"One day my wife told me that our son was into this thing." "I thought it was a bit weird, you know?" "Everyone did." "It's really unusual for where we live." "I live in Complexo do Alemão in the Northern Zone of Rio, with my mom and dad." "Here if we don't teach our children to lead an honest life, they may become a drug dealer." "But it's a short life-- either jail or the coffin." "My biggest wish is to be able to leave this neighborhood, to go to a better and calmer place, and take my parents with me." "I was like a tough dad who says," ""I never heard of such thing, a boy in ballet!"" "Then, I started to see him dance, and now I am his number one fan." "That is that." "From the moment dance came into my life, it has taken over everything." "Everywhere I look, every way I go, it's always dance, dance, dance!" "Joining a classical ballet company... that's my dream." ""Dad, my toe shoes broke, my tights have torn."" "And I thought, "I can't leave her with broken shoes and torn tights."" "I used to make ends meet by working day and night." "I worked during the wee hours, so I could take a second job right after leaving the first one." "Victory, for those born rich, it comes easy." "For the rest of us, we have to fight." "Here is Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro." "All the affluent people moved here." "People call it the nouveau riche district." "We have beautiful houses." "It's really good to live here." "There are my children, there are my grandchildren-- my family-- but dance is the meaning of my life." "One day, I realized" "I had to help others as I myself had been helped." " Good morning." " Good morning, Mrs. Mariza." " Good morning." " Good morning." " How are you?" " Hello." "Good afternoon." " Hello, Isabela." " Hello." "Hello, you all." "How are you?" "The places where you find the most talent in Rio... are in the slums and working-class neighborhoods, because they seize this chance with strong determination and hope." "Irlan is the most promising dancer in Brazil for his age in my opinion." "As for Isabela, there's simply no other comparable black ballerina." "In Isabela I saw a true artist." "Everything she would do had a certain charm, made more special by her beautiful black skin." "She once asked me," ""What are the chances for a black ballerina... to work in a major classical ballet company in Brazil?"" "I told her, "The chances are nil, but I will help you to get into a foreign company."" "Prejudice is my world." "Prejudice exists in classical dance." "They should put up a sign saying," ""Classical ballet is not for black people."" " It was created for the bourgeois." " It's for the Europeans." "Classical ballet is for privileged people only." "It's for white, smooth-skinned people." "My daughter's skin is smooth, but not white." "I'd be fooling her if I said the challenge wasn't huge." "I kept on going and I'll keep on going." "If we can be the stars in capoeira for white people, then why can't my black daughter be a star in ballet?" "They have all left." "Everyone." "This afternoon-- I don't know what was going on." "I just heard shots coming from over there." "Within the house, it's hard to tell what was going." "Maybe the police came around." "We're used to this stuff." "Lots of people are dying this way." "All our clothes are falling down." "We'd love to leave this neighborhood, but that's a long way off." "Irlan, wake up." "My day consists of waking up, going to school." "These days I'm in the middle of taking my final exams." "So, I take the tests, then go to the Municipal Theatre, have dance lessons, rehearse for the show," "leave the theater at 4:00 p.m., get to the Center of Dance around 5:30." "If a dance company gives me a place abroad," "I must be 18 and have completed high school." "They demand this." "I need my full diploma." "I can only stay from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m." "which is very little time." "This is another pressure for me." "He does isolate himself sometimes, maybe because he's living life by a stopwatch." "He's already living life like a professional." "Unlike other kids," "Irlan doesn't have the time to cultivate friendships because that would mean having the time to listen and to talk." "I feel very different from people my age who live in the Complexo do Alemão." "The world of dance has given me a different vision." "I could say I found my true self in ballet-- those moments of weightlessness, when you feel you're flying as you leap." "That I'm away from the city's chaos-- that's what I feel when I'm on stage." "It's in our blood, passed down the generations." "All Brazilians know how to dance deep down." "Tonight we are going to have some fun." "We'll have some food, dance a bit." "It's going to be good." "I think lrlan's passion for dance came from us." "We even met while we were dancing." "We never missed the pagode dance every week." "Now I just have to wait for my man." "He takes longer than me." "Both he and Irian take longer than me." "They have to start to get ready before me because I don't need much time." "It looks good." "Here he is." "Dressed!" "But he still has to do his hair over here." " This is where the detail happens." " This is the main part!" "Ready!" "I'm studying hard." "I hope I get a good grade." "I'm trying hard." "I'm taking lrlan and Isabela