A Perfect Balance

May 30, 2014

When the curtain rises on a ballet performance, it is easy for the audience to become entranced by the artistry and skill of the choreography, and to be nearly unaware of the dancers as people. In the new WFYI documentary, A Perfect Balance, filmed in partnership with the Indianapolis City Ballet, viewers will get to know the people behind the dancing. Through backstage interviews and stage rehearsals, some of the world’s greatest dancers describe the dedication and discipline that goes into becoming an accomplished performer.

Filmed over five years of Evening with the Stars Gala Performances in Indianapolis, this documentary also captures six performance pieces that showcase the dancers in their signature works and demonstrate a wide range of ballet - classical, contemporary, high-energy, lyrical, and romantic.

The rarity of this documentary is that it brings together tremendously gifted, international dancers - principal dancers from such top companies as the Joffrey Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Berlin Ballet, San Francisco Ballet and the New York City Ballet - who tell their own stories. Through their stories, as well as exquisite photography and wonderful dancing, this film is a delight for the senses, and hopefully, says producer Kevin Hesse, will spark new interest in ballet. "A Perfect Balance is both an art film and an educational film," he says. "We hope it will open viewers’ eyes to ballet and all it can be and start them seeing more ballet, wherever they may live."