Screen Dancers

Ballets Russes offers history and passion

Comments (0) By Jesse Hyde Thursday, Feb 23 2006

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Even if you know little about dance, you will probably enjoy Ballets Russes, a documentary about a group of Russian refugees who toured the globe and in so doing gave birth to modern ballet. The celebrated documentary, which opened in October, tells the story of two pioneering Russian ballet companies, from their halcyon days in the 1930s and 1940s through the eventual demise of the rival companies in the '50s and '60s. Through archival footage and recent interviews with the dancers (many of whom are well into their 80s), the film, according to New York Times critic A.O. Scott, tells a "marvelous story of mid-century show business," truly capturing the magic of dance. It even explains how the modern ideal of slender, tall ballerinas came about. The film plays Friday through Sunday as part of Magnolia at the Modern, an ongoing series at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, 3200 Darnell St. in Fort Worth. Screenings are 6 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $7.50, $5.50 for Modern members. Advance sales begin two hours before each show. Call 1-866-824-5566 or visit themodern.org/educ_magnolia.html.
Feb. 24-26