Professional Ballerina Reviews Ballet Scenes, from 'Black Swan' to 'Billy Elliot' | Vanity Fair
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- Опубликовано: 17 май 2024
- Julie Kent, former ballet dancer turned Artistic Director of The Washington Ballet, reviews iconic ballet scenes from films including 'Black Swan,' 'Mao's Last Dancer,' 'The Game Plan,' 'The Nutcracker and the Four Realms,' 'The Red Shoes,' 'The Turning Point,' 'Billy Elliot,' 'Center Stage,' 'Save the Last Dance,' 'The White Crow' and 'White Nights.'
Julie Kent is the Artistic Director of The Washington Ballet, one of America’s top ballet companies, and is one of the most globally acclaimed and celebrated ballerinas. As TWB’s artistic director, her vision is to continue to elevate the prominence of the ballet company of the nation’s capital though growth in artists, repertoire, and ballet education. washingtonballet.org
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Professional Ballerina Reviews Ballet Scenes, from 'Black Swan' to 'Billy Elliot' | Vanity Fair 
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That’s JULIE FRICKING KENT not just a “ professional ballerina “
Seriously!
Her name should always be written in capital letters. A legit legend.
One of the best ballerinas ever. Period.
PERIOD
The woman is a legend. PERIOD
So many people try to show they are experts by ripping everything apart, but she clearly takes joy in finding something to embrace and celebrate about almost every movie.
So! I’ve worked with her in real life and she is delightful. She’s strict but so much fun
@@43v3rh1d3n that's the impression I got through this video. :)
“Professional dancer” is an underrated moniker for Julie Kent. It’s like calling Obama just a “politician.” They should’ve titled this “Living Dance Legend and Artistic Director, Julie Kent...”
Like, I’m a pro dancer, and I would never put myself on the same level as Julie Kent. She’s also one of the few female artistic directors out there, so that should be recognized.
Ok calm down not everyone knows about ballet legends.
Khadijah Johnson that’s kinda the point. Not everyone knows which is why it should be called out
@@gloriouslyimperfect but I am not even American. How should a know an American dancer? Do you you any European let alone German dancers? Ballet is beautiful but it is niche so calm tf down.
I was surprised that they used that moniker. I don't dance professionally or dance at all and even I know who Julie Kent is. That's like asking someone who loves dance who Balanchine was or who Martha Graham was.
I absolutely love watching all types of dance including ballet and modern dance. I try to stay educated when it comes dance.
@a Perigosa Well, that I don't know local American artisits. If they didn't do anything noteworthy in Europe I don't know them. Simple.
I FREAKED out when I saw Julie’s face. That isn’t just a professional ballerina, it’s the most incredible ballerina to ever grace the world.
You should probably look for Maya Plesetskaya then, what a gorgeous beauty she was!
маша федотова and Anna Pavlova 😭😭or any of the russian primas plus Marianela Nunez, Alina Cojucaru and Sylvie Guillem ;)
(I had to edit it because it autocorrected to Sylvia rather than Sylvie)
@@charlotte-vq1kz exactly! These women are incredible, too bad Americans dont give them the praise they deserve
"to ever grace the world"? Let's not go crazy.
@@karolinapupi19977 Some Americans don't who they are. I do and I am not a dancer but I love ballet. I have seen performances of The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Romeo and Juliet, and Coppélia.
"Oh! It's The Rock!" *maniacal laughter*
How could someone not love this woman?
That was my FAVORITE part, when you see a legend like that just break into smile and start clapping. "I LOVE THIS!!!" She's awesome.
Yes! Credit to Sarah Lane, the Black Swan dance double who was downplayed the entire press tour and Oscar campaign!
Literally, I remember they selling it as if Natalie Portman had done it herself
@@LeBlonQ they said Natalie did 85% dancing scene that used in the movie for god's sake. And she actually did, you can watch th movie and see yourself.
Mia Mama I HIGHLY doubt that true. Like, most of her dance scenes are clearly done by someone who’s trained and doesn’t matter how many classes she’s done, you don’t develop that sort of technic in a year.
