings a deeply spiritual and innovative vision to life through her short film From Paint to Beauty. In her film, she weaves a personal narrative of transformation, where the ocean becomes a source of healing and renewal for a protagonist whose heart has been metaphorically torn apart. This story reflects Elena’s own journey, where the sea became her sanctuary, her muse, and the backdrop for a groundbreaking form of underwater dance.
The Ocean as a Healer
At the heart of Elena’s work is her profound connection with the ocean. She describes the sea as not only a place of beauty but also a force of salvation. “The Ocean has always saved my life,” Elena shares. “First as a windsurfer, and later as an underwater dancer. Whenever I faced unbearable pain, the only reality that reminded me of life’s beauty was the Ocean.”
Her relationship with the sea is not merely artistic—it is a source of emotional and spiritual survival. Elena speaks of moments where grief, especially “ancestral” pain, threatened to overwhelm her, but it was in these moments of darkness that the ocean provided her with strength and clarity. Freediving and underwater dance became meditative practices, helping her transform her pain into something life-affirming. This personal connection forms the backbone of her short film. The protagonist, whose heart is “ripped out” by life’s traumas, is saved by the ocean, which gives her a new heart and, with it, the freedom to dance. For Elena, the ocean isn’t just a backdrop or setting for the film; it’s an active character that facilitates the protagonist’s rebirth.
Spontaneity in Dance: An Ocean’s Rhythm
Elena’s underwater dance is unique in its spontaneity. She performs without choreography, allowing her body to respond purely to the rhythms of the ocean. The unpredictability of her movements is what makes her work so fascinating—and, at times, incredibly challenging.
Underwater, she dances at depths of 10 to 15 metres without auxiliary oxygen, moving freely for over a minute in each session. The fluidity of her movements is guided by the ocean itself, which dictates the tempo and mood of her performance. Elena explains that this lack of structure is intentional, adding an element of mystery and authenticity to her dance. “I seem to become an instrument in the hands of the Ocean because, simply, I let what needs to happen, happen,” she says.
Unlike traditional terrestrial dances, where movements are planned and rehearsed, Elena’s underwater sequences are pure and instinctual. She describes how the water allows her to enter a deep meditative state, merging her movements with the ocean’s natural flow. There is no music guiding her, only the rhythm provided by the water. “The Ocean is alive, and its energy is full-bodied,” she says. “Sometimes, I no longer feel the boundaries of my body, as if I am totally merged into the water.” This connection with the ocean allows her to achieve a state of mindfulness that is unlike anything she experiences on land. She shares how sometimes she doesn’t even remember her movements until she watches the footage later, her body having been completely immersed in the moment.
The Technical Demands of Filming Underwater
While Elena’s performances appear effortless, they are the result of rigorous training and careful preparation. Freediving, especially while performing strenuous dance movements, requires immense physical and mental endurance. “When you dance underwater, you consume more air than when you’re still,” Elena explains. This makes timing critical—staying underwater for too long could become dangerous.
To film these scenes, Elena relies on a team of professional freedivers, who monitor her breathing and assist her if needed. Every aspect of the shoot is meticulously planned, from the depths at which she performs to the emergency protocols in place. “At 16 meters, with my heart pounding in my chest and air almost gone, it’s a reminder of life itself,” she says. “But it’s always worth it for the art we create.”
The aquatic scenes were captured by award-winning underwater photographer Arturo J. Telle, who had the challenging task of following Elena’s unpredictable movements. Elena praises his ability to anticipate where she might go next, despite her having no set choreography or plan. The filming took place in Gran Canaria, a location that Elena knows well and has used as the setting for many of her creative projects.
Innovation in Costume and Movement
One of the most visually striking aspects of Elena’s underwater performances is the use of her custom-made fins. Collaborating with tailor Roman Zoudlik, Elena designed fins that enhanced her sea creature persona, giving her the appearance of a mythological being. The fins add an extra dimension to her dance, allowing her to glide effortlessly through the water while maintaining the illusion of an otherworldly figure.
Elena’s movements in the water, unchoreographed and spontaneous, are influenced by her close connection to the ocean’s energy. With no music to follow, her dance is entirely driven by the rhythm of the waves and the currents. Miraculously, when she later edits the footage, she finds that the movements often synchronize perfectly with the chosen soundtrack, adding to the mystical quality of her work.
A Message of Environmental Awareness
Beyond the spiritual and emotional depth of her art, Elena’s work carries a powerful message about environmental sustainability. Through her performances, she aims to remind audiences of their responsibility to the ocean and the planet as a whole. “By transforming myself into a sea creature, I remind people that we are also part of the sea, and we are absolutely responsible for its health,” she says.
Elena hopes that her films inspire others to take action to protect the environment. She sees her art as a way of creating empathy, helping viewers connect with the ocean and understand its importance to life on Earth. Her next project, which focuses on the preservation of marine species and environmental sustainability, promises to continue this mission, turning art into a call for action.
The Future of Underwater Dance
As Elena continues to push the boundaries of her craft, she hopes to develop more projects that challenge both her physical limits and the conventions of filmmaking. She describes her work as a constant state of creation, where ideas are always evolving, and new possibilities emerge from each project.
Elena’s first film, From Pain to Beauty, is not just an exploration of underwater dance, but a testament to the healing power of the ocean. Through her performances, she invites audiences to experience the magic of life that flows through the sea, and to recognize their own connection to nature. “I really hope that these dances can heal people,” she says. “That they remind us there is magic in life, and that it’s something real we can rely on.”
With several new projects on the horizon, including an ambitious film dedicated to environmental sustainability, Elena Del Mar is poised to make a lasting impact on both the art world and the fight for the preservation of our planet.
