The Norton Simon Museum Presents the Film Series ‘Behind the Scenes’

Three documentaries by women filmmakers explore the world of performance

PHOTO: Norton Simon Arts Foundation | SouthPasadenan.com

In celebration of the many dancers on view in the exhibition “Taking Shape: Degas as Sculptor,” the Norton Simon presents the film series Behind the Scenes. These three documentaries examine the world of performance, from the creative process of choreographers to the rigorous preparation of dancers.

Films screen on three consecutive Fridays in March and are free with Museum admission.

In the Steps of Trisha Brown (2016), NR
Directed by Marie-Hélène Rebois
Friday, March 16, 6:00–7:20 p.m.

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Choreographer Trisha Brown revolutionized the world of contemporary dance. In the Steps of Trisha Brown takes us behind the scenes in the weeks leading up to a new production of her seminal 1979 work Glacial Decoy, performed in Paris by a new generation of dancers. Interspersed with archival footage from original productions and of Brown herself in rehearsal, In the Steps of Trisha Brown is both a testament to the value of teaching and studying art and dance, and a privileged look at the process of staging a major dance piece.

 

First Position (2011), NR
Directed by Bess Kargman
Friday, March 23, 6:00–7:35 p.m.

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. 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.

 

One Day Pina Asked… (1983), NR
Directed by Chantal Akerman
Friday, March 30, 6:00–7:00 p.m.

An encounter between two of the most remarkable female artists of the 20th century, One Day Pina Asked… is a look by director Chantal Akerman at the work of choreographer Pina Bausch and her Wuppertal, Germany–based dance company. Capturing the company’s striking dances and elaborate stagings over a five-week European tour, Akerman takes us inside their process. The dancers describe the development of various dances, and the way in which Bausch calls upon them to supply autobiographical details around which the performances were frequently built.

ADMISSION: All screenings are free with Museum admission. Admission is $15.00 for adults; $12.00 for seniors; and free for Museum members, students with I.D., and everyone age 18 and under. For more information, call (626) 449-6840 or visit www.nortonsimon.org.

WHERE: Norton Simon Museum| 411 West Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena; located on the corner of Colorado and Orange Grove Boulevards at the intersection of the Foothill (210) and Ventura (134) freeways | Parking at the Norton Simon Museum is free.

About the Norton Simon Museum

The Norton Simon Museum is known around the world as one of the most remarkable private art collections ever assembled. Over a 30-year period, industrialist Norton Simon (1907–1993) amassed an astonishing collection of European art from the Renaissance to the 20th century, and a stellar collection of South and Southeast Asian art spanning 2,000 years. Modern and Contemporary Art from Europe and the United States, acquired by the former Pasadena Art Museum, also occupies an important place in the Museum’s collections. The Museum houses more than 12,000 objects, roughly 1,000 of which are on view in the galleries and gardens. Two temporary exhibition spaces feature rotating installations of artworks not on permanent display.

Location: The Norton Simon Museum is located at 411 W. Colorado Blvd. at Orange Grove Boulevard in Pasadena, Calif., at the intersection of the Foothill (210) and Ventura (134) freeways. For general Museum information, please call (626) 449-6840 or visit www.nortonsimon.org. Hours: The Museum is open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from noon to 5 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Tuesday. Admission: General admission is $15 for adults and $12 for seniors. Members, students with I.D., and patrons age 18 and under are admitted free of charge. Admission is free for everyone on the first Friday of every month from 5 to 8 p.m. All public programs, unless stated otherwise, are free with admission. The Museum is wheelchair accessible. Parking: Parking is free, and no reservations are necessary. Public Transportation: Pasadena Transit stops directly in front of the Museum. Please visit www.pasadenatransit.net for schedules. The MTA bus line #180/181 stops in front of the Museum. The Memorial Park Station on the MTA Gold Line, the closest Metro Rail station to the Museum, is located at 125 E. Holly St. at Arroyo Parkway. Please visit www.metro.net for schedules