Educational Media Reviews Online

Ballet is a gritty, detailed and fascinating behind the scenes look at the tedious and grueling preparations for an American Ballet Theatre ballet production. Award-winning documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman gives viewers an inside glimpse at what it takes to successfully stage a ballet production including rehearsals, business dealings, dancer recruitment, makeup application, photo shoots, costume fittings and interviews with the press. Several scenes show dancers receiving treatment for pulled muscles and body alignment. Lively footage of the dancers enjoying themselves in between performances as well as actual live performance footage is also included.

Wiseman is non-intrusive in his filming, and no one involved plays to the camera. The film quality is good, and the sound is as good as the acoustics in the various filming locations allow it to be. There is music, but only when it was actually playing during filming. The lack of music in all other segments helps to remind the viewer of the realism. There is one scene containing expletives.

Ballet will surely give viewers who have never been involved in such a production a greater appreciation for all the work involved in creating a ballet production. Experienced ballet producers and dancers will strongly identify with this film. Ballet is an excellent example of great documentary filmmaking - a learning tool for film students.

Highly recommended for academic libraries supporting dance and film programs as well as public libraries with circulating video collections.