to one of Brazil's most important competitions." "There are 120 candidates for 25 places." "Those 25 will represent Brazil in New York in April." "That was lsabela Coracy." "Next the Senior Men." "Irlan Santos." "You must love dance, so whatever happens you'll persist to the very end." "Now a kiss for each of you!" "Irlan Santos." "Isabela Coracy." "For sure mom and dad will be really happy." "When I get home it'll be loads of hugs and kisses." "I got through, one of the 25 solo performers, thank God!" "It's great." "It means I can go to New York." "These are great kids, coming from good families." "Their parents want to support their dreams, but they can't, not even a little." "They just can't." "A toe shoe costs 50 dollars." "So the school must sponsor it." "Thank God they have my school and we gave them a scholarship." "Now they have a wonderful opportunity." "I am both excited and nervous to see what will happen next." "The results in São José were really great." "For me this brings a lot of hope and expectation." "It means I might go to New York and show my talent." "So far there are only three people who have money to go." "Because lrlan won first prize, all his expenses are taken care of." "But there are a lot of people who don't even have their ticket yet." "It is the same problem for me." "Bread, I cut all bread off my diet... soft drinks, junk food, and all that." "It's all past now." "My parents monitor me all the time in that respect." "It's tough." "You have to tell me what difficulties you're having." "If you have 600 dollars for the hotel, 850 dollars for the flight... if you have the money to register once there." "My mother's come up with all sorts of solutions," "Ioaning us money for Isabela." "Just yesterday she was phoning all these loan sharks." "They keep promising her money but then don't deliver." "Believe me, I know what these loans are!" "Something you'll be paying the rest of your lives." "That should be the last resort for you." "There are 40 days left." "She must be up to standard." "Not that she's fat, but for an international contest, she needs a certain look." "It's hard to lose weight, hard to hear I am overweight." "It's very hard... to have a body like those beautiful ballerinas." "I really want that for myself." "I will prove to them" "I want to join an international company." "It's a future for me-- a career." "I will prove to them I want to join an international company." "To get there to New York, and..." "Since I've known about this trip," "I've been saving-- well, I'm a pensioner." "I've been putting a little money aside." "You have to pull out all the stops." "This is no joke." "My role is practically mother and father to everyone." "I sort out all the household problems." "Seven years ago I became a widow and began looking after them and I haven't stopped since." "We already have the money for the ticket." "Yes, we've done that part, but not the other expenses." "It's a good thing it's nearly over because who knows what would happen if I die." "I think lsabela would have to stop." "Maybe Mariza would finally adopt her as a daughter." "How much do you actually need?" "We need to pay for the ticket, food, registration." "It's about 2,000 dollars." "It's not a huge amount, but it's not small." "We always lived on the edge, but now the whole family is committed to getting me this trip." "In order to help lsabela, I've gone back to work after five years." "I couldn't stand the idea that everyone else was working and I wasn't." "I kept needing things, asking, feeling bad." "So, I've got my act together and I've succeeded." "Okay, I need silence now." "I'm handing out the exam paper." "Attention, people!" "Guys, guys, guys!" "Silence, please!" "Shut up, damn it!" "People, I'm begging you." "Can we have silence or what?" "The exam has begun." "Why this noise?" "I like tattoos so I got one done with "Irian."" "He saw it and said, "Dad, you must be joking."" "I thought it turned out nicely." " He didn't like it?" " He didn't approve, you know how he is." "But he will get used to it." "I want to tell everyone how much I love my son." "I'm considering having his face put over here." "I managed to reach my goal and finish my studies." "I got a passing grade." "I sent my entry to the Prix de Lausanne, and I have been selected as a contestant." "This makes me happy as it's very prestigious, one of the best in the world." "Good luck, son." "Call us, okay?" "I need some help!" "I knew you were going to ask for help." "He's packed the whole house." " Bye." " Bye." "I'll always fight to get there, to go abroad, to give my parents a better life." "That's my greatest desire." "This is my first time in Europe." "I am loving it." "Most different from Brazil?" "The politeness." "But it's really cold." "I wear lots of coats." "When I left Rio, it was 104° F." "When I got here, it was 34° F." "Incredible!" "Snow!" "I think there were some ice droplets falling." "White?" "Do you think if we wait there'll be more?" "There." "Look." "Cool!" "I noticed the day he arrived that he was very nervous." "I imagine what he's feeling inside." "Coming from his poor background to this rich place with a marvelous theater and this jury which is extremely important in the ballet world." "It's so many months of work... just to dance two minutes onstage at most." "Oh