MOVIEmeter
SEE RANK
Up 933 this week

First Position (2011)

7.3
Your rating:
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 -/10 X  
Ratings: 7.3/10 from 1,323 users   Metascore: 72/100
Reviews: 11 user | 52 critic | 22 from Metacritic.com

A documentary that follows six young dancers from around the world as they prepare for the Youth America Grand Prix, one of the most prestigious ballet competitions in the world.

Director:

Watch Trailer
0Check in
0Share...

User Lists

Related lists from IMDb users

a list of 156 titles created 06 Apr 2012
 
a list of 18 titles created 03 Oct 2011
 
a list of 56 titles created 1 month ago
 
a list of 100 titles created 28 Feb 2012
 
a list of 9 titles created 10 months ago
 

Connect with IMDb


Share this Rating

Title: First Position (2011)

First Position (2011) on IMDb 7.3/10

Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.

Take The Quiz!

Test your knowledge of First Position.
5 wins & 5 nominations. See more awards »

Videos

Photos

Learn more

People who liked this also liked... 

Documentary | Drama | Family
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.2/10 X  

When a Mongolian nomadic family's newest camel colt is rejected by its mother, a musician is needed for a ritual to change her mind.

Directors: Byambasuren Davaa, Luigi Falorni
Stars: Janchiv Ayurzana, Chimed Ohin, Amgaabazar Gonson
Super Size Me (2004)
Documentary | Comedy | Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.4/10 X  

While examining the influence of the fast food industry, Morgan Spurlock personally explores the consequences on his health of a diet of solely McDonald's food for one month.

Director: Morgan Spurlock
Stars: Morgan Spurlock, Daryl Isaacs, Lisa Ganjhu
Happy I (2011)
Documentary | Drama | Family
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6.8/10 X  

HAPPY takes us on a journey from the swamps of Louisiana to the slums of Kolkata in search of what really makes people happy. Combining real life stories of people from around the world and... See full summary »

Director: Roko Belic
Stars: Anne Bechsgaard, Gregory Berns, Roy Blanchard
Documentary | Drama | Family
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.6/10 X  

In 1994 Oregon became the first state to legalize physician-assisted suicide. At the time, only Belgium, Switzerland, and the Netherlands had legalized the practice. 'How to Die in Oregon' ... See full summary »

Director: Peter Richardson
Stars: Harry Bruton, Ray Carnay, Cody Curtis
Documentary | Comedy
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 8/10 X  

The story of how an eccentric French shop keeper and amateur film maker attempted to locate and befriend Banksy, only to have the artist turn the camera back on its owner. The film contains... See full summary »

Director: Banksy
Stars: Banksy, Mr. Brainwash, Debora Guetta
Documentary | Biography | Comedy
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6.5/10 X  
Directors: Dylan Nelson, Dan Sturman
Stars: Andrew Manley, Rosie Forti, Toni Casala
Jesus Camp (2006)
Documentary | Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.5/10 X  

A documentary on kids who attend a summer camp hoping to become the next Billy Graham.

Directors: Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady
Stars: Lou Engle, Becky Fischer, Ted Haggard
Religulous (2008)
Documentary | Comedy
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.7/10 X  

Bill Maher's take on the current state of world religion.

Director: Larry Charles
Stars: Bill Maher, Tal Bachman, Jonathan Boulden
Good Hair (2009)
Documentary | Comedy
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6.8/10 X  

Chris Rock explores the wonders of African-American hairstyles.

Director: Jeff Stilson
Stars: Tanya Crumel, Maya Angelou, Chris Rock
Documentary
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.7/10 X  

A look at the annual journey of Emperor penguins as they march -- single file -- to their traditional breeding ground.

Director: Luc Jacquet
Stars: Charles Berling, Romane Bohringer, Jules Sitruk
Documentary | Comedy
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6.6/10 X  

A documentary about branding, advertising and product placement that is financed and made possible by brands, advertising and product placement.

