Dance on Screen

The popularity of dance films in mainstream cinemas shows no sign of abating as one of latest films to take the dance-loving public by storm has proved to be a big success – Ballets Russes, a feature length documentary which covers more than 50 years in the lives of a group of revolutionary ballet artists.

Rare archival footage of performances, home movies, letters and diaries are inter-cut with intimate anecdotal interviews with former Ballet Russes stars (now in their 70’s, 80’s and 90’s) which bring to life the extraordinary journey of the company and the individuals who danced in it.

Ballets Russes is currently playing at cinemas all over the UK – you can check their website for your nearest venue at www.balletsrussesmovie.co.uk. The DVD is due for UK release on the 21st August so this amazing film can be yours to keep. Ballets Russes is a fascinating film and can be enjoyed by anyone, whatever their field of interest in dance.

Dance Sport also continues to prove popular on the big screen. Many of you will have been aware of the promotion of Take the Lead in recent months. Inspired by a true story, Antonio Banderas stars as internationally acclaimed ballroom dancer, Pierre Dulaine, who volunteers to teach in the New York City public school system. But when his classic methods clash with his students’ hip hop instincts, he teams up with them to create a new style of dance and becomes their mentor in the process. The film has grossed over $50 million worldwide and you can find out more about it at www.taketheleadmovie.com.

This resurgence in the popularity of watching dance, whether documentary or fiction is mirrored with the continued success of TV shows such as Strictly Come Dancing and Strictly Dance Fever, which has just finished another series. While some may argue they prefer to see dance in the flesh, it is wonderfully affirming to see film and television taking dance so seriously, and opening it up to a wider audience.

Another example of the inspiring dance film genre that we should hope will hit our shores in the coming months is a film with the rather unusual title of ‘Marilyn Hotchkiss’ Ballroom Dancing & Charm School’, which premiered at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival in Utah.

Starring Robert Carlyle (‘The Full Monty’) as Frank Keane, an unhappy widowed man who one day witnesses a car crash and goes to the aid of the man, gravely wounded, who is trapped inside, played by John Goodman. He tells Frank where he was going, to fulfill a promise to a childhood sweetheart that they would meet again at Marilyn Hotchkiss’ Ballroom Dancing and Charm School.

When Frank goes to the school to explain what has happened he finds that he is suddenly exposed to a world of dance that he never knew existed, and starts to find a path to happiness that he never dreamed possible. The film has already been released in the US although no date has been set for UK distribution yet. Let’s hope it is soon!

Victoria Blackburn