Ballets Russes Documentary Review

A vivid documentary portraying the rise and fall of two of the most famous Ballet troupes in history. Directors Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine tell the poetic story of the Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo, a group of young Russian Refugees in Paris previously un-experienced in dance who went on to become world renowned.

Beginning in 1909 under the direction of Serge Diaghilev the Ballets Russes flourished in Paris with their cutting-edge style. However after Diaghilev's death in 1929, two organizations split by professional differences emerged seeking to continue the work of his ballet company. During the 1940's both companies toured the United States, Australia and South America exposing these areas to ballet for the first-time and sparking international interest. Their success however was short lived and both companies met their demise by 1962.

The clever juxtaposition of original file footage and photos as well as recent interviews with surviving troupe members in their 70's, 80's, and 90's makes every second of Ballets Russes intriguing and entertaining without redundancy. The anecdotal interviews of elderly dancers reminiscing on past successes and failures punctuated the humor of the film, adding to the realism. The richness of the modern-day cinematography was truly astounding; adding to the ambiance and aesthetic dynamic of a film so heavily reliant upon half-century old file footage. The most impressive element of the film was the relentless momentum of the story. The Directors did a stellar job editing a two-hour Ballet documentary that stays original and keeps its appeal from the first frame. Ballets Russes is a truly passionate documentary and a worthy homage to the artists that changed the face of dance forever.