I have been told throughout my life I have a dancer’s soul. This does not mean that I can dance. It just states my passion for the art of dance and anyone who has the legs and feet to do it. When I directed my substantial musical productions, I could envision all my necessary moves, but there was no way I could put them together into a cohesive routine. My choreographer used to ask me what I saw in my head. I would then proceed to share what I dreamed. My choreographer was always very kind, and she instinctively understood my awkward, staccato moves. In the end, it always worked out fine. She used to say, “From your head…to the stage floor.” Those were the days of perfect collaboration.
I got my start in dance when I was nine years old. I was a four-leaf tap dancing clover in my first recital, whichd on local tv in PhoTVix. I wanted to dance ballet on point. It was so obvious that my short, stubby legs would never cut it. A devastating lesson for any little girl to realize that it was time to hang up her tutu forever.
I became an avid fan of anyone who could express themselves through dance. I read, and I attended concerts. I was a sponge, just wanting to learn about this expressive medium. My body was in awe of those who had the gift. One of my favorite stories was the fantasy fairy tale, THE RED SHOES, by Hans Christian Anderson. It was captivating, exciting, and even cruel in the end. My mother and I watched the film version together many decades ago. The dancing mesmerized me and taught me many valuable lessons about the sacrifices I would later make for my artistic choices.
THE RED SHOES premiered in 1948. It was an influential film for those who followed. Gene Kelly inspired his big solo dance number in AN AMERICAN IN PARIS after viewing the fifteen-minute dance sequence featuring the incredibly talented primo-ballerina Moira Shearer as Vicky. Even the unlikely Martin Scorsese has said THE RED SHOES is one of his favorite films of all time, and he has a rare collection of memorabilia to prove it. The stunning movie was nominated for Best Picture but was awarded two other Oscars instead for Best Musical Score and Best Art Direction.
Moira Shearer brought the magic of THE RED SHOES to life for every girl or boy who aspired to dance. Finding a ballerina with such ability who could also act was rare. It took the director, Michael Powell, a year to convince her to do the movie. It was her film debut, and she said in later interviews that it was a very difficult time working together. She also endured several injuries working on a cement floor for ten to twelve hours a day. The injuries the entire troupe (53 members) sustained had long-lasting effects. It took six weeks alone to film THE RED SHOES dance number.
The music and the cinematography were brilliant and creative work. Every second was beautifully framed with stunning orchestration using unique camera angles. When placed on a dancer’s feet, the movement was given imaginary wings to enhance the power of THE RED SHOES. It looked and felt impossible, which was the desired reaction from the audience. How could any mere mortal sustain the push and pace of those special shoes?
What I love the best about this movie is the constantly reiterated theme of what it takes to be a dancer. Is it possible to hold two loves in your heart? Would one take anything away from the other? Can a great artist be in love and still be considered a great dancer? “What do you want in life?” Is your answer just “to dance?” And if both being in love and still dancing, is the result… death? My guess is a person would have to be wearing THE RED SHOES when making that decision and, perhaps, facing their mortality. Then maybe the last line in their life would be the same as the final words uttered by Shearer: “Take THE RED SHOES off.”
THE RED SHOES showcases artistic ecstasy and perfection. It is an exquisite classic that allows audiences a peek behind the curtain of a dancer’s private world. It is a daily grind of forever taking classes, dealing with auditions, and back-stabbing colleagues. It is fraught with not having longevity or peace of mind. It can be a lonely yet glorious life if that passion is deep within the soul. I will always yearn to be a dancer, but the price tag of THE RED SHOES may ask too much of any human being.
THE RED SHOES is available on TCM.
