Description: -ALA Notable Children's Video -Editors' Choice, Booklist -Top 5 Video of the Year, KidsFirst! -Winner of the Humanitas Prize
A struggling Degas finds inspiration for his art in Marie, a young ballerina. Degas helps Marie tap into the talent she doesn't believe she has while she convinces Degas to persevere despite criticism from the art establishment. An artist and model, they become friends and find in each other what they need to follow their dreams.
Recommended for kids and adults After seeing DEGAS AND THE DANCE, I was wondering what DEGAS AND THE DANCER was like. What made my daughter (12 at the time of this review) sit down was the piano that accompanies the DVD screen menu. It probably sounded to her similar to what they use at some of her ballet classes. She loved the entire movie. Even I enjoyed this presentation so much, we watched it again a few days later. The actors are easy to follow and familiarize with. The characters are funny and tragic. The ballerinas look pretty and professional. I didn't know Alison Pill (Marie) had done classic ballet, she was very graceful at that age of 12 or 13, when the movie was made.
I haven't seen the other films from this series, but by reading their descriptions, and after seeing it, I can see DEGAS AND THE DANCER is one that has no fictitious characters. Parts of the story may not be true, but this movie connects the characters in a manner so that kids will be entertained and taught. And may even encourage them to find out more details, such as why Degas had eye pain.
I only wish it had been filmed at the actual Opera House or shown some "pretend" shot of the famous building (but that's where DEGAS AND THE DANCE comes in). I am sure any kid watching this movie can learn one or two things about history, ballet, painting techniques, and must important, life and fighting for what you want. Get this DVD while it is still available. Get the other one too!
Degas and the Little Dancer This is a very nice children's dvd about a famous artist, Edgar Degas. It is a simple tale of a girl from a poor family, an artist, and big sister with big ambition but little heart. From this video, kids can learn more about Degas the painter, Impressionism, ballet dancing and French society at the time. I bought it to go with a Little Dancer statue I bought when the Little Dancer was shown in my area. I also use books about France, painting and ballet to teach my unit. Kids who are interested in Impressionism, Degas and ballet will love this DVD. Recommended.
Kids learn to love Degas in spite of himself This was one of the movies in our VHS collection that had to be purchased again for our DVD collection. Our kids loved the videos from the artists series, and we loved watching the kids learn about the artists in a way that portrays them realistically and enjoyably...so we decided to buy them again!
Degas is a bit of a grump in this movie, but it's an honest portrayal of him, and a great opportunity for exposure to his art. Seeing what went into making his art made it all so much more real for our kids (and for us as parents!) and gave them an even greater appreciation for his works than they had before from just seeing them in art books on the coffee table.
The makers of this movie showed Degas in his humanness and his somewhat quirky personality; but they also caused the viewer to appreciate him in spite of his flaws as his relationship with the dancer unfolded and his art resulted. Each of the characters were laid out well, and the story line was threaded with lessons from life that we can all appreciate. Each of the movies that we've seen from this series have been about the artist(s) and a relationship with a child or children, making it more interesting for children to watch. The stories are very family-friendly and enjoyable for the whole family to watch together.
As an artist I appreciate movies like this that inspire my children and make the art in the books and museums seem more like "their own". Now when they see a Degas painting in a book or a poster or whatever, it's personal to them because they've seen the story behind the art and have discovered things about the artist that make it all more real to them. I've recommended the DVDs from this series to friends and family, and plan to continue to buy them not only for my children, but also as possible gifts for other children.
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