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Chicago – The delicate sensibility in the documentary “First Position” would probably had not existed if first-time filmmaker Beth Kargman had not wanted to see the movie herself. As a former ballet dancer, she wanted to go behind the performance for portraits of young dancers as dedicated artists.

“First Position” follows six different competitors in the prestigious Youth America Grand Prix, which focuses on ballet dancers ages 9-19. There are situations that are expected – the intensity of a parent who accommodates and sacrifices, the instructor taskmaster in the studio and the hours of obsessive rehearsal. But when the individual kids are spotlighted, a new truth emerges. Life has a different path for these talents, and each journey has an artistic interpretation within it.

Rebecca Houseknect Waits Backstage in ‘First Position’

Photo credit: Sundance Selects

There is the poignant story of a war orphan from Africa turned ballerina, when an adoptive family...

Chicago – In general, one of the essential rites of passage for girls in childhood are ballet lessons and costumed recitals. What about those exceptional talents who stick with the art? Director Bess Kargman creates a documentary about the elite youth within the beauty and truth of the dance, “First Position.”

Rating: 3.5/5.0

The title refers to the stance that every new ballet student learns, and in Kargman’s document, symbolizes the career beginnings of the cream of the youth crop. No matter what your opinion or connection to the art form is, this film enhances the appreciation of the hard work and dedication that these children endure. There are several surprises, with both the expected stereotypes and outside-the-box participants. Everything is beautiful at the ballet.

Kargman follows six different competitors in the prestigious Youth America Grand Prix, which focuses on ballet dancers ages 9-19. There are types that are expected – the...

Chicago – Last-minute Hookup! In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film with our unique social giveaway technology, we have 30 admit-two movie passes up for grabs to the advance screening of the award-winning Sundance Selects documentary “First Position”!

“First Position” from director Bess Kargman stars Aran Bell, Gaya Bommer Yemini, Michaela Deprince, Jules Jarvis Fogarty, Miko Fogarty, Rebecca Houseknecht and Joan Sebastian Zamora.

To win your admit-two, advance-screening movie passes to “First Position” courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, get interactive with our unique Hookup technology directly below. That’s it! This advance screening is on Monday, May 14, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. in Chicago. The more social actions you complete below, the higher yours odds of winning!

Note: You can enter for our “First Position” Hookup as well as our earlier “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” Hookup, but you can’t win both as they’re taking place on the same night.

First Position Trailer. Bess Kargman‘s First Position (2011) movie trailer stars Aran Bell, Gaya Bommer Yemini, Michaela Deprince, Jules Jarvis Fogarty, Rebecca Houseknecht, and Joan Sebastian Zamora. First Position‘s plot synopsis: “Follow in the inspirational footsteps of six talented ballet dancers (ages nine to nineteen) as they struggle to maintain form in the face of injury [...]

Continue reading: First Position (2011) Movie Trailer: Bess Kargman...

Trailer and images for the First Position Documentary. Bess Kargman directs the IFC Films documentary which opens May 4th, including Miko Fogarty, Jules Fogarty, Joan Sebastian Zamora, Aran Bell and Michaela DePrince. In First Position, every year, thousands of aspiring dancers enter one of the world's most prestigious ballet competitions, the Youth America Grand Prix, where lifelong dreams are at stake. In the final round, with hundreds competing for only a handful of elite scholarships and contracts, practice and discipline are paramount, and nothing short of perfection is expected. Bess Kargman's award-winning documentary, First Position, follows six young dancers as they prepare for a chance to enter the world of professional ballet, struggling through bloodied feet, near exhaustion and debilitating injuries, all while navigating the drama of adolescence. A showcase of awe-inspiring talent, tenacity and passion,First Position paints a thrilling and moving portrait of the most gifted young ballet stars of tomorrow.

Trailer and images for the First Position Documentary. Bess Kargman directs the IFC Films documentary which opens May 4th, including Miko Fogarty, Jules Fogarty, Joan Sebastian Zamora, Aran Bell and Michaela DePrince. In First Position, every year, thousands of aspiring dancers enter one of the world's most prestigious ballet competitions, the Youth America Grand Prix, where lifelong dreams are at stake. In the final round, with hundreds competing for only a handful of elite scholarships and contracts, practice and discipline are paramount, and nothing short of perfection is expected. Bess Kargman's award-winning documentary, First Position, follows six young dancers as they prepare for a chance to enter the world of professional ballet, struggling through bloodied feet, near exhaustion and debilitating injuries, all while navigating the drama of adolescence. A showcase of awe-inspiring talent, tenacity and passion,First Position paints a thrilling and moving portrait of the most gifted young ballet stars of tomorrow.