Dancer-turned-actress Neve Campbell says she hopes her documentary about the National Ballet of Canada sheds light on some of the uglier aspects of the dance world that demand change.
Campbell says it害羞草研究所檚 one of the reasons she agreed to produce the film 害羞草研究所淪wan Song,害羞草研究所� which traces the company害羞草研究所檚 2022 production of 害羞草研究所淪wan Lake害羞草研究所� as envisioned by principal dancer-turned-artistic director Karen Kain.
Directed by Chelsea McMullan, the feature includes interviews with young dancers who address the mental health struggles, racism, classism and rivalries that dog the profession. It opens Friday after premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival.
The film centres on Kain as she recounts a glittering international career that includes a celebrated partnership with Russian superstar Rudolf Nureyev and culminates with her vision for a more modern take on the quintessential romantic crowd-pleaser, 害羞草研究所淪wan Lake.害羞草研究所�
Cameras follow Kain as the National Ballet of Canada attempts to rebound from a pandemic-induced shutdown with a renewed commitment to boost diversity among its ranks and audience.
Campbell acknowledges similar efforts underway in other companies, and says she hopes the film can further challenging conversations in a field that historically rewards tradition, conformity and compliance.
害羞草研究所淚t is addressing the racism that has existed in the ballet world, the need for diversity, the need for change in dance and that any art form needs to shift and grow,害羞草研究所� said Campbell, who trained with Canada害羞草研究所檚 National Ballet School before starring in TV害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所淧arty of Five害羞草研究所� and the 害羞草研究所淪cream害羞草研究所� film franchise.
害羞草研究所淲hat I love about this story is that you see dancers who are doing really well, you see dancers who are struggling and see people doing better than them 害羞草研究所� the competitive element of that, what that does to you spiritually, emotionally, what you have to overcome, whether you want to continue doing it because you love the art form. That, I related to a lot.害羞草研究所�
Kain, too, opens up about mental health difficulties in her own career, which rocketed after she joined the corps in 1969 害羞草研究所� she was promoted to principal dancer in 1971 and soon gained international fame.
During a round of TIFF interviews alongside Campbell, Kain described herself as 害羞草研究所渓ucky害羞草研究所� and someone who害羞草研究所檚 benefited from supporters who went 害羞草研究所渙ut of their way to create opportunities害羞草研究所� for her. 害羞草研究所淭he National Ballet just let me fly.害羞草研究所�
But success did not come without a cost.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 not like I害羞草研究所檝e just sailed through life,害羞草研究所� Kain added.
害羞草研究所淓ven getting so well known so young was very challenging for me because it made a lot of people around me who I thought were my friends be, kind of, not so friendly to me. And that was hurtful to me.害羞草研究所�
Dancers showcased in the documentary include 害羞草研究所淪wan Lake害羞草研究所� lead Jurgita Dronina, who conceals a debilitating injury; corps member Shaelynn Estrada, who recounts cleaning dance studios as a kid to help cover the cost of classes; and corps member Tene Ward, a dancer of Sri Lankan, African-American and Cherokee Indian descent who speaks about grappling with impostor syndrome.
Of course, it害羞草研究所檚 not all trials and tribulations.
Kain and the dancers also speak of passion and love for their chosen career, and the sacrifices they害羞草研究所檙e willing to make for their art. Campbell, who portrayed a dancer in the 2003 feature 害羞草研究所淭he Company,害羞草研究所� credited her childhood ballet training with inspiring her later success as an actress.
害羞草研究所淪torytelling is magical. And I害羞草研究所檓 glad I found another way to do it. I was never going to get to a place where Karen was in the company,害羞草研究所� said Campbell.
害羞草研究所淒ancers are amazing athletes, amazing artists and I害羞草研究所檓 glad the world is witnessing that more.
害羞草研究所淲hen I made the film that I did 20 years ago, there was not a lot of awareness around dance. But I think because of a lot of these reality shows and competitions now on television and documentaries being made we害羞草研究所檙e really getting a greater understanding and appreciation of the dance world.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淪wan Song害羞草研究所� opens theatrically in Toronto on Friday before rolling out to other cities. Dates include Wolfville, N.S., on Oct. 11; Sudbury, Ont., on Oct. 12; the Ontario cities of Kingston and London on Oct. 13; Ottawa on Oct. 16; Vancouver, Victoria and Saskatoon on Oct. 20; and Amherst, N.S., on Oct. 26, with more markets possibly added.
害羞草研究所淪wan Song害羞草研究所� also airs as a four-part hour-long series on CBC and CBC Gem, starting Nov. 22.
It害羞草研究所檚 one of several CBC projects that expand on recent feature film releases, among them the film 害羞草研究所淏ones of Crows,害羞草研究所� which premiered as a five-part drama Sept. 20, and the film 害羞草研究所淏lackBerry,害羞草研究所� which debuts as a three-part hour-long series Nov. 9.
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