Dancer-turned-actress Neve Campbell says she hopes her documentary about the National Ballet of Canada sheds light on some of the uglier aspects of the dance world that demand change.
Campbell says it鈥檚 one of the reasons she agreed to produce the film 鈥淪wan Song,鈥� which traces the company鈥檚 2022 production of 鈥淪wan Lake鈥� as envisioned by principal dancer-turned-artistic director Karen Kain.
Directed by Chelsea McMullan, the feature includes interviews with young dancers who address the mental health struggles, racism, classism and rivalries that dog the profession. It opens Friday after premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival.
The film centres on Kain as she recounts a glittering international career that includes a celebrated partnership with Russian superstar Rudolf Nureyev and culminates with her vision for a more modern take on the quintessential romantic crowd-pleaser, 鈥淪wan Lake.鈥�
Cameras follow Kain as the National Ballet of Canada attempts to rebound from a pandemic-induced shutdown with a renewed commitment to boost diversity among its ranks and audience.
Campbell acknowledges similar efforts underway in other companies, and says she hopes the film can further challenging conversations in a field that historically rewards tradition, conformity and compliance.
鈥淚t is addressing the racism that has existed in the ballet world, the need for diversity, the need for change in dance and that any art form needs to shift and grow,鈥� said Campbell, who trained with Canada鈥檚 National Ballet School before starring in TV鈥檚 鈥淧arty of Five鈥� and the 鈥淪cream鈥� film franchise.
鈥淲hat I love about this story is that you see dancers who are doing really well, you see dancers who are struggling and see people doing better than them 鈥� the competitive element of that, what that does to you spiritually, emotionally, what you have to overcome, whether you want to continue doing it because you love the art form. That, I related to a lot.鈥�
Kain, too, opens up about mental health difficulties in her own career, which rocketed after she joined the corps in 1969 鈥� she was promoted to principal dancer in 1971 and soon gained international fame.
During a round of TIFF interviews alongside Campbell, Kain described herself as 鈥渓ucky鈥� and someone who鈥檚 benefited from supporters who went 鈥渙ut of their way to create opportunities鈥� for her. 鈥淭he National Ballet just let me fly.鈥�
But success did not come without a cost.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not like I鈥檝e just sailed through life,鈥� Kain added.
鈥淓ven getting so well known so young was very challenging for me because it made a lot of people around me who I thought were my friends be, kind of, not so friendly to me. And that was hurtful to me.鈥�
Dancers showcased in the documentary include 鈥淪wan Lake鈥� lead Jurgita Dronina, who conceals a debilitating injury; corps member Shaelynn Estrada, who recounts cleaning dance studios as a kid to help cover the cost of classes; and corps member Tene Ward, a dancer of Sri Lankan, African-American and Cherokee Indian descent who speaks about grappling with impostor syndrome.
Of course, it鈥檚 not all trials and tribulations.
Kain and the dancers also speak of passion and love for their chosen career, and the sacrifices they鈥檙e willing to make for their art. Campbell, who portrayed a dancer in the 2003 feature 鈥淭he Company,鈥� credited her childhood ballet training with inspiring her later success as an actress.
鈥淪torytelling is magical. And I鈥檓 glad I found another way to do it. I was never going to get to a place where Karen was in the company,鈥� said Campbell.
鈥淒ancers are amazing athletes, amazing artists and I鈥檓 glad the world is witnessing that more.
鈥淲hen I made the film that I did 20 years ago, there was not a lot of awareness around dance. But I think because of a lot of these reality shows and competitions now on television and documentaries being made we鈥檙e really getting a greater understanding and appreciation of the dance world.鈥�
鈥淪wan Song鈥� opens theatrically in Toronto on Friday before rolling out to other cities. Dates include Wolfville, N.S., on Oct. 11; Sudbury, Ont., on Oct. 12; the Ontario cities of Kingston and London on Oct. 13; Ottawa on Oct. 16; Vancouver, Victoria and Saskatoon on Oct. 20; and Amherst, N.S., on Oct. 26, with more markets possibly added.
鈥淪wan Song鈥� also airs as a four-part hour-long series on CBC and CBC Gem, starting Nov. 22.
It鈥檚 one of several CBC projects that expand on recent feature film releases, among them the film 鈥淏ones of Crows,鈥� which premiered as a five-part drama Sept. 20, and the film 鈥淏lackBerry,鈥� which debuts as a three-part hour-long series Nov. 9.
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