my, I got so hot!" "I thought my face was in flames." "Well, it's difficult." " lsn't it, Irian?" " Very difficult." "I have no doubt that it is difficult, but he did very well, and I have the feeling I will see the number 80 on the board." "I bet they delay it on purpose, right?" "There's always delays." "They say 7:30, then 8:00, then 9:00..." "Where is Mariza?" "Shall I go over there now, Mariza?" " How did it go?" "Are you happy?" " I'm very, very happy." "So what are your expectations now?" "I hope I can dance beautifully tomorrow, to give all of me and a bit more." "The name of the ballet is Nijinsky." "Nijinsky was a revolutionary of the dance world." "At the time everyone danced straight, classically, he started doing mad things." "He suffered because of the choices he made." "He had a mental breakdown." "In my dance, I tell his story." "I begin sentimental... and in the end I kill myself." "I offered him a poached egg." "He said he wanted hard-boiled." "Then, I made it really hard, he wouldn't eat it." "Emotion and anxiety make him eat less." "Go have your breakfast, please." "There are lots of choices today." "Do you want chocolate?" " An egg?" " No." "I'm going to change as I have to be in classical costume for the results." "Ladies and Gentlemen, I know you're anxious to hear the results." "The next prize we're giving tonight is one of the seven scholarships that will be awarded." "It will be awarded to a pupil... of the Conservatório Brasileiro de Dança, in Rio de Janeiro, and it's Marcella de Paiva." "Next prize goes to someone else from Brazil, and it's given to a candidate from the Centro de Dança in Rio," "Mr. Irian Silva." "It's great to hear things from people who understand dance." "I hope with this prize I get into one of the companies I have chosen and start a good career." "It's a big responsibility because the facts of this night will decide my future." "So what seems to be the problem, Isabela?" "It's my foot." "I was dancing when I pulled it again." " You twisted it?" " Yes." "I hurt it last September." "It stopped hurting, but then I pulled it again." " Did you bandage it?" " No, I just put it on ice." " For how long?" " Since March." " A full month?" " Yes." " Does it hurt right now?" " Yes, some steps I can't do" "Ieaps, landing heavily." "Did you go for X-ray?" "No, we were afraid they would give me a cast, and it's too close to the trip to New York." "Are you eating properly?" "They asked me to lose weight." "Are there still any marks on your skin?" "No, it only shows on my face." "Regarding your skin, you have allergic dermatitis, triggered by emotional stress." "My mother would take out one loan," "Silvana would take out another and me" " I would go to the banks and hit a wall." "I would try every way to soften the bank managers, but they said I had a bad credit history." "I would have to go home empty-handed which was a torture." " May I come in?" " Is everything good?" "I have 200 dollars with me." "The more I give you, the more secure we feel." "I know it's been really difficult, that you and your wife are making big sacrifices." "Her loan was small as she hasn't worked long." "She's also got a loan?" "But not much as she's only worked six months." "When lsabela's parents brought me the money for the hotel," "I felt burdened by even more responsibility to get something for this girl." "When he handed me all he had, it really hurt." "If I didn't make it, she will..." "What she will achieve will make us all happy." "It justifies all the effort that we've put into this dream." "I am emotional because of everyone's support." "It's marvelous." "It is hard for a mother to see her child fighting for an ideal... he probably will not win." "He wants his dream to come true to show the world he could do it for his daughter." "Take a picture, Auntie." "I would but I don't know which button to press!" "I didn't sleep." "Just watched all the films." "Everyone else slept, but I kept myself awake." "I watched the airplane wing out of the window." "When the car turned we saw all these colors." "All these lights..." "Then, I knew we've arrived." "I'll never forget that moment." "I'm not nervous." "I'm feeling pretty confident." "Rehearsal went well today, so I am feeling good." "So how was it?" "All right, thank God." "I think we're doing great." "Everyone is doing well." "And personally I think I'm good, at the same level." "Carol, it's time for the results." "Come over!" "I heard that thirty people passed." " Did you make it?" " I don't know yet." "Is it now?" "It's now." "Oh my God!" "Is that everyone?" "Men and women?" "I passed." " What's your number, Irian?" " 353." "Congratulations, girlfriend." "I didn't pass." "I was really sorry because she was well prepared but I think they found her a bit overweight." "They selected so few people, you can't make any mistakes." "Just think about all you've done." "All you have overcome." "It's over." "We'll be next up." "Listen to me, it's not about you now." " It's not our turn." " I know," " but listen to me." " I'm listening," "It's about the whole group." "This is going to mean a lot to you, Bella." "Every single movement must be good." "Cry all you like now." "On stage you have to smile." "You must show how good you are, show them what you are capable of." "After all it's not about ass and thighs." "So