"Long synonymous with legendary impresario Serge Diaghilev and the genius of Nijinsky, the Ballets Russes was founded in Paris in 1909, but had a long, illustrious history that spanned many continents, over 50 years, encompassing the lifetimes of many of the 20th century's greatest dancers. This epic-scaled documentary does justice to these companies (there were actually dueling Ballets Russes). The film is replete with breathtaking, rare archival footage and evocative interviews with dancers in their 80s and 90s who recall their early days touring the world, working with the likes of Balanchine, Massine, Fokine, Stravinsky, Debussy, Picasso and Matisse. Irina Baronova, Frederic Franklin, Dame Alicia Markova, Marc Platt (renamed Platoff -- 'everyone was Russianized'), Maria Tallchief and George Zoritch are just a few of the extraordinary artists who grace the screen." - Karen Cooper, Film Forum

"Directed with consummate invention and infused with juicy anecdotal interviews from many of the company's glamorous stars, Ballets Russes treats modern audiences to a rare glimpse of the singularly remarkable merger of Russian, American, European, and Latin American dancers, choreographers, composers, and designers taht transformed the face of ballet for generations to come." - David Courier, Sundance Film Festival 2005

Ballets Russes is presented courtesy of its distributor, Zeitgeist Films. This screening is presented in collaboration with Film Forum, New York's leading nonprofit cinema for independent film premieres and repertory programming.

Discussants:
Roger Copeland is Professor of Theater and Dance at Oberlin College.

Barbara Kravitz is a member of the New York Psychoanalytic Institute and a former professional ballet dancer.