Once Again, A Beautiful Tragedy
Oksana Skorik's amazing cambre
Perm students rocking the penchee
Maria "Masha" Menshikova and other Perm students before a performanceIn September, I posted this about a new ballet film coming out. But now that I've gone through and read all the comments on YouTube, some by the film's director, David Kinsella, I've found out even more and am now so much more excited about this eventually being available.
First off, it appears that the film will be available on DVD and can be ordered from the film's website starting sometime in early 2008. Also, it has been said in comments by Kinsella that Oksana Skorik, one of the movie's 2 main stars, was offered a job with the Maryinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg earlier this year before her training was over, got a lead role in the school's year end performance and is currently working with Maryinsky.
All the dancers amaze me so much. I couldn't imagine being 18 years old, 5'9" and only weighing 97 pounds though. Yeah. Scary. As in a BMI of 13. I'm not sure it is exactly possible to weigh that little and successfully dance 9 hours a day without passing out or worse. But that's beside the point.
As I Googled the heck out of every name and place relating to this movie, most of what I've found is debates. Huge, giant debates. Is the training too harsh? Are the dancers provided with sufficient food and choose not to eat it or is the school so strict they don't feed them well? And is it that harsh all the time or is it film propaganda?
This film seems like it will be seriously depressing, but I'm still desperate to see it the moment it's available for purchase.
A series of videos of Perm students. I have no idea when these are from or who the dancers are.
Stay on your toes,
Selly
Selly
10 Comments:
Good you like my film. I am the Director David Kinsella Actually I have a really great end to the film. As my 2 dancer friends in Mariinsky said this film will change the whole attitude throughout the world towards Ballet.
The film you are showing is at least 5 years old and not the girls these days, they are not skinny enough for Russian ballet. remember in Russia your perfect weight is height in cm minus 127 then you will have your perfect weight.
Thanks for your interest, The film is getting its World Premier in Jan 2008 at the Tromso International film festival tiff.no
Oksana is dancing at mariinsky and is in China at the moment
Thanks for stopping by the blog.
I agree; I think this film will change the way the dance world (heck, maybe even the whole world) looks at ballet. It amazes me how much creative discussion and debate three short clips have caused online. Can't wait for the film!
Selly
Wow. This film sounds truly amazing. Watching the clips on you tube, reading up on the plot on the director's cite, and being a dancer myself, I can hardly wait to watch this documentary. It sounds like a real-life soap opera, and it's so amazing, what these girls go through to become primaballerinas. I have full sympathy for Oksana, the brutality of her dance education, and the way her fellow dancers treat her just leaves me speachless, and yet the talent she shows is extraordinary. Talk about one tough cookie.
Thanks for the comment.
One of the things I find so amazing about this film is that everyone that dances knows girls like this. The popular one with the personality and the not so popular one with the technique. I'm glad there's something out there like this for people to be able to catch a glimpse of the ballet world.
Selly
About the "perfect weight"...that means that as someone who is 5'8" (173 cm) my perfect weight is 46 kg = 101 lbs?! Yikes... I think I would be dead if I weighed that much.
^I really really don't think that is the whole truth. I've seen PLENTY of recent footage from companies and schools over there and very few of the dancers, if any, look that disproportionately thin.
Selly
that's awesome how you got the director of the film to come visit your blog. kudos! not a fan of ballet, but i think i'll look that film up.
^I thought it was pretty cool, too. I get excited when I get comments from people That I know of as dancer/choreographers/etc. If you're in the USA, the format of the film thats available right now won't work in your DVD player. I know, it sucks. But watch what you can on YouTube.
Selly
That "perfect weight" comment is scary. I looked up what my "perfect weight" should be and was shocked!! I'm 16 years old and 4'10, so I am very short for my age but according to the "perfect weight" thing I should be 27 Pounds!
nobody my age should be that tiny. I have anorexic tendancies but I have never wanted to beat myself down to 27 pounds. I wouldn't be alive. I would weigh less than my 5 year old cousin.
Bella, I believe that is in kilograms, which would translate to roughly 60 pounds.
Selly
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