@@LeBlonQ don't be so silly, all of Natalie's dancing shots are close range, I mean, you can clearly see her face, people just can't fake that, even with the most advanced CGI techniques.
Mia Mama dude, people can 100% fake that, in the video itself it shows the before and after or her face.
“It was a big miss. For a professional dancer. Of any form” I AM WEAK 😭😂 so true lol. I often laugh at that Save the Last Dance scene
It’s how I feel when I see fake violinists or really any fake string players playing in movie scenes, I just can’t take it! 🤣🤣
Truly don’t understand why they would even include that movie in this conversation. And I LOVE Save the Last Dance....watched it on repeat growing up. But it’s hardly a movie about ballet or featuring any respectable forms of dance. 🤣
@@AMBulosity because she loved everything else. They had to give her something to hate.
@@AMBulosity
Yeah. Agreed! 🤣
Any movie with one of the main song’s lyrics being:
“Baby bounce them t!ts,
Mama move them hips,
Baby shake them cheeks,
I got d!ck for days,
You got @ss for weeks...
You can do it out your back into it.
I can do it put your @ss into it”
wasn’t ever going to live up.
And I LOVED the movie, too! Especially when “Crazy” by K-Ci & JoJo comes on as they’re walking in the hallway! I get chill bumps every single time. But the end was always just so cringe-worthy! Sara at Juilliard just wasn’t ever believable for me.
Calling Julie Kent just a "professional ballerina" is like calling Meryl Streep just a "professional actress"
That roast of Save the Last Dance! She’s like, this is a travesty to both ballet and hip hop 😂
LOL also because she had positive comments about all the other films. it was such a shock to hear her give negative feedback xD
Oh wow. I will have to keep watching them for that
In fairness to the choreographer of that film, she had to design a dance that Stiles could actually perform. That may well have limited the possibilities to such a degree that it wasn't possible to do much better. It's like shooting an action fight scene with an actor who doesn't know how to throw a punch.
Shoot Me Reviews Love Julia Stiles, but sometimes it’s better to use a body double lol
@@erint5153 Or a dancing actor.
The giggle she had when she saw her husband had me giggling too and I don't even really know them.
We need a "professional classical musician reviews musicians in movies" because in most tv shows and movies anything involving people pretending to play instruments is an actual trainwreck
There is actually a channel like that! It’s called Twoset Violin
this is true, but it's better than asking a violist to do the acting 🤣
I wanna do this now. Hahaha! I’m a professional pianist (don’t judge all the vids on my channel, those are all when I was a kid 🤣 pre-university)
But we do this already when we watch movies 🤣🤣 La La Land was GREAT
They should react to Crossroads (85 or 86), specifically the guitar battle with Steve Vai. Vai is an incredible player and his playing is real in the scene but the lead actor's playing (I forget his name) is fake but he fakes it better than most. That would be an interesting one.
Totally... I'm a professional violinist and pretty much any scene of someone "playing" an instrument is just so awful and cringe-worthy I can't even watch. They could at least do closeups with a real musician so it doesn't look so awful!!
Thank you for acknowledging Sarah Lane. You didn't hesitate or downplay her role which so many people have and would have done. I think it's also an acknowledgement that as talented as Natalie Portman is, she never could have achieved the level of dance and mastery in two years that Sarah Lane has worked her feet off to achieve throughout her life.
☕️
Yeah I mean youd think Natalie would have only a few monthes to train. But is playing a ballerina who has been training for at least a decade or more.
“Mao’s Last Dancer” is a fantastic but unfortunately underrated film. I’m so glad it was included here, and that Julie focused on the story and Li’s impact as well.
I remember watching it at maybe 13, and it was amazing (I was a ballet dancer all throughout school, until I graduated high school, so ballet movies were always a go to). It’s so underrated, and it should really be talked about more.
Seeing this video has now put that movie on my radar. It’s definitely going on my watchlist
I watched it and I cried. It was beautiful.
