First Position

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  • Opened May 4, 2012 (Limited)
  • 1 hr 30 min
  • NR
  • Parents: Common Sense Media says OK for kids 9+. More on child suitability

  • For the young dancers at the Youth America Grand Prix, one of the world's most prestigious ballet competitions, lifelong dreams are at stake. With hundreds competing for a handful of elite scholarships and contracts, practice and discipline are paramount, and nothing short of perfection is expected. Bess Kargman's award-winning documentary, FIRST POSITION, follows six young dancers as they prepare for a chance to enter the world of professional ballet, struggling through bloodied feet, near exhaustion and debilitating injuries all while navigating the drama of adolescence. A showcase of awe-inspiring talent, tenacity and passion, FIRST POSITION paints a thrilling and moving portrait of the most gifted young ballet stars of tomorrow. Full synopsis

  • Cast: Miko Fogarty, Jules Fogarty, Joan Sebastian Zamora, Aran Bell, Michaela DePrince
  • Director: Bess Kargman
  • Genres: Documentary

What's the Buzz?

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Fans say Go
98 fans
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Critics say Go
72 out of 100
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Fan Reviews

So-so
Beware - it's an infomercial crafted by YAGP!

by Russkaya

While this film is interesting in that it affords a rare inside view into the world of ballet competitions, it is quite misleading in several respects. Most importantly, there is no forewarning that...

I'm In
DancingIsMyLife(:

by ladydi6g6

Weell. I am in Ballet and I would love to have the toe ballet shoes because I have been dreaming to have them ever since I started dance, which I started when I was just 3 years old, and I started...

Must Go!
An AMAZING documentary that shows what it really takes....

by ineeddancetolive

You do not have to like ballet to LOVE this film. It shows devotion, beauty, heart, character, tenacity--all the ups and downs that every aspiring dancer faces (no different than what the best sports...

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Critic Reviews

88
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
| Joe Williams

Among recent documentaries, First Position soars to the head of the class. Read full review

80
Movieline
| Stephanie Zacharek

Documentaries don't have to be technically great to be irresistible, and Bess Kargman's First Position, which follows six young ballet dancers as they prepare for an elite competition, is a case in point. Read full review

75
Boston Globe
| Ty Burr

Because its subjects are so driven and so talented, First Position, which is about ballet, is more gripping than the norm. Read full review

75
Philadelphia Inquirer
|

First Position shows the dancers' emotions, but it is weaker in building the suspense of the competition. Read full review

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Photos

A scene from ``First Position.''