LA DANSE, THE PARIS OPERA BALLET DVD Review

Shot over the course of what seems like a few days, La Danse, by veteran documentary auteur Frederick Wiseman actually captures some intricate and essential elements of preparation for multiple productions over the season. Vignettes of rehearsals, stage scenes, custodial duties, managerial conversation and shots of empty rooms and grand halls pervade this scatter shot doco and the fly on the wall style is organic and entrancing.

 

Wiseman has always been obsessed by human interaction and La Danse, on first glance seems to have nothing to say, but after understanding his intentions and background, the mere capture of people and place is given some significance and the unlimited range of human emotion and reaction is realised. From every element of human activity in the beautiful dance theatre we witness multiple things; from the mundane to the extraordinary. What sets this apart from other documentaries is the extremely non-pretentious way Wiseman has crafted it; mixing all elements together. It is an altogether strange thing to witness an extravagant dance sequence only to have it not go perfectly some way through and to suddenly hear the advice of a coach or trainer as they interrupt it. Likewise a scene of a beautiful rehearsal is cut to some people chatting about nothing in particular, using terms that make no sense unless familiar with ballet technical lingo.

 

Regardless of Wiseman's natural observations, La Danse purposely or otherwise captures the undeniable beauty of motion and form. Each dance is a work of art and beauty, and for such an awe inspiring reputation, the Paris opera ballet's inner workings seem effortless. Scenes of groups, individual and partner dances and rehearsals make up most of the documentary and are entrancing.

 

The building itself is another character entirely; its large clean rooms, long hallways and winding stairs lead from one rehearsal to the other. Wiseman, remaining unbiased also focuses on the dilapidated parts of the building, work in progress and maintenance painting parts of the building and even some of the sewer system, underneath in the basement. These scenes are also broken up by shots of the theatre outside, during night, early morning and day and like the rehearsals themselves Wiseman's ability to capture the essential parts of Paris near this theatre is also effortless.

 

The documentary begins to be broken up by some contemporary ballet, amidst the traditional and neo-classical and these contemporary scenes play out for too long and are often quite unnerving and cutting edge in their depiction of depression and violence. From these a feeling begins to emerge from the documentary, and coupled with scenes of the artistic manager discussing retirement and hinting at the future of the theatre, it is a tinged dark tale, where negativity begins to seep in.

 

After viewing The Black Swan and the masterful Red Shoes, I was intrigued to see what La Danse had to say about the reality of the art. I was certainly impressed by Wiseman's honest retelling and depiction of the trivial and fascinating in the one package to create something altogether unique and honest. Although some scenes were grating, overall this was a flawless documentary and achieved its purpose of exposing the machinations and humanity of the world of ballet.