And casting a dancer instead of trying to find an actor made all the difference. There's no way they could have shot it the way they did with an actor
LMAO Julie Kent trying to be nice about Save the Last Dance SENT me
Me watching ballet for the first time:
“I don’t know what’s going on but I like it”
Her passion for the art and history of ballet as a performer and now art director shines through as she explains thought processes for the creation of each of these scenes. Man, it was a joy to learn more about ballet, and discover more ballet films!
I loved Billy Elliot, but the ending when he's an adult dancer leaping onto the stage took my breath away. I only wish that scene would've been reviewed for the absolute power of it. Otherwise love all Julie Kent's reviews of each film.
Yes! In Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake!! Very powerful, the transition complete, just like in Swan Lake!!
Such an amazing end! And his dad's final reaction! Ah, I love that movie.
the end always makes me cry so hard 😭❤
Omg, Julie is speaking ballet talk, and not watering it down. I loved her enthusiasm over the Rock! And yes, dancers hate slow motion, shows imperfections 🤣 I met Julie Kent in 1985 at the National Arts and Letter's Society Ballet competition (I was a competitor) and she was simply STUNNING! ethereal, classic beauty, and so kind. Absolutely loved this video! 💗❤💗
Actually true what she said about the football players and ballet. When I was in high school they created a class specifically for football players/athletes and it was specifically designed to help strengthen their core and help with their flexibility. In a way too, it also showed the rest of the school that dancing isn’t a joke, especially ballet, and that dancers should also be at the same level as athletes.
Yeah, my sister was in theatre at USC in the early 2000s and she had stories about the footballers coming in and doing their own practice
Dancers are at the same level as athletes because they ARE athletes.
@@notoriouszig yes, they’re athletes, but they’re also so, so much more. An athlete can fumble, or grimace, or poke their tongue out- as long as they get the job done, it doesn’t matter how ugly it looks.
Ballet dancers though- they have to have the same athletic ability, only more. Because not only do they have to get the job done, but they have to make it look graceful and easy. And that’s one of the most difficult parts. Also, they have to act the entire time too. Someone can go through the motions of dancing, but if they don’t emote, nobody in the audience feels anything.
Ballet dancers are so much more than athletes.
Ballet dancers are the athletes of the Gods.
Julia: center stage.. "My good good friend, Ethan...and me."
Me: -clutches pearls- 😳🙌
Center Staaaaaaaage!!!!
IKR?!?! I know nothing about professional ballet or any famous ballerinas but as soon as I saw this woman’s face, I kept feeling like I knew her well. When she mentioned center stage, I clutched my pearls, my mommas pearls, my sisters pearls, etc. Lol! She is amazing!
Hehe I’ve meet him and he’s such an amazing dancer!!
We need a "professional classical musician reviews musicians in movies" because in most tv shows and movies anything involving people pretending to play instruments is an actual trainwreck
Me watching ballet for the first time:
“I don’t know what’s going on but I like it”
welcome to the artform!! the ballet world is beautiful and fascinating
That's how I felt watching my first professional ballet (in Pittsburgh), when I won a trip to the ballet at, like, 10. I still don't always know what's going on lol but I always like it lol
Same. I was maybe five years old when I saw my first ballet, _The Nutcracker._
"Look for my husband! There he is :D" She's so cute I could cry
Julie Kent is the reason I’m a ballet teacher now. I absolutely adore her. She’s a legend.
Fun little fact about Red Shoes; Fred Astaire was invited to a private screening of it at a friend's house (can't remember who). Not many people reacted strongly to it, except Fred who at one point stated that it was one of his most favorite films of all time (and most favorite for that year)! If I'm not mistaken, he even cried watching the movie.
I think you mean LIVING LEGEND JULIE KENT.
Right, she didn't need to watch those clips, she already knew every ballet-related movie out there. And she consulted and starred in those movies, her expertise is levels above the usual 'expert reviewers'.
