On the note of the previous post dedicated to the magic of ballet, I could not help but admire the elegance and mesmerizing beauty of the video I came across by accident. I present to you Polina Semionova and her solo ballet demonstration to the music composition of Herbert Grönemeyer.
“First Position” is an unprecedented new documentary by Bess
Kargman exposing the training of six young dancers who go into the Youth
America Grand Prix, the competition that awards full scholarships to top ballet
schools in the world. As a viewer with significant background in dance history
and criticism, spoiled by the diversity of NYC performance scene, I was eager
to enjoy this movie with my mother, who many decades back was accepted into the
youth training ballet school adjusted to Mariinsky theater. As we sunk deep
into our seats on a chilly Sunday evening, we were ready to be mesmerized by
the art form that enamored many children of whom only few went on to become
professional performers. Your loyal blogger here, at the age of five on one fine
occasion embarrassed her mother by leaving her side at the designated seat of
the Bolshoy theater to be found, minutes later, in the aisle making clumsy
pirouettes and pas de chats. “Swan Lake” had that hypnotizing effect on me
that found no sympathy with the strict usher lady who dragged me back to my
mother!!! Let’s just say that this tragic misunderstanding killed my spirit and
my marvelous future as the next Bolshoy prima ballerina ; )
“First Position” is an incredible film that shows how much
sacrifice and dedication goes into audition in a ballet competition - let alone
being admitted and hopefully growing into a professional performer. As we
follow many struggles and doubts of participating children, we cannot help but
admire their cult of ballet beauty, grace and discipline. I feel that many more
films like that should be made to inspire the growing generation to tear
themselves away from the computer screens and cultivate and interest that will
not only make their lives a more fulfilling experience but also quite possible
grow into a lifetime passion.
The magic of it all makes me want to dust off those leotards
and legwarmers and head over to a good old barre class, alas at the beginner’s
level : )
