Ballets Russes

2005

118 mins

Directed by Daniel Geller, Dayna Goldfine
91%
81%
Documentary

Unearthing a treasure trove of archival footage, filmmakers Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine have fashioned an ode to the revolutionary... More

Unearthing a treasure trove of archival footage, filmmakers Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine have fashioned an ode to the revolutionary twentieth-century dance troupe known as the Ballets Russes - the birth of modern ballet. Many of the original company are still alive, and have been candidly interviewed.

What began as a group of Russian refugees who never danced in Russia became not one but two rival dance troupes who fought the infamous "ballet battles" that consumed London society before World War II.

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Ballets Russes | Ratings & Reviews

91_%58 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes® rating
81_%2,748 reviews
Audience score rating

"Much more than a specialty item for dance aficionados. Breathlessly canvassing the six-decade history of the various companies that danced under the Ballet Russe moniker, Dayna Goldfine and Dan Geller's expertly crafted, years-in-the-making docu takes viewers on an ebullient odyssey from Russia to Australia to whistle-stop America, populated by a cast of charismatic, eternally young-at-heart ballet vets..."

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Variety

"It's a profoundly optimistic and delightful movie, for balletomanes and neophytes alike. It made me happy for days afterward..."

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Salon

"A fascinating story of huge egos and desperate scheming, interleaving archival footage and stills with new interview material, including the famous "Baby Ballerinas" - the three pre-teen dancers engaged by Balanchine who charmed audiences across Europe and made ballet into an entertainment sensation..."

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New Zealand Herald

"A captivating film that truly elevates the spirit, Ballets Russes is the most emotionally satisfying documentary since "Mad Hot Ballroom"..."

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Los Angeles Times

"One of the finest documentaries ever about the performing arts, this magisterial history of the companies that danced under the name Ballet Russe will enchant dance aficionados and novices..."

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