Jacqueline Clark, Anna-Rose O’Sullivan, Fumi Kaneko, Romany Pajdak, Gemma Pitchley-Gale

Photo: Dave Morgan

Beatriz Stix-Brunell, Brian Maloney

Photo by Dave Morgan

(Source: theballetblog)

An upcomming documentary (Spring 2013) titled All I Am will focus on Marianela and Thiago’s relationship with each other and ballet

ALL I AM is an innovative, creative, hybrid documentary film, quietly, closely and beautifully observed. Its filmic language will challenge the perceived view of dance documentaries as it SEAMLESSLY weaves in especially created dance pieces into the films narrative.

It is an incredibly intense and personal film about a couple’s relationship and their love affair with dance. A story of discipline, of dedication, of frustration, of the quest for absolute perfection that is dancing at this world-class level. Of the pressures to attain and hold your position within a ballet company. The challenges of working so intimately with someone who is also your partner.

It is a portrait of a tempestuous relationship. A relationship both founded and strained to the very limits by the life they have chosen. Ballet is their shared passion and dream. It is all consuming and if you are so successful, a relentless and brutally short career, which leaves little freedom outside the theatre. Family, children, friends. Everything else must wait.

This is a film about Argentinean Marianella Nunez and Brazilian Thiago Soares, principle dancers on stage at London’s Royal Opera House and lovers off stage. They have been captivating audiences for the last six years in memorable performances in Romeo & Juliet and Sleeping Beauty amongst others.

They got married last summer in Argentina with receptions in Buenos Aires and Rio. For any couple this is a massive moment. A point of intense reflection. Even more so for two people who have left family and friends behind to pursue their dreams on stage FAR AWAY IN LONDON. And so this film is also invested with a rich seam of dream and dance sequences, elegantly choreographed and woven into the narrative. The chance to explore their most private hopes and fears.

With total access to their lives both in and outside the Opera House, we meet the key protagonists including the formidable Monica Mason, Director of the House who plucked them out of the corps de ballet and has made their careers. We meet Marinella’s dresser and closest confidant who has worked with her for over ten years, fondly tending to her and sewing every costume. We meet Thiago’s most ardent fan that stands and waits at the stage door night after night, waiting patiently for the chance to see her idol and share a few words.

‘All I Am’ is now shooting on location in London, Rio de Janerio and Buenos Aires, featuring original choreography by Liam Scarlett.

Directed by Beadie Finzi, ‘All I Am’ is a Tigerlily production. 
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For more information contact Producer Nikki Parrott on nikki@tigerlilyfilms.com

Photo by Dave Morgan
Marianela Nunez in Onegin

Meaghan Grace Hinkis, Valentino Zucchetti
Photo by Dave Morgan

The Royal Ballet, Raymonda
Photo - © Dave Morgan

Ryoichi Hirano, Marianela Nunez

(Source: theballetblog)

Marianela Nunez and husband Thiago Soares
Principals with the Royal Ballet

“She had a truly spooky Mad Scene (she’d started letting down her hair before she came out of her cottage), beginning with a full screen close up of her face. You could see her not quite frozen features and her fingers start to tug at her hair. It was subtle and chilling, and I wonder how much of it the live audience (sans binoculars, anyway) could spot.

As for Nunez’ second act, well, what wasn’t great? She began her Act II adagio with Pennefather by slowly rising to demi-pointe while holding a deep, perfectly motionless arabesque (a penchée? I should’ve taken notes). If I hadn’t already been completely entranced with her, that would’ve done it. Her feet are as imbued with intelligence as the rest of her body, and she can wow you with the little stuff just as well as she wows you with the big stuff. The heartbreaking and tender drifting of her arms almost brushing the floor as Pennefather held her in nearly inverted penchées; the ferocity of her first dash to plead at Myrtha’s feet; her breathtaking big soubresaults and bigger grand jetés; well, I could go on.”

Ballet critic, Eric Taub describing Marianela Nunez’s performance as Giselle

Royal Ballet principals (and husband and wife), Thiago Soares and Marianela Nunez

The Full Ballet: The Prince of Pagodas
The Royal Ballet (1990)

(Source: theballetblog)

The Royal Ballet in “Carbon Life”

Full Ballet Technique Class, The Royal Ballet

(Source: theballetblog)