I met Ms. Kent when I was a "super" in Romeo and Juliet when ABT came to St. Louis and she danced the role of Juliet. Although not all ABT members were very nice, she took the time to talk with me. Besides being an incredible technician, she's a real class act. Both her and Mr. Barbee were so nice. Love you, Julie!
Brava Ms Kent. Unlike many dancers who turn into insufferable killjoy's when reviewing dance films, you didn't lose your mind and pick apart every scene for not being 100 percent accurate to the world of dance. So many dancers seem to forget that film is NOT stage.
That's why it was so boring. I wanted to negativity. The Save The Last Dance comments were awesome.
No offense to Julia Stiles, but you can tell when it's her double b/c the double has amazing defined back muscles. That's what struck me the first time I saw a professional ballerina is how defined all their muscles are.
I went to school with her dance double. As I was watching it I could definitely tell it was her.
Yeah. The difference is striking. This astonishes me when watching ice skaters too. Like ballet dancers, they move so elegantly that sometimes you forget how much physical fitness and strength is involved.
People think "dancer" and forget that they're actually world-class athletes.
Yup, most ballerinas have more muscle definition than any of the female superheroes we see on screen hands down.
So glad she gave proper credit to Sarah Lane in this video 🥰
Her mother was my ballet teacher as a kid! I grew up with a framed poster of her on my wall. She's still my hero ❤️
I loved her on Center Stage! "Hi, girls..."
Oh i think it’s not her :))) I think Gillian Murphy
Am i wrong? :o
It is her. She talks in this about her filming experience
Also..."You heard her. They're for next time." *eyelash flutters*
I lived for Center Stage, I'm so excited this showed up in my recommended
“Maureen...Anna...”
i'm sorry that's JULIE KENT. HOW DID THEY GET HER TO DO THIS I- OH MY GOD
It seem that since every movie about ballet gets ballet dancers and ballet choreographers so the ballet is never that bad. She ripped Save the Last Dance apart but, everyone rips apart that movie.
If only this were true. A la all the actresses that ate casts in the lead roles with dance doubles... or worse really terrible dancers playing professionals in a few ballet tv shows 😂
I don’t know that movie nor the objective of that scene, but wow...talk about cringe. I feel sorry for that choreographer that had to stamp her name on that.
I wish she reacted to the final scene in Billie Elliot as well. I love the final performance so so much!
I don’t know the technical terms, so I apologize, but when she’s describing the Romeo and Juliet scene in Center Stage and he dips her, I swear she had no spine. So impressive
She’s 51 ??? 😲 she looks way younger!!! I was wondering how she could be the longest performer in the company so I looked it up and !!! I was not expecting that. I wish I could’ve seen her perform live! She looked beautiful in that clip 😍
Yes, she is so pretty✨
She looks her age.
@@poetaenlaluna yeah she definitely looks 50. Its weird that people expect 50 year olds to have a face full of wrinkles, a full head of gray, and a hunch.
I wasn't surprised
I had no idea that Julie was such a goofball. Most ballerinas never show that side of themselves. It's so refreshing!
I was thrilled that Julie Kent reviewed White Nights! One of my all time FAVORITE films with two of the greatest dancers ever! Baryshnikov & Hines!
This is the best video of an expert explaining anything!!! She truly knows what she is talking about and is absolutely enthralling! WE NEED MORE!!!
Your critique of every dance scene was on point. Especially, save the last dance-that was truly tragic in all fronts 😂😂
“My God Cooper that was acting! That’s our job!” Center Stage is in my top 5 favorites of all time. ❤️
Billy Elliot is such a gem of a movie. How can one not love it.
The yelling and the cigarette, too real 😂
And a note: I'm 33 but I grew up dancing primarily on wood slat floors! They were great
I just finished and oh my god I love her! What an awesome life she has lived, she knew just about every single person involved in every single film here haha.
I think this is a fascinating view into that world, loved it! And I also heavily relate to her excitement about The Rock, absolute legend!
“That’s Kathleen Donahue, isn’t it?”
😍
"THE Kathleen Donahue"
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees! :S
Came here for this.