keep crying and perform like shit, confirm they chose right not picking you!" "Let's sing a prayer, guys." "So we can do it together... what we can't and don't want to do by ourselves." "I wish my number had been up there." "But I didn't see it, my number wasn't there." "You get sad of course, really sad, because you know what you are capable of." "I don't know how to explain it." "It is Toti and Silvana's greatest wish to see lsabela go to New York and become a star-- a great star." "Silvana is always quiet, my son even quieter." "What if everything was for nothing?" "All the time she's spent just gone down the drain?" "She's 17." "So, my son says she has to travel again." "And I say, "What about the money issue?"" "We still haven't paid the debts from last time!" "You've been telling me since April..." ""I want to go to the competition again."" "So, I have called your parents here, to warn them." "This is not a game." "This is your future." "And I told you to watch out, remember?" "The jury is the same." "This is what makes me worried about you." "I don't want to get there and hear others saying what I had to hear before-- that you needed a better body." "The judge told me not to forget this point." "We'll go back, and he'll ask why I brought you again." "And that will be the end of you and me." "It's only because I am fond of you that I tell you such things." "Thank you." "My wife and I had a meeting with Mariza... where we decided..." "Isabela should take more time to prepare not travel straight away." "In financial terms... we have a tough time ahead... trying not to ruin school, holidays, Christmas." "I'll keep the credit rolling on." "I think lsabela is still in the running." "We'll have to look around for another route for her, other paths, which aren't only abroad." "I've always wanted to open a small café and do things I know." "Irlan has his life half sorted... but my husband and I just have him." "Our life will be very quiet without lrlan, so running a café will distract our minds." "It'll be really hard without him first for a year, then God knows how long." "For me this is a sort of therapy." "It's doing the things I like, making pastries, cakes-- and chatting with my people, you know?" "They will be my second family." "I've finally made my decision." "I'm going to accept the offer to join the American Ballet Theatre Company." "There's no going back now." "This is really what I want for me." "It's a great company, very prestigious." "I'll gain a lot of experience with them." "Hello, Edézio." "How are you?" "This is Mariza." "I'm throwing a surprise goodbye party for Irian." "Hello, Eliana." "This is Mariza Estrella." "Hello, darling." "The answering machine-- I'll leave a message." "Hang them on the nail here." "He's going on Saturday, the 30th." "Very little time to say goodbye to such a good friend." "Hey everyone, silence please!" "Can everyone be quiet?" "I'll just be five minutes." "Your time has arrived." "We are happy, really happy." "Why?" "Because you were a winner." "You believed in our school, in our guidance, in our teaching." "Before I give the floor to someone else..." "I wanted to wish you great happiness." "I hope you achieve everything you set your mind to." "Thank you for coming to our school." "After those kind words," "I'm deeply moved." "I'm very proud of saying I belong to the Rio Center of Dance." "I've always been loyal to this school." "I think I've always represented this school well." "I have a little something here for Mariza." "The other... is for everyone who has helped me on the way." "Unwrap it now because this one is for the wall in my room." "Look how gorgeous this is!" "I think we've been very happy while working together." "But remember what I always said... never forget your roots, all the love you received." "Thank you." "You're great." "This is all we want, for you to be happy." "And you will be." "Wherever you go, thank your family-- your wonderful personality." "You're wonderful." "I'll never forget you." "I'm not thinking about missing people at this stage." "I'm just bidding my farewells." "I think one year will go by very quickly." "But..." "I'm wondering what will happen in New York." "I'm starting my career as a professional ballet dancer, not a student of a school." "It is the end of something and the beginning of a new era in my life." "He asked me to iron this so he can wear it when he goes." "Do you normally iron his clothes?" "He does too, but when he needs help he asks me." " God, it's heavy." " Mom," "I'm going for a year!" "It's the big day and my heart is beating fast..." " It's racing." " It's hurting." "But it's pain that's come from happiness." "We know he fought really hard for this." " I think I'm ready." " Which suitcase is it?" "Both." "Good luck, be happy over there." "Your hand is cold." "It's about two hours till final call." "He was counting the minutes for this day to come." "In New York he'll see it's the place he wants to be." "Irlan, don't abandon me." "Don't go, it's jealously which is driving you away." "You make me laugh." "Irlan is solid rock." "He doesn't cry." "Be careful." "Always call." " Is everything okay?" " Yes." "Well, stop crying now." "I can almost hear him climbing the stairs." "Are you going to keep staring at me?" "There's no choice." "It's only me and you now."