Paloma Herrera: Here and Now

A substantial portion of this biographical tribute to the prima ballerina of the American Ballet Theatre is devoted to footage of her performances and rehearsals, clearly demonstrating her artistry. Interspersed throughout are interviews with Herrera, as well as her first teacher, Olga Ferri; ABT choreographer Irina Kopalkova; Juilliard School dance master Hector Zaraspe; ABT Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie; and Mauricio Wainrot, Director of the Ballet Contemporáneo in Buenos Aires. Together, the clips and commentary provide a solid overview of her career, which began—after seven years of training in her native Argentina—with a stellar appearance at the Varna International Ballet Competition in 1990. Only a year later, at the age of 15, she was accepted as a student at New York's School of American Ballet, and less than a year after that joined the ABT, where she was named soloist in 1993 and principal in 1995. Now, a decade and a half after her meteoric rise, Herrera is recognized as one of the world's great dancers, and engaging behind-the-scenes footage illustrates both her professional dedication and down-to-earth personality. Filmmaker Julio Panno's film is clearly a labor of love, designed to show off Herrera's prodigious technique and celebrate her achievement. DVD extras include an extended interview with McKenzie, a photo gallery, and text bios. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)