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Wednesday, June 16, 9 pm-12 am ET
For his 38th film, master documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman turns his unblinking eye on one of the world’s leading ballet companies, the Paris Opera Ballet.
For his 38th film, master documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman
turns his unblinking eye on one of the world's leading ballet
companies, the Paris Opera Ballet. Cinematographer John Davey's
camera roams the company's home at the vast Palais Garnier opera
house from top to bottom, gliding down chandelier-laden corridors
to the theater's labyrinthine underground chambers, pausing to
observe from the sidelines of light-drenched rehearsal studios,
then slipping past the plush scarlet seats of the opulent theater
to record a dazzling selection of final performances. "La Danse"
devotes the bulk of its time to watching rigorously trained young
dancers in rehearsals and performances for seven ballets:
Genus by Wayne McGregor, Paquita by Pierre
Lacotte, The Nutcracker by Rudolf Nureyev, Medea
by Angelin Preljocaj, The House of Bernarda Alba by Mats
Ek, Romeo and Juliet by Sasha Waltz and Orpheus and
Eurydyce by Pina Bausch. In addition, the film records the
behind-the-scenes activity involved in administering the company,
along with the collaborative work of choreographers, ballet
masters, dancers, musicians, and costume, set and lighting
designers. For balletomanes and the curious alike, "La Danse"
serves up a sumptuous banquet of delectable dance.