BALLERINA: Russian ballet dancer documentary opens 3/27 in San Francisco! March 27, 2009

Official Film Website: http://firstrunfeatures.com/ballerina_synopsis.html

GUEST SPEAKERS: SF Ballet artists Maria Kochetkova and Ivan Popov will speak at Sun 3/29, 7:20 show!

In the grand tradition of the Ballets Russes comes Bertrand Normand's portrait of five Russian ballerinas from the Mariinski Theatre, formerly known as the Kirov. Behind any great ballerina lies the discipline and rigor that comes from decades of training and practice; and Russia's pre-eminent dancers - superstars such as Nijinsky, Baryshnikov and Pavlova - established the reputation of Russian dancers as the best in the world. The dancers profiled in BALLERINA are uniquely individual - tough, insightful and exceptionally talented; onstage they reveal no hint of the sweat, pain and hard work of the rehearsal studio. From Swan Lake to Romeo and Juliet, from the backstage studio to performing on stages around the world, BALLERINA captures the sublime beauty of ballet, in all its resplendent glory.

Weaving intimate interviews with rehearsal studio footage, this distinctive documentary captures the sublime beauty of the ballerina in all her glory, and reveals the country where she still shines - Russia, the land of the ballerina par excellence.

Landmark’s Opera Plaza Cinema, 601 Van Ness Blvd, San Francisco, (415) 267-4893
Tickets are $10.00 for general admission and $8.00 seniors, students, and children
Showtimes (valid 3/27-4/2): Fri-Thu at 2:15, 4:45, 7:20, 9:45

Official Website: http://firstrunfeatures.com/ballerina_synopsis.html