THE ALEXANDER KALIOUJNY CLASS

A film by Denis Sneguirev

Alexander ‘Sasha’ Kalioujny, born in Prague on April 15th 1923, was a Czech dancer and ballet master. In 1947, he entered Serge Lifar’s Paris Opera Ballet as Danseur Étoile; and then following Rudolf Noureyev’s request, he returned in 1970 as ballet master and devised a highly praised dance training, focusing on technique, strength and movement mastery. This film is the living memory of his classes, reconstituted by his former students, Danseurs Étoiles Élisabeth Platel and Charles Jude, and performed by the young dancers of the Ballet School of the Opéra national de Paris. A fascinating testimony and an indispensable work tool for all classical dancers around the world.

Reconstitution of the exercises:
Élisabeth Platel, Director of the Ballet School
Charles Jude

Program of the lesson:
- Pliés
- Dégagés
- Ronds de jambe
- Fondus
- Adages
- Battements
- Tours
- Diagonales
- Petits sauts
- Ballottés
- Grands sauts
- Tours en l’air
- Pointe Exercises
- Équilibres

Bonus:
- Original interviews with Élisabeth Platel, Charles Jude, Noëlla Pontois, Attilio Labis, Gil Isoart

Picture format: NTSC 16:9
Sound format: Dolby Digital 2.0
Region code: 0 (worldwide)
Audio language: French
Subtitles: English
Running time: 90 mins (film) + 77 mins (bonus)
No. of DVDs: 1 (DVD 9)