I adore every documentary the Ballet Boyz make, they're always so involved and funny plus you're never bored by the time the middle comes around.


www.youtube.com . . .

if the ending doesn't make you wanna get up and dance, then you have no soul enjoy!

~brooke~

Brooke -

Thank you so much for posting this.

I enjoyed it so much! That last Corsaire pas de deux got me! I'm such a weenie I just stared crying. They are so good! In Acosta's solo I thought there was a tad too much editing, but I think they did an excellent job overall of capturing everything.

It was just a joy. I would have loved to have been there ... heat and all, but it's nice that people think to video these events and let us share in them.

Thanks again. Karma to you!

I watched the first 20 minutes or so, and I'm hooked! I wish I had time to see the whole thing, right now! But life is interfering... Thanks so much for sharing this, and I look forward to watching the rest of it when I get home from work tomorrow afternoon!

I had heard on NPR that the Royal Ballet was allowed to perform in Cuba and thought that was all I would hear of it. Until this documentary.

The crowd reactions were so rowdy !

thanks

Oh yeah, they brought their own lighting and removed the house lighting. In addition to the dancing, I think that is just a remarkable expansive demonstration of how honored they were to perform there.

Did I hear that right? 100,000 British pounds were spent per day and the performance was in front of 2000 people who paid 20 pesos each?

Oh, I'm smiling ear to ear! What a delight. It was very comprehensive in recording the multitude of facets involved in getting this mega-production to the stage. And it was done in such a fun and humorous way. The drama, praying for no lighting interruptions during the show, sick dancers, and partners not arriving until the day of opening night, the exquisite dancing and the soul of the Cuban people -- it was all there.

I, too, reacted to the editing of Acosta's solo from Corsaire, and would have been happy to see the whole thing. But then I reasoned that the documentary was not just about Acosta, so I dealt with it...

As for the "rowdy crowd reactions," I kind of liked them! Ballet is an integral part of the culture, as highly regarded as sports would be in many places. Cuban dancers are very strong, and the audiences here seemed to be thrilled with the Royal's technical prowess (at least that was the impression I got from what was presented in this film). Bravo to management of the Royal for taking such a varied rep. I think it represented the company well, and it introduced Cubans to aspects of ballet which were totally new to them.

Thanks again, Brooke, for this wonderful treat!

I'm glad you all enjoyed it, thank you for the karma!

~brooke~