She looks kinna like a gerbil !!!
I'm not even a dancer, but I loved listening to her talk about this art form with such fondness
Julie is a true professional and artist because she knows how to appreciate everyone's art form ☺️ as a dance student I respected Julie Kent before and now as a film student I love her even more because of her knowledge on film making. It's so refreshing given how "experts" in a certain field of art bash on other arts i.e costume historians, book fans bash on films that aren't a "direct" translation of what is "accurate" to them. She understands how film is an interpretation, not a replica. Love that.
"I loved how he used that large body in a very purposeful and artistic way"
😏😏😏 Same...
I'm so glad there are more ballet movies to watch than I realised - can't believe I've never seen Billy Elliot, always meant to give it a go
Ooh It's amazing :D Hope you enjoy it!
Update: I have finally seen Billy Elliot! I cried my eyes out, it was great ❤️
@@Lazamattaz Riiight?! Sooo beautiful :D
Fun fact: Tom Holland (yes, Spiderman!) played Billy Elliot for almost three years in the West End production, starting when he was 12 years old.
You are going to love it :D
Julie Kent a true queen. When I did ballet she was my absolute hero (still today); I had the pleasure of dancing with her and speaking with her-- she is so nice. So happy to see her in this video
This woman is Ballet personified. I have always and will always have the upmost respect for ballet. It's one of the most beautiful art forms in my opinion. Center Stage will always be my favorite dance movie, as well as The Red Shoes! 😍
Such a great artist! Just a small correction: the real location in white nights was the Lisbon São Carlos theater, even though they claim it's the Bolshoi.
❤️Amazing Julie and amazing reviews❤️ just one correction - in 24:06 (White Nights dance scene) that's actually the stage of the Teatro São Carlos, in Lisbon, Portugal. In 1985, many western Cold War movies supposedly set in Russia would use locations outside the USSR.
Thank you so much for this great video!
Oh how the tone shifted on save the last dance. I almost feel ashamed for having loved that movie.
The message and themes in the movie are still solid. It's just that audition scene that's...oof.
Yes, I could feel myself redden at being so ignorant, lol.
I enjoyed it.
Julie Kent watching Dwayne Johnson is gold. He’s delicious. And she gets it.
"Hi, girls. Maureen. Anna."
Your overall positivity and praise for not only the dancing but the ways film takes liberties with the art while still respecting it is utterly delightful!
Patrick Swayze also was a football player who danced ballet ❤
Patrick Swayze was a classically trained ballet dancer! He had to give it up bc of a bad knee. You can see it so clearly in Dirty Dancing and even some movies like Point Break where he’s diving out of the plane, which he did all his own scenes for! You can just see it in the way he carriers himself and his lovely posture!
Wow, she looks not a second older than she did in "Centre Stage". What an amazing dancer. Such a shame they retire so early.
I could listen to this woman for hours - so much passion, knowledge and joy for her craft, it's infectious!
I adore Julie Kent and I love how she enjoys every movie on some level instead of just hating them all
It sounds like this woman knows every dancer ever to exist on a personal level. I'm fascinated.
You're married to Victor Barbee?!!! I use to take photos and draw at the Los Angeles Ballet. Such a nice fellow - good looking and kind. What a lucky man to have got you. How wonderful.
Do u have any of the photos still?
I'm so tickled to see Julie giving her input🥰
Never knew there are so many movies about ballet.
I had the honor of watching her live at Roberto Bolle and friends gala in 2014. Fantastic dancer. She did a modern waltz with him.
Faffy both physically and dancing talent I know...... 😭😭😭
I actually like Bolle much better than the currently raving Sergei Polunin. Simply because I perceive Bolle to be a softer, more graceful dancer than Polunin’s powerhouse dancer, which makes Bolle more of a romantic dancer for me that I like for ballet.
I had the pleasure of going to see The Washington Ballet in February before the pandemic and Julie Kent was there! I completely geeked out and stared for several minutes. Not at all awkward!
