Underplayed Gems

First Position (2011)

First Position poster
Directed by
Bess Kargman
Genre
documentary film
Country
United States
Runtime
1h 35m
Rated
G
Rating
7.2 of 10 from 47 voters
Elsewhere
IMDb
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How it feels

This documentary follows six young ballet dancers ages 9 to 19 as they train and compete in the Youth America Grand Prix in New York City. The competition can lead to a spot at an elite ballet company or school. The film shows their rigorous preparation and the pressure they face.

intensefocusedinspiringearnestnerve-wrackingobservationalhigh-stakes

What happens

First Position is a 2011 American documentary film. It follows six young dancers preparing for the Youth America Grand Prix in New York City, an annual competition for dancers ages 9–19 to earn a place at an elite ballet company or school. Directed by Bess Kargman, it features Michaela DePrince, Aran Bell, Gaya Bommer-Yemini, Miko Fogarty, Jules Fogarty, Joan Sebastian Zamora and Rebecca Houseknecht as they intensively train and prepare for what could be the turning point of their lives. The title 'First Position' is taken from one of the five standard positions of the feet in classical ballet. Kargman was a first-time director who had studied dance herself. "I ended up quitting my job to make this film, my first film, and I thought maybe by choosing a topic that was quite dear to me and that I had lived for a number of years growing up—maybe I’d be able to do this story justice." The film features renowned dancers and choreographers from all over the world including Nadine Bommer, Denys Ganio, Élisabeth Platel, Raymond Lukens, and Youth America Grand Prix's founder Larissa Saveliev. (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

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