A friend of ours here in Los Angeles, Serene Dillman, has just finished a documentary about ballet students at the Los Angeles-based Marat Daukayev School of Ballet. Getting to the Nutcracker takes us behind the scenes of the annual production of The Nutcracker Ballet – which happens in cities all over the world at this time of year.
The film opens at the Laemmle’s Pasadena Playhouse this weekend, and the filmmaker will be present at the screenings for Q and A’s after the 7:10 pm showing on both Friday and Saturday nights. Friday, Serene will speak with with Debbie Allen and Saturday, with the dancers from the film.
Here is a link for ticketing!
Laemmle’s Playhouse 7, 673 E. Colorado Blvd. Pasadena, CA 11/14/14 – 11/20/14 4 Shows daily: 1:50/ 4:30/ 7:10/ 9:55
Q and A with Director, Serene Meshel – Dillman and Choreographer, Debbie Allen 11/14/14 after 7:10 PM show
Q and A with Director, Serene Meshel – Dillman 11/15/14 after 7:10 PM show
Pre-order on iTunes download now.
The documentary film Getting to The Nutcracker takes you inside the Herculean effort involved in gathering the resources, assembling the volunteers, casting the dancers, rehearsing and staging the performances of this classic ballet. Director Serene Meshel-Dillman, a former dancer at the School of American Ballet and commercial television producer, shows you an intimate, behind-the-curtain view of the dancers, their teachers and families.
Los Angeles-based Marat Daukayev School of Ballet, led by the former Kirov star, allowed us to record everything; the auditions, the rigorous hours of training and rehearsals, the joy of landing a principal role and the pain of losing one. The ballet dancers (boys and girls ages 3-18) are profiled; passionate people who, with their families, make incredible sacrifices of time and money just so that they may dance.
Best of all, you get to know these dancers. You hear about their dreams and share their triumphs and countless unexpected turns. You see it all, from talented teen artists with a future in dance to the younger, sweet children excitedly taking their turns on the stage.
