About the Film

This one-hour documentary takes viewers behind the scenes as the internationally-renowned Alabama Ballet interprets William Shakespeare's classic story of star-crossed lovers . Over six weeks, Alabama Public Television’s cameras captured days of extreme fatigue, tension and frustration, in addition to very humorous moments, as the dancers prepared an infamously arduous piece. The film culminates in a thrilling and emotional performance set to Prokofiev's score.

Along the way, we regularly interview the artistic director, Wes Chapman, the choreographer and principle Romeo, Roger Van Fleteren, and the principal ballerina and Juliet, Tatiana Ledovskikh.  All three are world-class performers, who are well-known on the most prestigious stages around the globe.  Wes and Roger both danced as principals and with Mikhail Baryshnikov at the American Ballet in New York.  Tatiana comes to the company from the Bolshoi Ballet in Russia.

The films reveals the passion , tenacity, artistry and top physical condition that dancers must possess to achieve this level of professional success. Most people could never achieve this, even if they tried.