Ballets Russes (2005)

Bravo!

I love dance history and this DVD was marvelous. All dancers should learn about their history and this would be a wonderful introduction. December 9, 2008

A Golden Age

I saw this company first in 1947, and followed them for about ten years. They were my introduction to ballet, and the dancers I remember were Alexandra Danilova, Natalie Krassovska, Frederic Franklin, and Nicolas Magellanes. Others came -- Ruthanna Boris, Mia Slavenska, Nina Novak -- but my memory of ballet is full of these early performances and those early dancers. It is inspiring to see them in this film, as full of love for their art as they were when performing.
There is one area where I disagre slightly. I remember Nina Novak in the chorus, and she had charisma. You watched her. When she was given more important roles, you continued to watch her. What she did in her private life was irrelevant; she drew the eye.
This is a must-see for every lover of ballet who is curious about how it started in America, and became the center of interest that it holds today.
Baronova is astonishing! November 3, 2008

An Insight Into Little Known History

A beautifully woven tale of the dancers that shaped contemporary dance performance. I was in awe at the history, ego, and humility of remarkable pioneers. October 21, 2008

All Encompassing DVD on the History of Ballets Russes

This dvd is wonderfully done documentary about the history of "Ballets Russes". Daniel Geller & Dayna Goldfine do an excellent job of putting an entire history of one of the world's greatest ballet company's to ever exist. We see interviews of the actual dancers talk about themselves as well as the history of Ballets Russes... along with actual footage of them dancing the ballets themselves.

The focus of this documentary also includes other topics as well like the founders of Ballet Russes, the choreographers, the set and costume designers and so on it. This dvd documentary is quite engaging and flows great from start to finish. I highly recommend "Ballets Russes" to all ballet and dance lovers whom want to know more about the major players of the ballet world. April 27, 2008

Entertaining, Educational, and Emotional

I wasn't sure if I was going to like this DVD or not. The only reason I did was to find out some basic background information which I needed in writing a paper. After it was over, I found myself amazed and wanting to find out even more about the Ballet Russe and wishing I could have seen them at their prime.

The basic components of this DVD are archival footage of the actual Ballets, pictures of individuals involved with them, and interview sessions with a handful, maybe two handfuls, of surviving dancers who are well into their 80s.

Granted, I needed to take a break halfway through because there is a lot to digest in this DVD, as soon as you press play, it is very engrossing. It is amazing to see how passionate these people are about dance, what they had to go through, the ups and downs, the different dance companies. You really find yourself affected by their stories.

It was even more personal to me because I have actually seen and touched many of these costumes. Having worked at a museum there was an entire wall in one of the storage rooms devoted to the Ballet Russe. And just seeing the names of the ballets brought back many memories.

You don't have to be a fan of the ballet to enjoy this DVD. There is so much history and footage, any old movie buff or historian would enjoy it. March 5, 2008

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