Saturday & Sunday, Jan. 4-5 at 3 p.m.—WOODSTOCK — Ballet enthusiasts and film lovers alike will have the chance to witness the creation of a legacy-defining production of “Swan Lake” as the Woodstock Vermont Film Series presents “Swan Song.” The documentary will screen on Saturday, Jan. 4, and Sunday, Jan. 5, at 3 p.m. in the Billings Farm & Museum Visitor Center Theater.
Directed by Chelsea McMullen, “Swan Song” offers an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at the National Ballet of Canada’s reimagined “Swan Lake.” At the film’s heart is Karen Kain, a legendary figure in the ballet world, as she leads a company of young dancers to reimagine the iconic ballet. The documentary intertwines the technical challenges of staging such an ambitious production with raw, personal glimpses into the dancers’ lives, capturing the passion and sacrifices that define the art form.
While “Swan Song” highlights the grace and artistry of ballet, it also delves into its challenges, including the pressures of perfectionism and traditional ideals of race, class, and body type. The Globe and Mail called the film “raw, gorgeous, provocative, and enlightening.”
The Woodstock Vermont Film Series showcases inspiring films that connect audiences to place-based stories and spark meaningful conversations. Screenings continue on select Saturdays and Sundays at 3 p.m. through Feb. 23.
Tickets for Swan Song are $15 for regular admission and $12 for Billings Farm & Museum members.
For more details, visit: billingsfarm.org/filmseries.
