Polina

- When did you start dancing?

- When I was 4.

- Does your back hurt?

- No.

- Have you had any operations?

- No.

- Allergies?

- No.

Get on the scale.

25 kilos.

126 cm.

63 cm.

Stand at the barre

and wait until we call your name.

Come on, come on.

That's him, Bojinski.

Hes scary.

He looks like a boogeyman.

Xenia Plisiska.

Come to the center of the room.

Show us the sequence

two times, please.

Tendu, fifth position.

Tendu la seconde, rst position.

Saut, chapp.

Three times, please.

Go.

And one and two...

One, two...

Polina Shanidze.

Take your position.

That's better.

No. I said, tendu la seconde.

Start over.

Youre not listening.

Start over again.

Third position.

First arabesque.

Dont look at me.

Look into the distance.

Lift your leg.

Higher.

Youre not very limber.

Well?

I passed the audition.

I know that. And?

They took me.

They took you?

Good girl! That's wonderful!

I told you, Natalia,

Polina will be a prima ballerina.

No, I won't.

Why not? Whats wrong?

Its far too expensive.

Keep your backs straight.

Hold the position.

The arms.

Dont you want to watch the students?

I see them just fine.

Once again.

Stand straight.

Look at the mirror.

Stop.

What is dancing" for you?

It happens by itself.

You think so, do you?

Well start from the pirouette.

Music.

- Its not too heavy?

- No.

- ls this the last one?

- Yes.

Polina, wake up.

Give me a hand.

Put the pants over there.

Jeans and T-shirts go on the shelves.

This bag too.

And that one too.

Its all here. Count it.

- No need.

- Nice work.

The cars filled up!

Goodbye.

See you, Sergei.

Bye, sweetheart.

One, two, three, four...

Higher. Even higher!

Look at Xenia.

Her position is almost perfect.

Her body rotates almost ideally

around its axis.

Thank you, class is over.

Sir.

Why dont you ever watch me

when I dance?

Work harder, young lady,

instead of asking silly questions.

If you didnt miss classes,

youd dance better.

I have to help my mother with her work.

A ballerina has only one job.

To dance.

Be quiet!

You want to warn the entire forest

that were hunting?

Look.

Off with their heads!

Polina.

- Are we seeing each other after class?

- Okay.

The audience must see

only the beauty of your movements.

If you dont have

lightness and elegance,

they will only see

effort and difficulty.

Only soccer fans

are interested in that!

Hang on, youll see.

Not now, wait a while!

I love to see you dance, Dad.

I hope were not spoiling the party?

Nice place you got here, Anton.

Business must be good.

Right, missus? Business is good?

How much do you owe us?

I told you, I'll have the money soon.

Your dad says

you'll be a big ballet star.

ls that right?

Okay!

Ill do the Afghanistan route.

I like working with you, Anton.

You catch on fast.

Your women are beautiful...

Whats the Afghanistan route?

Nothing, its no big deal.

Dont let the effort show.

Your leg higher.

The arms breathe,

the legs breathe.

No!

Youre completely off.

Wheres your head when you dance?

Stand up straight when I talk to you.

I'm sorry.

Youre somewhere, but not here.

You have no grace.

Your movements are...

stiff, mechanical,

ugly...

Once again, please.

Music.

How long have we been

working on this?

I can't even remember.

And each day, it gets worse.

Stop!

Once more please, from the beginning.

Thats not it at all!

This isnt the circus!

| ts horrible! Stop!

Do you feel what you're doing?

No!

You dont feel a thing.

You dont know

where your arms or your legs are.

Look at me when I talk to you.

Once more?

What for?

Look, everyone is waiting for you.

But no.

You must keep your emotions in rein,

learn to control them.

A dancer who has no self-control

doesnt interest me!

Get out! You won't dance this ballet.

Svetlana...

please replace Polina.

Music.

What are you doing here? Its late.

I want to understand

what Im doing wrong.

And what do you think?

My legs are too stiff.

The problem isnt your legs,

its your back.

Your back is weak

and so your legs compensate.

Fifth position.

Pull your shoulder blades down.

Imagine that your head is being held

by a thread.

Open your arms.

Close your eyes.

Feel the axis.

Pass.

A la seconde.

Attitude.

Feel the position, your arms,

your legs...

Yes.

Open your eyes.

Very good.

For the audition at the Bolshoi Academy,

you'll dance the adagio variation

from Act 3 of Raymonda.

Thank you.

Wait for me here.

The Bolshoi?

It's a long path to get there.

You want to pass the exam?

Then you II have to work.

And I mean work hard!

The Bolshoi Ballet

is the symbol of Russia.

Her pride.

The very name recalls

the grandeur of Russia.

The Bolshoi Ballet has...

the richest dance repertoire

in the world,

a company of outstanding virfuosos.

Ulanova and Lepeshinskaya danced here.

And many others too.

For two years now,

Ive trained you without respite

to join this company.

This majestic ballet.

To succeed,

you will need energy,

determination,

and the love of hard work.

The date of your audition

is rapidly approaching.

So forget about partying

and work even harder.

Polina, I told you to wait for me.

Please dont forget

our rules and requirements.

I hope I can count

on your common sense.

Okay.

Thats all.

You can go now.

Hey, Frenchie.

Coming to the Karma Bar tonight?

Sure.

Just to make Alexandrovna happy.

We have tomorrow off.

Come with us.

I can't, I'm busy.

Come on!

You seeing Bojinski again?

Youre wasting

your only free night on that old fart?

He's doing a solo for me.

Isnt he too old-fashioned?

He's still more interesting

than Alexandrovna.

Youre coming to the Budan festival?

Of course.

Come on, meet us after your rehearsal.

I'll try.

Not bad French.

You impressed?

Yeah.

Thats not bad at all.

ls something wrong?

I feel like I'm stringing moves together

without dancing.

Thats fabulous!

A true artist

always longs for perfection.

Only time will tell...

if the path was right.

People say your ballets

were too provocative for the Soviets.

Yes, you could say that.

They reproached me

for not being patriotic enough.

I used music by American composers.

I was too stubborn.

No.

Thats why people respect you.

Shall I start from the beginning

and you'll show me the rest?

I have to go.

Youre not going to leave us like this?

Polina...

Look at me.

No one will ever harm you. Ever.

And you?

When do you start with the Bolshoi?

In June, if I pass the exam.

You will.

I have to get going. Goodbye.

When will you be back?

Polina Shanidze.

You may begin.

Are you going back to France?

Im coming with you.

What do you mean,

youre coming with me?

I want to pass the audition

with you in Aix-en...

Provence.

Why would you want to come to Aix?

You just made the Bolshoi.

Besides, you don't know the technique.

Who cares?

I want to perform what we just saw.

No.

It's a mistake.

Why?

Even if you're in Moscow and Im in Aix,

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