Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Dancer from the dance
I have had the privilege of being with professional dancers in my life, backstage.
It is not an easy life and yet it is wonderfully rewarding in every instant. From the first dance class to the retirement from the stage, it is a life which is devoted to only one thing. Dance. Other life events occur but all are in reference to the one thing. Dance.
Today's film is a tribute to a person and the profession.
Afternoon of a Faun: Tanaquil Le Clercq (2013)
Through archival footage and contemporary interview with people who were close to her, Tanny's story is brought alive vividly and very engagingly.
Le Clercq was a prima ballerina with Balanchine, Robbins and other top dance directors. In one trip to Europe, she became ill and was diagnosed with polio. The dread disease which has, by now, been conquered. At that time, I remember, it was the terror that walked by everyone especially young people. A very grim reaper.
She became paralyzed and never regained more than movement in one arm.
We see her dance. Luminous. We see her after the illness. Still luminous. She beat it. Not the disease. She never danced again. But she had a life in dance and in all other respects. Told she would die in her forties she lasted into her eighties.
Indomitable.
An important narrator is her main dance partner Jacques d’Amboise who is still bright eyed and also still has his Bronx accent. An American he had to affect a frenchified persona to advance. Then dropped it later in his career. Another wonderful story of transformation.
I am not attracted to this kind of film because I do not like sob stories and avoid emotional manipulation. But there is none of this here.
It is straight forward with lots and lots of footage of Le Clercq dancing. She appeared widely on national television frequently. A star. I am grateful that they did not use the sound from these clips but managed to dub in appropriate, high fidelity music that perfectly matches the steps. Ballet is, of course, essentially music set to music. The timing is as precise in all respects. But it does take some care to dub in as the film does so successfully. I think it makes all the difference.
I am really glad that I saw this and would not mind seeing it again. A 4 out of Netflix5.
