9 mesmerising ballet movies of all time

Tatler Asia

25-04-2025

2. 'The Red Shoes' (1948)
Before Black Swan , there was The Red Shoes , perhaps the godmother of all ballet movies. A Technicolour masterpiece from Powell and Pressburger, this classic is as intoxicating now as it was decades ago. It tells the story of a young ballerina torn between love and art, set against backdrops so lush they make reality feel mundane. The 17-minute ballet sequence remains one of cinema's most exquisite achievements. This film doesn't just capture ballet: it elevates it to myth. 3. 'Centre Stage' (2000)
The acting can be lacking, but the dancing was glorious. The glossiest, most quotable entry on the list, Centre Stage is less about subtlety and more about attitude. It follows a group of aspiring dancers at the fictitious American Ballet Academy, navigating competition, crushes and (of course) body image issues. Is it high art? No. But it delivers twirls, tears and top-tier drama—plus an iconic final dance set to Jamiroquai. What more do you want? Centre Stage took a gamble hiring professional ballerinas for most of the roles, including Ethan Stiefel and Sascha Radetsky, husband of prima ballerina Stella Abrera. 4. 'The Turning Point' (1977)
Starring Shirley MacLaine and Anne Bancroft, this Oscar-nominated drama isn't just about ballet—it's about the choices that define a life. One woman chose career over family, the other chose family over career. When their paths cross again, old regrets resurface amid pliés and past grudges. It's a nuanced portrait of female friendship, sacrifice and what it means to live with what could have been. 5. 'White Nights' (1985)
What do you get when you pair Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gregory Hines? A Cold War thriller and a dance showdown. White Nights follows a Soviet ballet star who defects to the US, only to find himself stranded behind the Iron Curtain. The plot is pure '80s geopolitics, but the dancing, especially Baryshnikov's explosive solos, is nothing short of electric.
Also read: Interview: Kim Kimin 6. 'Ballet 422' (2014)
For those who prefer their drama unscripted, this documentary offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the New York City Ballet. It follows young choreographer Justin Peck as he crafts a new ballet from scratch, juggling egos, rehearsals and deadlines. Quiet, observational and intensely revealing, it shows the creative process in all its raw, sweaty glory. 7. 'Billy Elliot' (2000)
This is one of those ballet movies that everybody just loves. Set in a Northern England coal-mining town during the 1984 miners' strike, this heartwarming tale of a boy who trades boxing gloves for ballet slippers is as much about social class and masculinity as it is about dance. Jamie Bell's breakout performance is buoyant and brave, and the movie's emotional beats land every time. Come for the footwork, stay for the fight. 8. 'Polina' (2016)
This French film offers a more contemplative take on the dancer's journey. Polina is a Russian ballerina whose path veers from classical rigour to contemporary expression, forcing her to rediscover movement, meaning and identity. It's a quiet, artful meditation on what it means to truly feel dance.
Also read: 13 of the best sports documentaries you can watch on Netflix right now 9. 'Yuli' (2018)
Another dancer biopic, Yuli charts the rise of Carlos Acosta, the Afro-Cuban ballet prodigy who became a star of the Royal Ballet. Blending reenactments with staged dance sequences, it creates a lyrical hybrid of history and motion. It's about race, resilience and the radical defiance of dancing your truth.