Ballerina

Ballerina, a captivating and heartwarming documentary, delicately chronicles the life and exceptional journey of Ella Havelka, the first indigenous dancer to join the Australian Ballet. The film was released in 2016, directed by well-known documentary film director, Douglas Watkins. The movie also features poignant moments with Stephen Page, the Artistic Director of the Bangarra Dance Theatre, and renowned ballet mistress Suzanne Duffy.

The documentary starts with an exploration of Ella's roots. Born to a Czech father and a Wiradjuri mother, a significant part of the film is dedicated to Ella's formative years spent in Dubbo, New South Wales. Throughout the film, we're invited to see the intricate melding of her multi-cultural heritage and how it has influenced her as a performer. The documentary offers a tender look into Ella's childhood, filled with an appreciation for art, dance, and, more notably, her intrinsic connection with the surroundings that she would later bring into her ballet performances.

Ella's remarkable journey in dance began at age three, but her interest in ballet was only sparked at age eight after her first encounter with the Australian Ballet show in her hometown. The film combines home footage and interviews, giving the viewers a personal and intimate experience of this part of her life. Undoubtedly, what's most striking in the film is Ella's dedicated pursuit of ballet, a journey filled with perseverance and resilience against all obstacles.

The director expertly showcases the rigorous demands and inherent beauty of ballet. Long training hours, injuries, and physical and psychological stress are all harsh realities in the world of ballet dancers. However, Ella's strong will, talent, and hard work eventually led her to study at the Australian Ballet School in Melbourne at the age of 14. Her time at the school is portrayed through her training and ballet exercises, further exposing the viewer to the complexity and refinement of this art form.

The pivotal point of this narrative arises from Ella's dance career transition. Audiences get an insight into the dancer's shift from contemporary dance to classical ballet. This transition represents not just a change in dance style, but also a deeper exploration of Ella's identity and heritage. After a four-year stint with the indigenous-infused contemporary dance company, Bangarra Dance Theatre, Ella decided to go back to classical ballet and auditioned successfully for the Australian Ballet in 2012.

Watching Ella's journey unfold, one sees her struggles with separation from her family and reconciliation with her indigenous roots. Her unique position as an indigenous ballet dancer presents the theme of identity and a sense of belonging that threads throughout the film. It emphasizes the pressures and challenges of the underrepresented or 'the firsts' in any institution, shedding light on the conservative world of classical ballet, where ethnic diversity is sparse.

The director uses Ballet to discuss the important conversation of cultural identity. From Ella's point of view, ballet was an unlikely pursuit for a girl of indigenous descent. However, the filmmaker beautifully communicates Ella's determination and courage to break such norms and conventions.

Audience also gets to see Ella sharing and reconnecting with her culture by visiting heritage sites and trying to understand more about her ancestors. Her Wiradjuri heritage becomes a source of strength and humility in Ella's journey, proving that no matter where you go, valuing and remembering your roots is crucial.

Ballerina also shines a light on the contrast between Western classical ballet and indigenous Australian dance, creating a visual and emotional dichotomy. The perspective of Stephen Page is very enlightening here, emphasizing how both forms can coexist and be celebrated.

Featuring eloquent interviews, beautiful dance sequences, and candid emotionally loaded moments, Ballerina provides an inspiring look into the formidable journey of a determined young woman who skillfully negotiates the world of ballet and her own personal identity. This film is beyond a dance movie - it's a tale of resilience, self-identity, and breaking barriers, all delicately expressed through the journey of one brave ballerina, Ella Havelka. This movie serves as a testament to the power of dreams, dedication, and the resounding importance of representation in all art forms.