At 12, Irina Baronova became a ballet superstar. She and her fellow dancers battled rivalries, the Great Depression, and World War II to bring ballet to the world.
My colleague Rob Kelly ranked this #2 on his list of The Best Documentaries About Ballet.
Trailer for “Ballets Russes”
You Can’t Make This Sh!t Up
- When ballet legend Sergei Diaghilev died in 1929, his company fell apart. Two rival groups rose from the ashes, battling over star dancers, audiences, and the famous Ballet Russe name.
- During World War II, dancers traded grand European theaters for remote towns and makeshift stages, bringing world-class ballet to people who had never seen it.
Watch “Ballets Russes”
You can find “Ballets Russes” on Kanopy, Hoopla, Prime Video, and Apple TV. Check the latest streaming options on JustWatch.
Ratings:
- My Rating: 90/100
- IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 81/100 (Users); 91/100 (Critics)
Director’s Note: Directed by Dayna Goldfine and Dan Geller, the filmmaking team behind “The Galapagos Affair: Satan Came to Eden” and “Halston.” They spent years tracking down former Ballets Russes dancers, many now in their 70s, 80s, and 90s.
Release Date: 2005 (premiered at the Sundance Film Festival).
Other Unique Stuff
- Salvador Dalí designed sets and costumes for the 1939 ballet “Bacchanale.” Yes, the same Dalí famous for his melting clocks!
- The original Ballets Russes never performed in Russia! Despite its name, the company was based in Western Europe.
- In 2000, former dancers reunited in New Orleans, some seeing each other for the first time in decades.
Wrap Up:
I like “Ballets Russes” because it’s as much about the people and their wild lives as it is about dance. Even if you know nothing about ballet, the teenage stars, feuding directors, and world tours make this one worth watching.
Thanks for reading!
Heather Fenty, Guest Writer, Daily Doc