GETTING TO THE NUTCRACKER

USA | 2013 | Documentary | 98 Minutes | New York Premiere

Writer and director: Serene Meshel-Dillman

Producer: Ray Dillman

Cinematographer: Arseni Khachaturyan

Editor: Brian George

Synopsis:  Every year, The Nutcracker is performed by ballet companies around the world. Serene Meshel-Dillman’s lovingly crafted documentary takes us inside the immense effort involved in gathering the resources, assembling the volunteers, casting the dancers and rehearsing and staging the performances of this classic ballet. Taking us inside the Los Angeles-based Marat Daukayev School of Ballet, the film shares the auditions, the rigorous rehearsals, and the joys and pains of the ever-passionate and endearing young dancers, who give their everything to the ballet.

Filmmaker bio: Serene Meshel-Dillman was a student at the New York City Ballet’s School of American Ballet while Jill Krementz was there creating her famous photography book, A Very Young Dancer. Meshel-Dillman continued to dance while learning photography, and then became a producer of television commercials. Her feature debut, Getting to the Nutcracker, was inspired by Krementz’s book.