Ballet Russes

byLanier Ivester

I can’t WAIT to see this movie! 

Even the trailer brings tears to my eyes.

My sister saw this documentary-style film in New York and wept all the way through it–she said that it made her want to paint ballerinas, which I think would be great considering her ballet background and her art career!  She told me that she floated around for days afterwards, borne up by the sheer beauty of the footage and the energy of the interviews with surviving members of the Ballet Russes, many of which have passed away even since the film was made.

The sacrifices these people made, and the joy they had in simply doing what they loved!  What an inspiration to all of us pursuing our individual artistic callings in daily life!  Ballet has always been such a huge part of me, I can’t help but be moved by this tribute to the company that dazzled the whole world with its glamor in the middle of the last century.  I remember sitting on the floor with my ballet students showing them pictures of Alicia Markova and Maria Tallchief and explaining their mark on the ballet world–and now to actually see them in their element, to hear them interviewed and watch them dance…it seems like such an honor.

It opens in Atlanta February 10th, and we will definitely be there.  Philip has listened so patiently to all my rantings about classical positions and placement and epaulement for all these years–bless his heart!–so I know he’ll appreciate it, too!
 

Here’s what the Sundance Film Festival had to say:

 BALLETS RUSSES maps the company’s Diaghilev-era beginnings in turn-of-the-century Paris–when artists such as Nijinsky, Balanchine, Picasso, Miró, Matisse, and Stravinsky united in an unparalleled collaboration–to its halcyon days of the 1930s and ’40s, when the Ballets Russes toured America, astonishing audiences schooled in vaudeville with artistry never before seen, to its demise in the 1950s and ’60s when rising costs, rocketing egos, outside competition, and internal mismanagement ultimately brought this revered company to its knees.

— Sundance Film Festival, 2005

 

12 Comments

  1. I’m not offended, Jessica! 🙂 The ancestors from which I get my name were French musicians, and as surnames generally indicated professions I’ve always liked to think that my name meant something about music! But I’ve never come across an actual definition…
    And yes, I know what you mean about ‘all-comsuming passion’…;) It was hard growing up to find places to study that went along with our view on it, since neither my sister nor I entertained thoughts of making a career out of it. But the Lord amply provided. ..

  2. Thanks for the reply! So it’s a family name then? And it’s French, but you say it la-neer, right….not lai-nee-ay (how I was saying it until I found out different from your introduction post on YLCF)? Anyway….sorry about all the questions…I’ll stop now!

  3. Glad you found me, Melody! I just love hearing about other ladies who see dance as a form of worship. Maybe I need to elaborate on that in a post! 🙂 God bless you,too!!!

    Yes, Jessica, it’s French but not pronounced in the French way. 😉

    Have either of you heard of Ballet Magnificat?

  4. Oh, yes, I’ve heard of Ballet Magnificat…they are a wonderful company! In 2003, I attended their four-week Summer Intensive and loved it…and discovered that I didn’t want to dance professionally! Have you seen their new ballet “Ruth”? It looks like it will be/is a wonderful production!

    Oh, and thanks for letting me know about the pronounciation of your name!

  5. Hello! Wow, what timely posts! The timing of the Lord always amazes me! 🙂
    First of all, yes Mrs. Ivester, please do elaborate on worship dance. I desperatly want to hear what you have to say.
    I have always loved ballet; in fact, it is something that I live and breathe day in and day out.
    Three years ago, we moved to a different state and I found a worship dance company. They welcomed me with open arms and taught me how to praise the Lord with my dancing. It was like a huge breath of fresh air. No longer was I dancing for myself. I was dancing for Jesus!
    Now while I do not agree with a few minor things in the company, on the whole they are wonderful because they are seeking to glorify the Lord through dance.
    However, in the past 24 hours, I feel like I am not sure what I believe anymore.
    Yesterday, a trusted friend confided that their family was seriously, and had been for the past couple of years, questioning both this dance company and worship dance as a whole. I have just emailed asking for clarification and further insight into what they are wondering.
    But what I know so far about what they think is: that because dance is so physical ( in that you use your whle body), is it really glorifying (or is it appropriate as a worship form) to the Lord?
    This has caused great confusion for me. And it came up because we were telling them about my desire to go to Ballet Magnificat’s summer intensive this year with a close friend.
    If the Lord wants me to step out of worship dance for awhile, I am willing. It is not a career for me!
    Maybe he is wanting me to sanctify this desire to worship Him? Maybe He wants me to really go question and then form what I believe?
    I really would love to hear what you both have to say. I highly value your opinions because I can see that you are both truly seeking after the Lord. I just feel so much confusion and pain right now. Anyway, thank you for taking the time to read all of this! I hope it was alright that I have written this all, Mrs. Ivester. Please let me know if it wasn’t.
    God bless you both!!

  8. DEAR ONE–I will email you later this afternoon…I know exactly what you are going through, and I know how painful and confusing it can be. I have a lot of thoughts on this matter, and they may very well end up in another post… 😉 And of course I don’t mind you writing all of that. Sounds like the beginnings of a really good discussion…

  9. Thank you, Mrs. Ivester! Just whenever you get some time. Please don’t feel rushed. I really appreciate your counsel.
    Yes, between ballet and worship dance, I think we could talk for a long time…
    🙂

  10. Lanier…who was your former teacher that now teaches for Ballet Mag?

    I too have wondered whether or not ballet and dance in general is glorifying to Jesus because of the fact that it IS so physical and, essentially, other people (i.e. the audience if you’re performing) are watching your whole body….if that makes any sense! So…I would very much enjoy a post on this if you ever do one…

  11. Jessica, my teacher was Lauri Worrill-Biggs. She’s not affiliated with the school anymore last I heard, but is teaching full time there at the college. Did you have any classes with her?

    As fas as a post on dance as worship, I’d love to share my thoughts. 🙂 We’ll see what I can come up with…

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