La Danse

LA DANSE is a rare glimpse into the world of The Paris Opera Ballet – from airy rehearsal rooms to live performances at L’Opera de la Bastille and the famed Palais Garnier. Costume shop to cafeteria, we follow the company through the creative development of seven ballets – modern and classical – featuring choreography by Pierre Lacotte, Pina Bausch, Wayne McGregor, Mats Ek, Sasha Waltz and Rudolf Nureyev.

Through Wiseman’s experienced, objective lens we see the heart and soul of a dance company striving together to uphold their historic international standard of excellence.

“In “La Danse: The Paris Opera Ballet,” his 36th documentary in more than 40 years, Frederick Wiseman takes his camera into the stately and elegant Palais Garnier in Paris, observing rehearsals, staff meetings and, finally, performances of seven dances, including classics like “The Nutcracker” and spiky new work by younger choreographers. To say that the film, sumptuous in its length and graceful in its rhythm, is a feast for ballet lovers is to state the obvious and also to sell Mr. Wiseman’s achievement a bit short. Yes, this is one of the finest dance films ever made, but there’s more to it than that.” (A.O. Scott, New York Times)

“A joyous experience.” (David Denby, New Yorker)