Movie Review: Ballerina

After watching this documentary from start to finish, my daughter and I were wishing we were Russian ballerinas. The documentary is an amazing view into the lives of ballet dancers of the famous Russian Kirov Ballet. An aspiring young ballerina herself, my daughter was blown away by the skills of the five featured dancers.

I believe one of the best ways to learn ballet is to watch other ballet dancers. Even though the steps in ballet are universal, each of the five featured ballerinas in the documentary possessed her very own unique style. The documentary is a thrilling peek into the demanding lives of ballerinas.

"Ballerina" is a documentary detailing five Russian ballerinas from the Mariinsky Theatre (also known as the Kirov). The documentary takes you behind the scenes at the world-renowned Vaganova Academy in St. Petersburg, as if you were a member of the audience at the Mariinsky Theater. We get a detailed look of what a young girl must do to become a top ballet dancer in Russia.

The film feautures footage of ballet classes, rehearsals and performances of major ballets. In an effort to show us how Russian ballerinas evolve, the director closely follows the lives of five Russian ballerinas including Alina Somova, Svetlana Zakharova, Diana Vishneva, Ulyana Lopatkina, Evgenia Obraztsova. The ballerinas are interviewed throughout the footage, allowing a sneak-peek into the demands and rewards of being a Russian ballerina.

Aspiring dancers will love the film as it takes us behind the scenes of real performance scenes including Swan Lake and Romeo and Juliet. Even if you're not a dancer, you will be thrilled by the beauty and glory of ballet as it is celebrated in the film.