On Pointe

The school year begins at the prestigious School of American Ballet (SAB) in New York City. From Harlem to Chinatown, students as young as 6 years old audition for a coveted spot in SAB's Children's Division. Meanwhile, advanced students relocate from around the world to New York City where they will live and train
to be professional dancers under a seasoned and demanding faculty. As the students and teachers settle into their routines for the fall semester, preliminary casting for George Balanchine's The Nutcracker begins. Some flashing lights sequences or patterns may affect photosensitive viewers.

As the season picks up, younger SAB students from around New York City dig into their daily routine of ballet class, school, and family life. Casting day for the iconic George Balanchine's The Nutcracker begins, and we see the audition process in full swing. Dancers are assigned to play the lead roles of the Prince
and Marie, while some students do not make the cut.  The advanced students begin the rigorous training that makes a "Balanchine" dancer.

Following the highly competitive audition process, rehearsals begin for George Balanchine's The Nutcracker. The lead children's roles of Marie and The Prince, as well as the rest of the ensemble, are put through their paces. Rehearsals and classwork become more demanding, as the students must balance their schedule
s. The Level IV girls receive their first pair of pointe shoes, a milestone in the life of a dancer. An advanced student is offered a coveted apprenticeship with the New York City Ballet. Some flashing lights sequences or patterns may affect photosensitive viewers.

Opening night of George Balanchine's The Nutcracker approaches, and the young dancers begin to rehearse with their idols, the company members of New York City Ballet. Excitement mounts as costume fittings begin. Students establish their roles in the show, and perfect the intricate choreography. We follow them from 
the dance studio to their extracurricular activities and life outside of SAB. The intermediate and advanced dancers face challenges of injury and falling behind while balancing their schoolwork.

The holidays approach and anticipation ramps up as the younger dancers step onto the Lincoln Center stage for the first time for dress rehearsals. For many of the students, this will be their first time performing on stage. School intensifies and pressure builds for older dancers as they continue to vie for limite
d positions in the company.  One of the students receives a surprising apprenticeship announcement, as her friends rally around in support. Students disperse for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Opening night of George Balanchine's The Nutcracker arrives. Months of rehearsals and jitters pay off in select scenes of the show over the course of its six-week run. The older students prepare for a community performance introducing the beauty of ballet to New York City schoolchildren, and one advanced student wi
ns a coveted award from Lincoln Center. As the students put their performances behind them and return to their everyday routines, school closes down due to COVID-19. Classes continue virtually, but dancers of all ages must navigate their relationship to ballet without a studio as they prepare for the ever-challengi
ng road ahead.