Review(s): DVD The Children of Theatre Street - The Story of the Kirov Ballet School
The Children of Theater Street
I didn't really enjoy this DVD, it was okay, but (...). I thought that The Children of Theater Street was boring!
inspirational
This video offers a wonderful "behind the scenes" look at the school wehere many of Russia's top ballerinas and premiere danseurs were trained. Some of the scenes appeared very staged, but I doubt that a Western director would have been given full leave to photograph most parts of the school and/or students. It was filmed in the 70s, when communism was in power, and therefore, the school was state supported. Though outdated in that respect, the film captures the timelessness of the Vaganova Choreographic Institute. The beauty of the ballet is one that never goes out of vogue, no matter who is in charge of the government. There are several fantastic clips of the Kirov Ballet that present themselves throughout the film. This video made me want to learn to speak Russian and move to St. Petersburg.
Very interesting
I thoroughly enjoyed this video. It is the story of several Russian ballet students, and just how much work goes into becoming a professional ballet dancer. Princess Grace does a great job of narrating this very interesting movie
Related DVD's The Children of Theatre Street - The Story of the Kirov Ballet School
To be able to see some portions of Bejart's'Ninth Symphony" itself is worth owning this DVD. I wish they have the entire performance recorded to be released. Like other reviewers I really think this is a well-made documentary. More Info about this DVD Director(s): Nils Tavernier DVD Release Date: Released the 21 October 2003 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Mikhail Baryshnikov made his film debut in this lightweight but entertaining drama about the relationship between a renowned ballerina (Anne Bancroft) and the woman (Shirley MacLaine) who had trained with her but had given up dance to become a wife, mother, and teacher. Between MacLaine's envy over her friend's career and the attention her own ballerina daughter (Leslie Browne) is getting, MacLaine's character goes through a complicated crisis. The two actresses carry the story very well and probably camouflage its thinness; they even make a somewhat condescending climax involving a catfight seem like a good idea. A subplot involving a developing romance between the virginal Browne and Baryshnikov's womanizer makes for pretty window dressing. More memorable are dance sequences featuring... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Shirley MacLaine - Anne Bancroft - Mikhail Baryshnikov Director(s): Herbert Ross DVD Release Date: Released the 25 January 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
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The four ballets presented by the Kirov are all based on the original designs for Diaghilev's Ballet Russes, and the jewel-like colors leap off the screen. (The costumes for Sheherezade and The Firebird especially seem to be inspired by the jeweled eggs of Faberge.) The dancing is indeed technically accomplished -- perhaps too much so, since the bodies that Michael Fokine had to work with were probably not quite this flexible (just a theory). I've read the posted reviews on this site, and they had valuable things to say: I find myself wavering somewhere in between.
Scheherezade seems to be the least choreographically accomplished, taking a while before the dancing really kicks in, and when it does, the moves seem quite repetitive at times, especially in the long central pas... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Paris Opera Ballet DVD Release Date: Released the 08 February 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Three numbers make up this video. The first is "Le Spectre de la Rose", Fokin's choreographic bonbon originally created by the mythic Vaslav Nijinsky and Tamara Karsavina. Baryshnikov's dancing is academic, in the sense that he dances "correctly", but without emotion. His partnering is merely elegant, when it should be rapturous. There are other interpretations on video, and Nureyev's and Farukh Ruzimatov's are warmer and more passionate than Mr. Baryshnikov's. Unfortunately, the public applauds at the wrong places. About two minutes before the end there's a pause in the music - a false "ending", in fact - and the audience bursts in applause, so the first bars of the incoming music are lost. A pity...
