(Toronto) Dancer-turned-actress Neve Campbell hopes her documentary about the National Ballet of Canada will shine a light on some of the less glorious aspects of the dance world that demand change.
Campbell says that’s one of the reasons she agreed to produce the film Swan Song, which chronicles the production of Swan Lake as imagined by principal dancer turned artistic director Karen Kain.
Directed by Chelsea McMullan, the feature film includes interviews with young dancers who address mental health issues, racism, classism and rivalries that drive the profession. It is presented on Friday, after its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
The film centers on Kain, who chronicles his successful international career that included a famous partnership with Russian star Rudolf Nureyev and culminated with his more modern take on Swan Lake.
Cameras follow Kain as the National Ballet of Canada attempts to recover from a pandemic-induced shutdown with a renewed commitment to fostering diversity among its ranks and audiences.
Campbell acknowledges similar efforts underway at other companies and says she hopes the film can stimulate conversations in a field that historically rewards tradition, conformity and respect.
“It addresses the racism that exists in the ballet world, the need for diversity, the need for change in dance and the fact that any art form needs to evolve and grow,” explained Campbell, who trained at the National Ballet School of Canada before starring in the television series Party of Five and the Scream film franchise.
“What I love about this story is you see dancers who are doing really well, you see dancers who are struggling and you see people doing better than them – the competitive element of it , what it does spiritually, emotionally, what we have to overcome if we want to continue doing it because we love this art form,” she argued.
“That, I was able to understand a lot. »
Karen Kain also talks about mental health issues during her own career, which exploded after she joined the troupe in 1969 – she was promoted to principal dancer in 1971 and quickly gained international fame.
During a series of interviews at TIFF alongside Campbell, Kain described herself as “lucky” and someone who benefited from supporters who went “out of their way to create possibilities” for her .
“The National Ballet just let me fly. »
But success was not without cost.
“Being so famous so young was very difficult for me, because a lot of people around me who I thought were my friends weren’t so friendly to me. And that hurt me. »
Among the dancers featured in the documentary are Swan Lake star Jurgita Dronina, who is hiding a debilitating injury; Shaelynn Estrada, a troupe member who says she cleaned dance studios as a child to help cover the cost of classes; and Tene Ward, a dancer of Sri Lankan, African-American and Cherokee descent who talks about her struggle with imposter syndrome.
Of course, it’s not all trials and tribulations.
Karen Kain and the dancers also talk about passion and love for their chosen career and the sacrifices they are willing to make for their art. Campbell, who played a dancer in the 2003 feature film The Company, credited her ballet training for her later success as an actress.
“Telling a story is magical. And I’m happy to have found another way to do it,” she maintained.
“Dancers are extraordinary athletes, extraordinary artists and I’m glad the world is witnessing more of that. »
