Dancer-turned-actress Neve Campbell says she hopes her documentary about the National Ballet of Canada sheds light on some of the uglier aspects of the dance world that demand change.
Campbell says itB次元官网网址檚 one of the reasons she agreed to produce the film B次元官网网址淪wan Song,B次元官网网址� which traces the companyB次元官网网址檚 2022 production of B次元官网网址淪wan LakeB次元官网网址� as envisioned by principal dancer-turned-artistic director Karen Kain.
Directed by Chelsea McMullan, the feature includes interviews with young dancers who address the mental health struggles, racism, classism and rivalries that dog the profession. It opens Friday after premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival.
The film centres on Kain as she recounts a glittering international career that includes a celebrated partnership with Russian superstar Rudolf Nureyev and culminates with her vision for a more modern take on the quintessential romantic crowd-pleaser, B次元官网网址淪wan Lake.B次元官网网址�
Cameras follow Kain as the National Ballet of Canada attempts to rebound from a pandemic-induced shutdown with a renewed commitment to boost diversity among its ranks and audience.
Campbell acknowledges similar efforts underway in other companies, and says she hopes the film can further challenging conversations in a field that historically rewards tradition, conformity and compliance.
B次元官网网址淚t is addressing the racism that has existed in the ballet world, the need for diversity, the need for change in dance and that any art form needs to shift and grow,B次元官网网址� said Campbell, who trained with CanadaB次元官网网址檚 National Ballet School before starring in TVB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淧arty of FiveB次元官网网址� and the B次元官网网址淪creamB次元官网网址� film franchise.
B次元官网网址淲hat I love about this story is that you see dancers who are doing really well, you see dancers who are struggling and see people doing better than them B次元官网网址� the competitive element of that, what that does to you spiritually, emotionally, what you have to overcome, whether you want to continue doing it because you love the art form. That, I related to a lot.B次元官网网址�
Kain, too, opens up about mental health difficulties in her own career, which rocketed after she joined the corps in 1969 B次元官网网址� she was promoted to principal dancer in 1971 and soon gained international fame.
During a round of TIFF interviews alongside Campbell, Kain described herself as B次元官网网址渓uckyB次元官网网址� and someone whoB次元官网网址檚 benefited from supporters who went B次元官网网址渙ut of their way to create opportunitiesB次元官网网址� for her. B次元官网网址淭he National Ballet just let me fly.B次元官网网址�
But success did not come without a cost.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not like IB次元官网网址檝e just sailed through life,B次元官网网址� Kain added.
B次元官网网址淓ven getting so well known so young was very challenging for me because it made a lot of people around me who I thought were my friends be, kind of, not so friendly to me. And that was hurtful to me.B次元官网网址�
Dancers showcased in the documentary include B次元官网网址淪wan LakeB次元官网网址� lead Jurgita Dronina, who conceals a debilitating injury; corps member Shaelynn Estrada, who recounts cleaning dance studios as a kid to help cover the cost of classes; and corps member Tene Ward, a dancer of Sri Lankan, African-American and Cherokee Indian descent who speaks about grappling with impostor syndrome.
Of course, itB次元官网网址檚 not all trials and tribulations.
Kain and the dancers also speak of passion and love for their chosen career, and the sacrifices theyB次元官网网址檙e willing to make for their art. Campbell, who portrayed a dancer in the 2003 feature B次元官网网址淭he Company,B次元官网网址� credited her childhood ballet training with inspiring her later success as an actress.
B次元官网网址淪torytelling is magical. And IB次元官网网址檓 glad I found another way to do it. I was never going to get to a place where Karen was in the company,B次元官网网址� said Campbell.
B次元官网网址淒ancers are amazing athletes, amazing artists and IB次元官网网址檓 glad the world is witnessing that more.
B次元官网网址淲hen I made the film that I did 20 years ago, there was not a lot of awareness around dance. But I think because of a lot of these reality shows and competitions now on television and documentaries being made weB次元官网网址檙e really getting a greater understanding and appreciation of the dance world.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淪wan SongB次元官网网址� opens theatrically in Toronto on Friday before rolling out to other cities. Dates include Wolfville, N.S., on Oct. 11; Sudbury, Ont., on Oct. 12; the Ontario cities of Kingston and London on Oct. 13; Ottawa on Oct. 16; Vancouver, Victoria and Saskatoon on Oct. 20; and Amherst, N.S., on Oct. 26, with more markets possibly added.
B次元官网网址淪wan SongB次元官网网址� also airs as a four-part hour-long series on CBC and CBC Gem, starting Nov. 22.
ItB次元官网网址檚 one of several CBC projects that expand on recent feature film releases, among them the film B次元官网网址淏ones of Crows,B次元官网网址� which premiered as a five-part drama Sept. 20, and the film B次元官网网址淏lackBerry,B次元官网网址� which debuts as a three-part hour-long series Nov. 9.
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