
They date, they have family issues, and they're passionate without being crazy. These are the most normal teenagers you'll find in a ballet movie. Campbell, like Natalie Portman, also does a good job of making herself into a realistic ballerina, and Robert Altman's cinematography does justice to the dancing, which is rare.ĥ) Step Up: It's not a ballet movie, per se, but Step Up is also about kids at a ballet high school. Any teenager with ballet aspirations will relate to the characters struggling to make it at a top New York ballet boarding school.Ĥ) The Company: Neve Campbell's ballet movie is a quieter and more artistic affair, mostly showcasing the day-to-day lives of dancers working hard to make a name for themselves in a top professional company. The setting is right up Girl in Motion's alley. The dance clips still take my breath away and Shirley MacLaine and Anne Bancroft's stellar acting balance out the film.ģ) Center Stage: I thought it was hokey when it came out, but no one can deny Center Stage became a cult classic. Let's face it, watching Baryshnikov never gets old. There was never a dull moment in the film and that appealed to my theatrical side.Ģ) The Turning Point: Yes, it's dated, but The Turning Point is the ultimate ballet film about a former ballerina facing her own past as her daughter becomes a rising star. I liked that she was able to portray the real look and feel of a dancer, which is rare for a Hollywood actress. Natalie Portman deserved the Oscar ® for her portrayal of a dancer willing to do anything for her art.


Miriam Wenger-Landis's Favorite Ballet Movies 1) Black Swan: Despite dancer outrage over the cliches, Black Swan remains my top pick.
