Credit where credit is due

Somehow Haglund missed seeing the movie Black Swan.  He probably had a dentist appointment or something the night that it played in his town.  He'll catch it when it comes around the backside unless he has another dentist appointment.  Never can tell about that.

However, his attention could not overlook the sudden flurry of articles in which ABT's Sarah Lane has spoken out about the offense she has taken as a result of the movie folk trying to sweep her and her contribution to the film under the rug.  (She was Natalie Portman's dancing double.) The straw that broke the camel's back was B.S. choreographer Benjamin Millepied's parlez vousing around town that his sweetie, Natalie, actually did more of the dancing while Sarah did less. 

As those who follow ballet know, Sarah is a small dancer of big talent with a very big fan following.  Like most professional ballet dancers, her quality of movement is as distinct as a person's fingerprints to the trained eye.  So when the trained eyes of the world see this movie, it will be apparent when Sarah is dancing as opposed to when Natalie is moving, regardless of whose head is on the body. (Is that weird?) But to the untrained eyes of most all film directors and producers unaffiliated with B.S., it might look like Natalie is some kind of miraculous dancer while Sarah and the serious challenges of the ballet art form are slighted.  No audience should be led to believe that the quality of dancing delivered by Sarah or any professional can be achieved in only a year or so of training.  That's not fair.  Or nice.  No, it isn't nice, Benjamin.

These days Millepied may have something of a PR problem with the women at ABT.  He was living with his girlfriend, a favorite ABT corps dancer, while chasing around Natalie during the filming of B.S. and now he seemingly is trying to dump on the ABT soloist who did the tough dancing in the film.  Is anyone surprised that his latest creation for ABT to be premiered next week in Moscow is being danced by men?   

(Ring ring ring.  Excusez-moi.  Haglund has to put this post on hold to take a call from Myrtha.  She probably wants to borrow a pair of heels – or perhaps she has something else on her mind.)

Comments

[K]

I think everyone is not surprised when the Hollywood PR machine tries to cover up or play up certain aspects, but it's especially hurtful when it comes from inside the community itself. Millepied's comments were uncalled for--Portman has already won the Oscar, for better or for worse. Everyone saw the video that showed them pasting Portman's head on Lane's body, there is no shame in admitting that Portman could not become a ballet dancer in a year. On top of that any regular ABT watcher could probably pick out Lane's legs and feet which are completely unlike Portman's legs and feet (you know, they have muscle and turn out!)

I doubt the women of ABT are hurting too bad by being left out of his creations, which have been increasingly critically un-acclaimed.

[Haglund]

True true true.

This little controversy will probably peak in a week - just when ABT single tickets go on sale.