Ballets Russes - Palm Beach Post movie review

'Ballets Russes' conveys the excitement of dance

By HAP ERSTEIN
Palm Beach Post

The best documentaries can draw us into a subject and fascinate, even if our initial interest level is low. So do not be turned off by Ballets Russes, the shimmering history of competing Russian-rooted troupes that toured the United States in the mid-20th century, opening the nation to the athleticism and beauty of classic and not-so-classic dance.

Zeitgeist Films

'Ballets Russes'

B+

The verdict: A classic dance history lesson, enlivened by the troupes' principals.

Directors: Dayna Goldfine, Daniel Geller, Dan Geller
Starring: Ann Barzel, Irina Baronova, Yvonne Chouteau, Yvonne Craig, Frederic Franklin
Run time: 118 minutes
Release date: Oct. 26, 2005
Rating: Not rated

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Official movie site

Filmmakers Daniel Geller and Dayne Goldfine hit upon a fertile angle for the film, focussing on a 2000 reunion of the now-defunct troupes, capturing the spirit of these formerly young, spry dancers, many of whom are still involved with the arts, well into their 70s, 80s and 90s. Dressed in their finery, they come alive recalling those far-off days of warring choreographers, backstage love affairs and contractual tugs-of-war.

The original Ballet Russe was established in 1909 Paris, as Russian refugees gravitated to France and the great Serge Diaghilev inspired the troupe until his death 20 years later. Resurrected a couple of years later, the company soon split in two over egos and artistic differences. Their fates soon fluctuated, based on the favor of dance critics, impresarios such as Sol Hurok and the rise of such new talents as George Balanchine and Agnes DeMille.

After World War II, Hollywood wooed some of the Russe stars to make such films as Spanish Fiesta and The Gay Parisian, snippets of which enliven the documentary and form a contrast with the performers today. In a where-are-they-now coda, we see several of these ballet veterans teaching at universities across the country, as well as at Radio City Music Hall (Marc Platt, renamed "Platov" in his Ballet Russe days) or directing gay porn films (Wakefield Poole).

Ballets Russes notes the racial difficulties of touring the South with black featured dancer Raven Wilkinson. And like today, money constraints kept the companies teetering on the edge of insolvency. But with a camera pointed at them, these dance pioneers largely recall and convey the excitement of dance.