“A stunning documentary about the daily lives of several students at the American Ballet Theater School in New York. It is not acted, and how William Richert, the director, managed to get people to behave so unaffectedly before the camera is a total miracle. There has never been such an honest film about dancers-in-training before, and one is surprised at how untouched this absorbing milieu has been in cinema history. The film concentrates on four students, but one gets glimpses of such star-types as Nureyev but in the role of student rather than a god. There is also a suggested parallel between the major figures and a costume rehearsal of Petrushka, with Michael Smuin, Diana Weber and Keith Lee.” San Francisco International Film Festival
Written on September 14, 2008 | Posted in
A Dancer's Life,
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“Valentina Pereyaslavec is a great teacher. I was lucky to fall into her hands when I came from Russia where things were slightly disorganized. The discipline in her class helps to focus on one’s work. Her classes give fantastic strength. My work with her helps me to maintain myself so well.
I brought Margot (Fonteyn) to [...]
Written on September 11, 2008 | Posted in
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Upon the 10th anniversary of the death of Rudolph Nureyev, KRCB of northern California and WGBH Boston presents the world televison premiere of William Richert’s classic documentary ‘A Dancer’s Life.’
Filmed in 1972 at the legendary American Ballet Theater school in New York, the hour long special reveals the private lives and loves of young [...]
Written on September 11, 2008 | Posted in
A Dancer's Life |
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1972 is a very long time ago, at least to the present generation. That was the year I filmed my cinema verite documentary A DANCER’S LIFE (then called “First Position”) which was set at the American Ballet Theater School. I released the film in two N.Y. Theaters – at the First Avenue Screening room and [...]
Written on September 11, 2008 | Posted in
A Dancer's Life,
Richert Speaks |
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“A stunning documentary about the daily lives of several students at the American Ballet Theater School in New York. It is not acted, and how William Richert, the director, managed to get people to behave so unaffectedly before the camera is a total miracle. There has never been such an honest film about dancers-in-training before, [...]
Written on September 11, 2008 | Posted in
A Dancer's Life,
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