Ballets Russes

Filmmakers Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine pay tribute to the revolutionary 20th century dance troupe Ballets Russes in this enthralling documentary. From their humble origins as Russian refugees residing in turn-of-the-century Paris, to dazzling feats of artistry, this documentary maps the company's illustrious career right up until its demise in the 1950s and '60s, brought about by rising costs, rocketing egos, outside competition, and internal mismanagement. Culled from archive footage and infused with juicy anecdotal interviews from many of the company's glamorous stars, Ballets Russes is a fascinating documentary about the legendary Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo, founded by Blum and Colonel de Basil in 1932 after the death of Diaghilev in 1929. It is full of interesting anecdotes about various personalities including Diaghilev, Massine, Fokine and Balanchine and includes a number of interviews with former leading dancers such as Alicia Markova, Nathalie Krassovska, Irina Baronova (one of the "baby ballerinas"), Frederic Franklin and George Zoritch, interspersed with many photos and archive film clips. The documentary treats modern audiences to a rare glimpse of the phenomenon that transformed the face of ballet for generations to come.

Director: Daniel Geller, Dayna Goldfine
Writer: Daniel Geller, Dayna Goldfine
Runtime: 118 min
Genre: Documentary, History, Music
Language: English
Production Year: 2005

Limited Seating, Pre-booking essential