User:Kinochronika/sandbox

Prima (2013), directed and produced by Tatyana Bronstein

Documentary "Prima" (2013) is a moving portrait of Larissa Ponomarenko, prima ballerina of the Boston Ballet, who has recently hung up her pointe shoes to pursue new avenues of self-expression.

Synopsis: Through flashbacks to her journey from a difficult childhood and rigorous ballet training in Russia to her emergence as the prima ballerina of a leading American ballet company, the film captures Larissa's uniqueness as an artist of many emotional colors. Now, as she transitions from prima ballerina to mentor to aspiring dancers, she also magically reinvents herself as a dancer, showing a new expressivity and a more modern approach to her art in filmed improvisations. 'Prima'  is the story of a Prima Ballerina who pushes the boundaries, displaying her soulful exuberance and passion for dance. It was filmed with 16 mm b&w and color film and HD video, brings a poetic mode to the story.. "Prima" was screened at  “Dance on Camera Festival” in the Film Society of Lincoln Center. . It was also screened at Boston International Film Festival 2014, Moondance International film festival and many other around the country.

Larissa Ponomarenko, of Odessa, Ukraine, joined Boston Ballet's artistic staff as ballet master for the 2011-2012 season. Born in Odessa, Ukraine, and trained at the Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg, Ponomarenko came to the United States as a member of the Donetsk Ballet in 1990. After three years with Ballet Mississippi and Tulsa Ballet, she landed in Boston, where (except for a stint as guest artist with the English National Ballet in 1999) she has memorably danced ever since.

Ponomarenko danced with Boston Ballet for 18 years. Her versatile repertoire includes Odette and Odile in Swan Lake, Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, the title roles in Giselle and Cinderella, Medora in Le Corsaire, Swanhilda in Coppelia, Nikiya in La Bayadere, and countless other roles. Ponomarenko has also performed a wide repertoire of Balanchine works including Symphony in C, Who Cares?, The Four Temperaments, Diamonds, Divertimento No. 15, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Serenade. She has danced works by John Cranko, Antony Tudor, Paul Taylor, Mark Morris, Christopher Wheeldon, and Twyla Tharp, among many others. Over the years, Ponomarenko has worked closely with Boston Ballet Resident Choreographer Jorma Elo and has served as a muse for almost all of his ballets. She has also created roles in original works including Rhyme, choreographed for her by her husband, Viktor Plotnikov.

Ponomarenko has appeared internationally in galas and festivals and as a guest artist with English National Ballet in London, NBA Ballet Company in Tokyo, Opera Theatre of Rome, and Teatro Comunale of Florence in Italy. She was nominated for Benois de la Danse award in 2005 and is a recipient of the E. Virginia Williams Inspirational Award.

Documentary "Prima"reveal a ballerina's personal story through her dance in a most beautiful and unconventional manner, to evoke emotion, and add sensation to the film, but, at the same time make a documentary to which viewers could relate while easily following the story.

Screenings: 42nd Dance on CameraDance On Camera, February 3, 2014, The Film Society of Lincoln Center

Boston International Film Festival (2014) April 16, Loews Cineplex / AMC

Moondance International Film Festival, September 26, 2014, Boulder, Colorado

New Filmmakers New York, April 30, 2014, The Anthology Film Archives

Oklahoma Dance Film Festival, October 9, 2013, Tulsa

DOCUTAH, September 3, 2014

MESQUITE BEST OF FEST, September 12, 2014, Redd Hills Cinema, Mesquite, NV