Director: Morgan Spurlock
Stars: J.J. Abrams, Peter Berg, Paul Brennan
Documentary | Drama | Family
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6.9/10 X  

The collar awarded to the winners of the Meilleur Ouvrier de France (Best Craftsman in France) is more than the ultimate recognition for every pastry chef - it is a dream and an obsession. ... See full summary »

Directors: Chris Hegedus, D.A. Pennebaker
Stars: Jacquy Pfeiffer, Sebastien Canonne, Philippe Rigollot
Edit

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Aran Bell ...
Himself
Rebecca Houseknecht ...
Herself
Joan Sebastian Zamora ...
Himself
Miko Fogarty ...
Herself
Jules Jarvis Fogarty ...
Himself
Michaela Deprince ...
Herself (as Michaela DePrince)
Gaya Bommer Yemini ...
Herself
Michelle Bell ...
Herself
Ryan Bell ...
Himself
Elaine DePrince ...
Herself
Charles DePrince ...
Himself
Wendy Houseknecht ...
Herself
David Houseknecht ...
Himself
Satoko Fogarty ...
Herself
Mat Fogarty ...
Himself
Edit

Storyline

First Position follows six talented young dancers (ages 9-19) from five continents as they prepare for a worldwide ballet competition that could transform their lives overnight. Written by Production Team

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

6 dancers, 5 minutes on stage, 1 chance to make it.

Genres:

Documentary

Certificate:

Not Rated | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
Edit

Details

Official Sites:

| |  »

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

10 August 2012 (Taiwan)  »

Also Known As:

Le concours de danse  »

Filming Locations:

 »

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$48,024 (USA) (4 May 2012)

Gross:

$894,471 (USA) (22 June 2012)
 »

Company Credits

Production Co:

 »
Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

See  »

Frequently Asked Questions

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.

User Reviews

Ballet at its Best
1 June 2012 | by (Columbus, Ohio) – See all my reviews

First Position takes a front row in my line up of competition documentaries. It's exceptional because it doesn't overdo its reverence for ballet, nor does it play on a natural sympathy for young competitors from 9 through 19 years old. It would be easy to fawn over youngsters who have only two and a half minutes to persuade judges that they are the best among hundreds of ambitious artists.

It keeps the tension of the race to the finals of the Youth America Grand Prix while it invests just the right amount of time with six selected dancers, some of whom fortuitously go to the finals and win, if not the gold , then full scholarships to dance academies, not a bad substitute at all.

The camera follows, as is tradition, the endless practices with the demanding coaches, but this time both principals and teachers seem to enjoy the process as much as the awards. There's respectful, low key camaraderie among all the competitors, coaches, and parents that is unusual for these contests and documentaries about them.

The range of contestants is the believable, not hyped part I liked so much. While cheerful ten year old Jules Fogarty clearly isn't into dance or the competition, sixteen-year old Joan Sebastian Zamora will earn a top spot at the Grand Prix finals in New York because he cares just enough. Such is the way ambition should work out in the best of all possible worlds.

Best of all the dancers, for me, is 11 year old Aran Bell, whose ambition is matched by his awesome talent with a litheness only a dancer years older could have. Michaela, originally from Sierra Leone, is the most surprising talent, given the horrors she has seen and the physical challenges she must overcome.

Director Bess Kargman, following six contestants for over a year, does simple magic with director of photography Nick Higgins, sometimes forsaking the competition footage for the more intimately personal, with arguably limited results when the winners are announced as we want to agree with the decisions. More time on stage might have enlisted our cooperation.

A case could be made for the superiority of the ballroom dance Mad Hot Ballroom, poetry team Louder Than a Bomb, horse racing's First Saturday in May, or spelling bee Spellbound because they concentrate on the intensity of the actual competition and open up criticism of the contest itself. No such negativity appears here, a weakness for those who would like the reality of disappointment and hurt to extend beyond Michaela's sore foot.

But for me, it's nice to be relaxed as we hope these young competitors still are.


8 of 8 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

Message Boards

Recent Posts
Miko's family (the Fogerty family) dosgatosazules
Release Dates as of 4/5/12 Missea
A beautiful film about the dedication of dancers tsuki570
its on tv cxmas2000
Fantastic video of Miko ciocio-2
Discuss First Position (2011) on the IMDb message boards »

Contribute to This Page