Kids Program: The Secret Theatre & The Wind and The Kite

The Secret Theatre
New York Premiere
Jessica Wright, Morgann Runacre-Temple, 2020, UK, 57m
In a deserted city, a young boy stumbles into a theatre. He wanders through the auditorium, where rows of velvet chairs, draping curtains, and chandeliers seem to lie in lonely wait for audiences to return. The theatre may be empty, but the show will go on. In this mélange of popular festive ballets, the worlds of the Snow Queen and the Sugar Plum Fairy collide when the theatre bursts into life. Throughout this spectacular, feature-length film, you’ll be treated to an extraordinary show filled with acrobats, snowflakes, clowns, princes, and—of course—beautiful ballerinas. Featuring performances from the full Scottish Ballet Company, this Christmas special will be an unforgettable adventure for the entire family.

The Wind and The Kite
Robert Machoian, Keely Song, 2021, USA, 7m
To deepen this tale of marital strife, directors Robert Machoian and Keely Song subvert the approach of the conventional dance short, choosing at moments to focus on the faces of the dancers and at other times to remove them from the frame. Composer William Ryan Fritch’s sweeping orchestral score and the seemingly extraterrestrial landscape only serve to heighten the juxtaposition between intimacy and distance in this boundary-pushing piece.