DVD:
The Alexander Kalioujny Class

A dance lesson at the Ballet School of the Paris Opera in the style of Alexander Kalioujny, taught by Danseurs Étoiles Elisabeth Platel and Charles Jude.

Enter the Ballet School of the Opéra national de Paris and follow the young students’ dance lessons, taught by Danseurs Étoiles Élisabeth Platel (also Director of the Ballet School) and Charles Jude in the style of legendary ballet master Alexander Kalioujny.

A “Danseur Étoile” and ballet master, Alexander “Sasha’” Kalioujny was born in Prague in 1923 to emigrants Russian parents. After a brilliant carreer in Serge Lifar’s Ballet de l’Opéra national de Paris, he was appointed ballet teacher at the Nice Conservatoire. In 1970, he was called back to the Opéra by the other “Étoiles” so that he could teach their classes. There, he devised a training highly praised by dancers, focusing on technique, strength and movement mastery.

In 1985, Rudolf Nureyev, then Ballet Director, started planning a book based on those classes, but died before he could complete this project. Thirty-five years later, this film aims to be 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.

Special features:
Interviews with Élisabeth Platel
Conversation between Charles Jude & Élisabeth Platel
Interview with Charles Jude
Interview with Noëlla Pontois, Danseuse Étoile
Interview with Attilio Labis, Danseur Étoile
Interview with Gil Isoart, Danseur et pédagogue
Interview with the students (girls)
Interview with the students (boys)

Genre Ballet
Recording location Ballet School of the Opéra national de Paris (Nanterre)
Recording date 04/2019
Duration 90 min. (film) + 77 min. (bonus)
Video format Color, 16/9, NTSC
Audio format PCM 2.0
TV Director Denis Sneguirev
Soloist Elisabeth Platel (Danseuse Étoile)
Soloist Charles Jude (Danseur Étoile)
Soloist The Students of the Ballet School of the Opéra national de Paris
Distribution homevideo / DVD Bel Air Classiques / Naxos Distribution