Julie Kent is one of my all time heroes. Just, such a wonderful dancer. You can FEEL the emotion when she dances.
Also, she was a pretty good actress in Centre Stage.
How wonderful to listen to Julie Kent’s thoughtful and and her passionate informed enjoyment. I love ballet, just as a spectator, and have seen her dance many times. This was so delightful.
The Red Shoes is one the top 3 technicolor films ever.
Julie Kent -- you were an incredibly graceful and immensely talented Ballet dancer. Any props that you give yourself are well-earned! I wish I could come see The Washington Ballet perform now.
Clicked on this because of Center Stage! I still go back and watch it every now and then because I love watching the dancers perform not just ballet, but other types of dance as well. So thrilled to see Ms. Kent talk about other ballet films!
Saw Julie Kent more than once at the ABT. If memory serves correctly, she fell during a Twila Tharp performance and I can still see the shock in her face for a split second and got right back up and continued to dance.
This is the ballet scene review video I have been waiting for!
Julie Kent is a Dance Legend and that is how she should ALWAYS be introduced.
She is so well spoken! Love this! And so happy they did The Red Shoes ❤️ love. That. Movie. Anyone who watches Black Swan needs to watch that
Something about the way she talks, the way she's dressed, the way she moves, the way she laughs, just screams English teacher to me which just makes me trust and love her lol
I immediately noticed Sergei Polunin's homage to that White Nights choreo in his "Take Me to Church" solo!
Had this on autoplay on background while working-omg this HAS to be one of my favorite of these 'reviews' EVER!! Makes me want to go watch all those shows now (well except for Save the Last Dance lol-although I did enjoy that show too). PLEASE HAVE HER DO MORE!
Julie Kent's Le Corsaire is simply amazing! She is so beautiful and delicate... Just lovely
Thank you for giving credit to Sarah Lane! They absolutely did her wrong by pushing the narrative that NP did the majority of dancing for Black Swan, when in reality she didn't.
I recognized her immediately and its not because of her ballet career but because of Centerstage in 2000 as Kathleen Donahue. She still looks incredible.
Loved her in Center Stage! My absolute favorite movie!!
thank you for crediting Sarah Lane! ♥ ♥
That was the most magnanimous review of ballet in film I have ever had the pleasure of witnessing. She is gracious and enthusiastic and almost bursting with joy. She is treasured in the US.
There is no scene of Billy Elliot I can watch without crying. What a movie...
I love the honesty of Save The Last Dance, since I did see a hip hop person talking about it as well
she is wonderfully articulate, enthusiastic and knowledgeable, and has fun doing it! the perfect person to do a video like this
I loved watching this whole video and hearing Julie’s insights so much.
I remember White Nights . I enjoyed their performances. It was first time I understood dance as a way of showing emotions.
Shes so kind, its really refreshing
JULIEEEEEE
Thanks for including the Red Shoes. It's so wonderful.
Love her 😍 really appreciated the way she broke things down and the love she has for dance in film, you can really see her passion and intelligence and joy for life
I dont know anything about ballet and this left me really exited about all the movies of this list I hadn't already watched. They look really wonderful, all of this was truly a joy to learn about
Loved this, Julie Kent! Such positivity, such enthusiasm for your art. And I'm so very grateful I got to go to the Mariinsky, and to see Baryshnikov here in Australia.
I just love that you did this commentary!!
I've been meaning to watch this for months! Julie: you are a GODDESS!!!!! Thank you so much for your words of wisdom, your insight, and your clear love and respect for how multiple art forms inform each other! What a treat it was to watch this! I will be recommending it to my older students. Many heartfelt thanks!!!
I've never seen a ballet performance, nor any of the films discussed here. I don't know why I clicked on the video when it showed up on my feed, but I'm SO glad I watched it. Everything was explained so well that even I could grasp what was going on in the scenes. Thank you for the introduction to something very new to me. I'm in my 50's, but always happy to learn about new things!
This was one of the best ones ever made. Julie Kent provides so much detail and personal history about the movies and dancing that she broight these scenes to life.