I cannot explain it but I have a growing fascination with the art, grace, and athleticism of ballet. The long, lean look of their bodies, the curve of the foot in a pointe shoe, the obsession the dancers have with their craft. So much respect. I’ve been feeding my infatuation through audio and visual means and am here to share in hopes you’ll be hooked too.
If you don’t know who Wendy Whelan is, check her out stat. She’s essentially a superwoman who performed for the New York City Ballet for 30 years and is still dancing today. I heard her being interviewed on NPR’s Fresh Air program and was fascinated by what she had to say about ballet and how it defined her. Check it out here.
That led me to her documentary on Netflix called Restless Creature. Again, she’s a superwoman. The film follows her through injuries, surgery, and finally her last performance with the NYCB. Here is a clip from the film of her final performance. Tell me the music isn’t one of the most haunting and beautiful things you’ve ever heard.
I’ve also stumbled on a short series on YouTube called city.ballet that is a full playlist of short, 6 minute-ish videos that dig into all aspects of the NYCB. It’s amazing how dancers can have so much grit and strength while being so graceful and making ballet look effortless. Totally binged both seasons in one night.
If you want to read more about pointe shoes and one of the premiere makers, Freed of London, check out this article by the Los Angeles Times. It blew me away that most professional dancers need a new pair for every performance.
Love. Love. Love.
Photo by Donald Giannatti on Unsplash
Photo by Gez Xavier Mansfield on Unsplash
