Films March 25, 2020
These films are seriously en pointe.
Ballet has many stereotypes in the media. And in ballet movies, these can oftentimes be exaggerated…giving people false ideas about what the “ballet world” is actually like. This may be entertaining for those who don’t know much about the art form. But, for those of us who have actually been ballet dancers, it can be quite frustrating.
We want people to be interested in ballet and what the life of a dancer is like, but we also want what they take from it to be mostly accurate. So, to clear things up, here are 5 ballet movies that are actually en pointe:
Center Stage is one of the best-known ballet movies amongst ballet dancers, for its almost comedic accuracy. It’s about a group of young ballet dancers at the prestigious American Ballet Academy in New York City. This is a play on the very real ballet school: The School of American Ballet.
These dancers spend the majority of the film training and rehearsing for their end of year performance known as the “workshop.” This is actually what The School of American Ballet calls their end of year performance, as well.
In both the movie and real life, the workshop is where the dancers are able to showcase their talents. They essentially prove themselves worthy to get into the major ballet company affiliated with the school. The film shows just how incredibly competitive a time it is for these young dancers.
The movie really captures how badly the dancers want to get the lead roles. It also captures how far they’re willing to go to get those roles. It also touches on issues for ballet dancers outside of the studio, like friendships, relationships, parental pressure, and body image.
Ballet 422 follows New York City Ballet dancer, Justin Peck as he begins his journey as a choreographer and starts to establish his name in the realm of choreography in the dance world. It’s documentary-style, so you’re sure to get a very raw look at what this endeavor was like for Peck and the other dancers he worked with along the way.
Ballet 422 takes you through the process of how a ballet is made from start to finish. It shows in-depth aspects that most people wouldn’t normally know to go into the creation of a ballet (i.e. costuming and music).
This movie gives you an inside look at one of the biggest most esteemed ballet companies in the world: New York City Ballet. You see inside the studio and get to watch the process of how the real-life dancers learn new works.
As a disclaimer: this ballet movie is VERY exaggerated and dramatized in so many ways. For example, not all ballet moms are as obsessive and as controlling as Nina’s was in the movie. Ballet directors won’t ask for sexual favors in return for a lead role. The girls in real-life ballet companies are nowhere near as vicious as Mila Kunis’ character makes them out to be.
BUT, Black Swan does have very real portrayals of ballet classes and the film uses actual ballet teachers, like Olga Kostritzky and Marina Stavitskaya. Natalie Portman’s character has a body double named Sarah Lane, a real-life professional ballerina from the esteemed American Ballet Theatre.
As for the storyline, it shows a dynamic of two friends competing for a role that turns into a twisted rivalry. It would never get as twisted and violent in real life as it did in the film, of course. However, friends do have to compete for roles in real life and it can get quite competitive and provoke authentic jealousy.
First Position is another documentary-style ballet movie that goes deep into the world of competitive dancing. It follows six young dancers as they prepare for the Youth American Grand Prix, one of the most large-scale and competitive ballet competitions in the world. The dancers featured in the film come from all over the world, which is very common in the ballet realm.
The film shows the entire process of preparing for a competition, from rehearsals to the performances to the awards ceremony. It really captures and portrays the amount of hard work and sacrifice it takes for these young people and their families to attend these prestigious competitions and shows exactly what’s at stake for them, as well.
Restless Creature dives deep into the life of professional ballerina Wendy Whelan as she makes her comeback from an injury that could potentially end her career and simultaneously heads towards her retirement and final bows on the New York City Ballet stage.
This movie is a powerful representation of just how much a professional ballet dancer truly loves the art. It shows how far one will go to push through adversity just to dance. You also get an inside look at the New York City Ballet and the inner workings of their rehearsal process. If you love a good comeback story, this ballet movie is sure to satisfy and educate. You can find it on Netflix!
