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 it91裸聊视频檚 one of the reasons she agreed to produce the film 91裸聊视频淪wan Song,91裸聊视频� which traces the company91裸聊视频檚 2022 production of 91裸聊视频淪wan Lake91裸聊视频� 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, 91裸聊视频淪wan Lake.91裸聊视频�
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.
91裸聊视频淚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,91裸聊视频� said Campbell, who trained with Canada91裸聊视频檚 National Ballet School before starring in TV91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频淧arty of Five91裸聊视频� and the 91裸聊视频淪cream91裸聊视频� film franchise.
91裸聊视频淲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 91裸聊视频� 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.91裸聊视频�
Kain, too, opens up about mental health difficulties in her own career, which rocketed after she joined the corps in 1969 91裸聊视频� 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 91裸聊视频渓ucky91裸聊视频� and someone who91裸聊视频檚 benefited from supporters who went 91裸聊视频渙ut of their way to create opportunities91裸聊视频� for her. 91裸聊视频淭he National Ballet just let me fly.91裸聊视频�
But success did not come without a cost.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 not like I91裸聊视频檝e just sailed through life,91裸聊视频� Kain added.
91裸聊视频淓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.91裸聊视频�
Dancers showcased in the documentary include 91裸聊视频淪wan Lake91裸聊视频� 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, it91裸聊视频檚 not all trials and tribulations.
Kain and the dancers also speak of passion and love for their chosen career, and the sacrifices they91裸聊视频檙e willing to make for their art. Campbell, who portrayed a dancer in the 2003 feature 91裸聊视频淭he Company,91裸聊视频� credited her childhood ballet training with inspiring her later success as an actress.
91裸聊视频淪torytelling is magical. And I91裸聊视频檓 glad I found another way to do it. I was never going to get to a place where Karen was in the company,91裸聊视频� said Campbell.
91裸聊视频淒ancers are amazing athletes, amazing artists and I91裸聊视频檓 glad the world is witnessing that more.
91裸聊视频淲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 we91裸聊视频檙e really getting a greater understanding and appreciation of the dance world.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淪wan Song91裸聊视频� 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.
91裸聊视频淪wan Song91裸聊视频� also airs as a four-part hour-long series on CBC and CBC Gem, starting Nov. 22.
It91裸聊视频檚 one of several CBC projects that expand on recent feature film releases, among them the film 91裸聊视频淏ones of Crows,91裸聊视频� which premiered as a five-part drama Sept. 20, and the film 91裸聊视频淏lackBerry,91裸聊视频� which debuts as a three-part hour-long series Nov. 9.
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