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First Position
Ballet fans should find rich entertainment in a 2011 documentary called First Position, an informative, fascinating and occasionally heartbreaking look at young dancers from all over the world participating in an international competition that not only focuses on this particular competition but offers insight into the passion that drives ballet dancers and takes effective swipes at some of the stereotypes associated with ballet as well.
This film focuses on six young dancers, all under the age of 18, who are preparing to compete in the Youth America Grand Prix, an international ballet competition where 300 young dancers compete for 30 scholarships to ballet schools, medals, and contract positions in ballet companies. This film focuses on six entrants from all over the planet: Eleven year old Aran is from Rome and has been dancing since he was four; Joan Sebastian is a sixteen year old who left Columbia to study; Twelve year old Gaya is from Israel and seems to have a crush on Aran; Miko and Jules are siblings not only competing in the contest but with each other; Rebecca is a statuesque California blonde, blossoming into a prima ballerina at 17, but I was most moved by the story of Michaela, a 14 year girl from South Africa whose parents were killed in war times and was adopted by a lovely Jewish couple.
Director Bess Kargman actually uses this competition as a canvas to springboard a lot of what drives dancers, not just the obvious work that goes into it. The movie provided a refreshing look at boys and ballet, something that most boys quit by the time they're in junior high because of the stigma attached to it regarding sexuality. I'm pretty sure that the three male dancers focused on here were heterosexual and really don't care if people might think otherwise. One aspect of this life that surprised was the expense that goes into being a ballet dancer. In addition to classes, most dancers also have a personal coach who works with the dancers privately. Then there's classes, travel, shoes. and costumes...Michaela's mom actually shows us a tutu she made that cost her $2500!
Needless to say, there is lots of dancing in this film, beautifully showcased by Kargman, that often defies the laws of physics, but what I loved that Kargman did was during the actual competition, the camera actually went back and forth between the dancers and their parents and teachers in the audience, allowing us to see exactly how well they were doing by the reactions of their parents and coaches. There's even an unexpected piece of drama thrown in when it is revealed that Michaela, three days before the finals, has developed an injury of her achilles tendon that could not only destroy her chances in the contest, but her entire career,
Fans of the 1977 film The Turning Point will be delighted as well because several of the dances performed here were performed by Mikhail Baryshnikov and Leslie Browne in that Herbert Ross classic. Fans of the ballet will be in heaven here.
Ballet fans should find rich entertainment in a 2011 documentary called First Position, an informative, fascinating and occasionally heartbreaking look at young dancers from all over the world participating in an international competition that not only focuses on this particular competition but offers insight into the passion that drives ballet dancers and takes effective swipes at some of the stereotypes associated with ballet as well.
This film focuses on six young dancers, all under the age of 18, who are preparing to compete in the Youth America Grand Prix, an international ballet competition where 300 young dancers compete for 30 scholarships to ballet schools, medals, and contract positions in ballet companies. This film focuses on six entrants from all over the planet: Eleven year old Aran is from Rome and has been dancing since he was four; Joan Sebastian is a sixteen year old who left Columbia to study; Twelve year old Gaya is from Israel and seems to have a crush on Aran; Miko and Jules are siblings not only competing in the contest but with each other; Rebecca is a statuesque California blonde, blossoming into a prima ballerina at 17, but I was most moved by the story of Michaela, a 14 year girl from South Africa whose parents were killed in war times and was adopted by a lovely Jewish couple.
Director Bess Kargman actually uses this competition as a canvas to springboard a lot of what drives dancers, not just the obvious work that goes into it. The movie provided a refreshing look at boys and ballet, something that most boys quit by the time they're in junior high because of the stigma attached to it regarding sexuality. I'm pretty sure that the three male dancers focused on here were heterosexual and really don't care if people might think otherwise. One aspect of this life that surprised was the expense that goes into being a ballet dancer. In addition to classes, most dancers also have a personal coach who works with the dancers privately. Then there's classes, travel, shoes. and costumes...Michaela's mom actually shows us a tutu she made that cost her $2500!
Needless to say, there is lots of dancing in this film, beautifully showcased by Kargman, that often defies the laws of physics, but what I loved that Kargman did was during the actual competition, the camera actually went back and forth between the dancers and their parents and teachers in the audience, allowing us to see exactly how well they were doing by the reactions of their parents and coaches. There's even an unexpected piece of drama thrown in when it is revealed that Michaela, three days before the finals, has developed an injury of her achilles tendon that could not only destroy her chances in the contest, but her entire career,
Fans of the 1977 film The Turning Point will be delighted as well because several of the dances performed here were performed by Mikhail Baryshnikov and Leslie Browne in that Herbert Ross classic. Fans of the ballet will be in heaven here.