October 22, 2014

As part of the 2014 Philadelphia Film Festival, the Drexel Dance Program is the producing sponsor of the acclaimed new film BALLET 442 and has arranged a panel discussion to accompany a screening of the film on Saturday, October 25 at 8:30pm at the Prince Music Theater.

BALLET 442 takes a behind-the-scenes look at the internationally renowned New York City Ballet as it creates the 422nd piece in its decades-long history. With unfettered access to an infamously private world, director/cinematographer Jody Lee Lipes paints an intimate portrait of the Company in the first film to document the entire process of mounting a new piece—from the development of the choreography, to the first rehearsal, to the incredible collaboration with musicians, costume designers, and other artisans. The film focuses particularly on Justin Peck, the wunderkind choreographer responsible for creating this piece at the tender age of 25. Director Lipes is known for his distinctive work as a cinematographer on such films as Tiny Furniture and Martha Marcy May Marlene. He will be in attendance at the film.

Following the screening, Dance/UP Director Lois Welk will moderate a panel discussion with ballet performers, instructors and choreographers. Panelists will include Matthew Neenan, resident choreographer of the Pennsylvania Ballet and co-founder of Ballet X; Meredith Rainey, a recently retired Principal dancer with PA Ballet and a choreographer; Christopher Fleming, former principal dancer with the New York City Ballet and artistic director/choreographer of Ballet Fleming; and Laura Katz Rizzo, PhD, Temple University ballet scholar.

For more information on how to purchase tickets to BALLET 442, please visit the Philadelphia Film Festival website.