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About MAKING BALLET: Karen Kain And The National Ballet
Product Description Filmmaker Anthony Azzopardi goes behind-the-scenes with Karen Kain, James Kudelka, and the National Ballet of Canada to capture the drama within the drama, with this fascinating look at the making of the Modern Dance Ballet The Actress, in this fascinating documentary DVD entitled Making Ballet: Karen Kain and The National Ballet of Canada. Set to Frederic Chopin's Preludes, and arranged for a full orchestra, The Actress was created for Canada's prima ballerina Karen Kain, by its premier choreographer James Kudelka, who is hailed by the New York Times as one of the best choreographers in the world. This universal film presents the creation of a new dance work, fostering a greater understanding for those who have never before seen a ballet, as well as aficionados of the art form. Beginning with the first rehearsal, we witness the growing rapport between the choreographer and the dancers (Karen Kain, Rex Harrington, Martine Lamy and others). We see how the famous set designer Santo Loquasto conceives and executes his brilliant designs. We enjoy insights from Karen Kain into her character and the art of ballet. The DVD also covers topics such as stage director John Copley's objective, the dancers training, adding the music to the production, and the first dress rehearsal, all leading to the final staging in which the elements come together in a magnificent, seemingly-effortless production. DVD BONUS FEATURES: Karin Kain Biography Stage Director James Kudelka Biography About The Ballet: The Actress Filmmaker Anthony Azzopardi Biography Multi-Directional Interactive Menus Digital Dolby Stereo Audio Instant Access to Scene Selections Recommended DVDs Review Don't shy away from this scintillating 90-minute production which goes behind the scenes to demonstrate how a ballet is made from scratch… the result is often magical --The Toronto Star Allows dance enthusiasts (and novices) to snoop around the studio… Viewers unfamiliar with ballet will likely gain appreciation for the grueling physical work that leads to perfection. --The Chicago Tribune This film captures the inspiration, hard work, artistry, creativity and cooperation that combine to create magic in the theater. --Library Journal About the Actor Karen Kain Biography Born in 1951, Karen Kain's mother enrolled her in ballet classes to improve her daughter's poise, posture, and discipline. At age 11, Kain left home to begin studies at the National Ballet School in Toronto. Graduating in 1969, Kain joined the National Ballet of Canada and within a year was promoted to Principal Dancer. Kain became a worldwide dance celebrity in the early 1970s after a string of award-winning performances at the International Ballet Competition. With her reputation flourishing, demand for the ballerina rose swiftly back in Canada, as well as abroad. At one point, she simultaneously toured Canada with two companies, one heading East to West and the other West to East. She formed a close friendship with Rudolf Nureyev and subsequently began performing internationally across Russia and Europe at Roland Petit's Le Ballet de Marseilles, The Bolshoi Ballet, The Paris Opera Ballet & Vienna State Opera Ballet, amongst others. Feeling her skills were diminishing. Kain left the ballet for a year and spent her time in psychotherapy learning, as she wrote in her 1994 autobiography, Movement Never Lies, to shift from depending on having other people believe in me to believing in myself. 1980 marked her triumphant return to the National Ballet Company. With a few exceptions (Italy and China), Karen Kain spent the next 17 years rededicated to the Company and only performing in Canada. In February of 1996, she announced her retirement. Her reputation was celebrated as the focus of three documentary films: Dancers for Life, Making Ballet, and The Merry Widow and was further solidified after performing in television versions of the famous ballet Giselle (1976) and La Fille Mal Gardee (197
