Wendy Whelan Attending 4/21 Screening!
One of the world's great dancers, Wendy Whelan began dance lessons at the age of three in Louisville, Kentucky. At 15, she moved to New York to study dance full time. Before long, she was named an apprentice with New York City Ballet followed by a storied 30-year career there, rising to soloist and principal dancer and performing virtually all the major George Balanchine roles. As this thoroughly engaging documentary unfolds, 47-year-old Whelan first fights against and then comes to accept the physical limitations that come with aging. Frustration gives way to a newfound sense of freedom and creativity; she seeks to re-invent herself and embarks on innovative projects with her favorite choreographers.
Restless Creature proves to be both a definitive "decoding" of Whelan and a timeless reminder of all that we value in our artists and in the creative endeavor itself.
Directors’ Biographies
Linda Saffire: An adjunct professor at Columbia University’s Film Division of the School of the Arts, Linda Saffire is a producer and director of non-fiction films, and has worked on numerous award-winning film and television productions. Among the feature documentary films she has produced are Wild Men Blues ('97) and A Conversation with Gregory Peck ('99).
Adam Schlesinger: Based in New York City, Adam Schlesinger is an Emmy-nominated independent film producer of award-winning films. His credits include Smash His Camera ('10), Page One: Inside The New York Times ('11), and Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry ('12). His next collaboration with Saffire is a documentary on youth sports and the American dream.
Sponsored by: