Ballet is a Fierce, Youthful Art in ‘First Position’

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CHICAGO – In general, one of the essential rites of passage for girls in childhood are ballet lessons and costumed recitals. What about those exceptional talents who stick with the art? Director Bess Kargman creates a documentary about the elite youth within the beauty and truth of the dance, “First Position.”

The title refers to the stance that every new ballet student learns, and in Kargman’s document, symbolizes the career beginnings of the cream of the youth crop. No matter what your opinion or connection to the art form is, this film enhances the appreciation of the hard work and dedication that these children endure. There are several surprises, with both the expected stereotypes and outside-the-box participants. Everything is beautiful at the ballet.

Kargman follows six different competitors in the prestigious Youth America Grand Prix, which focuses on ballet dancers ages 9-19. There are types that are expected – the intensity of a parent who accommodates and sacrifices, the instructor taskmaster in the studio and the hours of obsessive rehearsal. But when the individual kids are spotlighted, a new truth emerges. Life has a different path for these talents, and each journey has an artistic interpretation within it.

The Remarkable Micheala Deprince of ‘First Position’
The Remarkable Micheala Deprince of ‘First Position’
Photo credit: Sundance Selects

There are ballets types that might be assumed, upper middle class kids who have the luck of time and resources to indulge in the art, but the best part of the film is the unexpected. There is the war orphan whose odds of being in ballet were nil at her birth, and the teenager from South America who is dancing for a better life. All of the dancers are shown as normal kids, with normal kid activities and innocence, which becomes apparent. But when that music starts and the first position is realized, the artist within the child is born.

As the world turns, it’s difficult to understand that stuff like this goes on all the time. The top children of any advocation are in competition across the country to build the better microchip, experiment at a high level in scientific endeavors and hit a baseball a country mile. But there is something so poignant about the top performers in ballet, because the result of their intense, focused work is a reward for all, in the experience and expression of their dance. Kargman, a former dancer herself, empathizes with the person inside the ballet competitor and completes a nice portrait of all her subjects.

The most amazing story is the war orphan from Sierra Leone (West Africa), Michaela Deprince, adopted by older parents and given a second chance. Her delicacy is part of breaking some stereotypes of black female dancers, but mostly her pinpoint concentration on bringing her routine to the stage, despite a nagging injury. Her obvious first lesson about life was that it’s cheap, and in given another opportunity, it’s best to honor it with gratitude and religiosity.

The second favorite story of mine was Aran Bell, son of a military surgeon whose travels allowed for the advantage of international ballet instruction. He is a prodigy, not only recognized as such but proven once he moves. There is something more about him, the invisible “it” factor that is immediately recognized, but elusive. But on the other side of his life, he loves to zip through the studio and backstage on a skateboard. There is an identified intensity within him, including the mastery of emotion that is necessary to perform as the best.

Rebecca Houseknect Waits Backstage in ‘First Position’
Rebecca Houseknect Waits Backstage in ‘First Position’
Photo credit: Sundance Selects

There are several dance scenes, shown in performance, rehearsal and even stretching-muscle casualness. Kargman’s insider knowledge takes us behind the scenes, and behind those scenes, which also creates a redundancy in the story at times. I wanted to see more about the driven parent, the glimpses were the most intriguing parts of the overall raising-a-ballerina equation. In fact, the older couple who adopted the war orphan, they were seriously in their late sixties. What is their story, beyond even the extreme kindness of saving children’s lives?

I enjoy dance in the Broadway rhythm sense, or maybe in a “Gene Kelly overpopulating a Cinerama screen” memory. The ballet is different all together, an angular quiver of body movement that interprets life itself. “First Position” allows for both appreciation and insider privilege.

“First Position” continues its limited release in Chicago on May 18th. See local listings for theaters and show times. Featuring Aran Bell, Gaya Bommer Yemini, Michaela Deprince, Jules Jarvis Fogarty, Miko Forgarty, Rebecca Houseknecht and Joan Sebastian Zamora. Directed by Bess Kargman. Not rated.

HollywoodChicago.com senior staff writer Patrick McDonald

By PATRICK McDONALD
Senior Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
pat@hollywoodchicago.com

© 2012 Patrick McDonald, HollywoodChicago.com

ziggy one of the best's picture

"first Position

WOW what a great movie those poor kids go thought a lot of hard work and sufficing for their love of dancing

Manny be down's picture

"First Position"

I’m so happy that they made this movie to show how hard these kids has to go for this art that they love!!

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