The great ballet choreographer George Balanchine once said: "I don't want dancers who want to dance, I want dancers who need to dance." This wonderful documentary by Beadie Finzi follows the experiences of two black teenagers from a working-class section of Rio in Brazil who have dedicated their lives to ballet. It is a struggle for both of them since this world is dominated by white people.
Irlan is a supremely talented dancer who has a passion for ballet and the commitment to give all he's got in every performance. He hopes to join a prestigious dance company in North America and make the lives of his adoring parents easier. His father is very close to Irlan and willing to do whatever it takes to help him fulfill his dream. It is a delight to watch this young man animate his body and his soul with his yearning.
Isabela, from the same poor neighborhood, has a similar dream. Her coach helps her navigate the tricky waters of international competition. Despite her dedication to practice and the beauty of her performances, her future in dance is uncertain; her parents do not have enough money to pay her expenses. We see how the deck is stacked against those who are poor. But an even larger and depressing obstacle to Isabela's future in dance is that many competition judges insist that ballerinas be pencil thin.
Aubrey Lynch has written of ballet: "To touch, to move, to inspire. This is the true gift of dance." The same could be said of this touching, moving, and inspiring documentary.
