Movie Review

Ballets Russes (2005)

EW's GRADE
B+

Details Limited Release: Oct 26, 2005; Rated: Unrated; Length: 118 Minutes; Genre: Documentary

TIGHTS SQUEEZE George Zoritch and Nini Theilade in the production of \'\'Rouge et Noir\'\' | Ballets Russes
Image credit: Ballets Russes: Geller/Goldfine Productions
TIGHTS SQUEEZE George Zoritch and Nini Theilade in the production of ''Rouge et Noir''

From the 1930s through the 1960s, two internationally renowned dance companies claimed to be the famous ballet troupe entitled to call itself Ballets Russes — founded in Paris by Sergei Diaghilev, then split into rival factions that pitted ballerina against dainty competitor, passionate fan against fan. Ballets Russes, a classical, elegiac film directed with a choreographer's eye by Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine, lets some of those dancers, now specimens of elegant aging (a few have since died), tell the story of a grand moment in high-art culture. The archival footage is so breathtaking, the reminiscences so piquant, that even a stranger to dance can't help but be swept up by this peek into such exquisite, now vanished glamour.

Originally posted Nov 02, 2005 Published in issue #849 Nov 11, 2005 Order article reprints
You Might Also Like

Add your comment

The rules: Keep it clean, and stay on the subject or we might delete your comment. If you see inappropriate language, e-mail us. An asterisk * indicates a required field.

500 characters remaining
Advertisement