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s01e06 · 2020-12-18 · 12:00
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On Pointe
Disney+ Documentary
What it is
On Pointe captures a season in the School of American Ballet (SAB) in New York City. Featuring unprecedented access to the famous ballet institution, the series follows the lives of the students ages 8 to 18 pursuing their dreams to become ballet dancers. While older students from all over the country rigorously train for professional careers, younger students from New York City are put through their paces as they rehearse and perform in New York City Ballet's holiday classic "George Balanchine's The Nutcracker" onstage at Lincoln Center.
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Episode guide
6 this season · 6 totals01e01 Getting In 2020-12-18 12:00
Getting In
The school year begins at the prestigious School of American Ballet (SAB) in New York City. From Harlem to Chinatown, students as young as 6 years old audition for a coveted spot in SAB's Children's Division. Meanwhile, advanced students relocate from around the world to New York City where they will live and trainto be professional dancers under a seasoned and demanding faculty. As the students and teachers settle into their routines for the fall semester, preliminary casting for George Balanchine's The Nutcracker begins. Some flashing lights sequences or patterns may affect photosensitive viewers.
s01e02 Casting & Competition 2020-12-18 12:00
Casting & Competition
As the season picks up, younger SAB students from around New York City dig into their daily routine of ballet class, school, and family life. Casting day for the iconic George Balanchine's The Nutcracker begins, and we see the audition process in full swing. Dancers are assigned to play the lead roles of the Princeand Marie, while some students do not make the cut. The advanced students begin the rigorous training that makes a "Balanchine" dancer.
s01e03 Practice Makes Perfect 2020-12-18 12:00
Practice Makes Perfect
Following the highly competitive audition process, rehearsals begin for George Balanchine's The Nutcracker. The lead children's roles of Marie and The Prince, as well as the rest of the ensemble, are put through their paces. Rehearsals and classwork become more demanding, as the students must balance their schedules. The Level IV girls receive their first pair of pointe shoes, a milestone in the life of a dancer. An advanced student is offered a coveted apprenticeship with the New York City Ballet. Some flashing lights sequences or patterns may affect photosensitive viewers.
s01e04 Sacrifice & Support 2020-12-18 12:00
Sacrifice & Support
Opening night of George Balanchine's The Nutcracker approaches, and the young dancers begin to rehearse with their idols, the company members of New York City Ballet. Excitement mounts as costume fittings begin. Students establish their roles in the show, and perfect the intricate choreography. We follow them from the dance studio to their extracurricular activities and life outside of SAB. The intermediate and advanced dancers face challenges of injury and falling behind while balancing their schoolwork.
s01e05 Stepping Up 2020-12-18 12:00
Stepping Up
The holidays approach and anticipation ramps up as the younger dancers step onto the Lincoln Center stage for the first time for dress rehearsals. For many of the students, this will be their first time performing on stage. School intensifies and pressure builds for older dancers as they continue to vie for limited positions in the company. One of the students receives a surprising apprenticeship announcement, as her friends rally around in support. Students disperse for the Thanksgiving holiday.
s01e06 Showtime! 2020-12-18 12:00
Showtime!
Opening night of George Balanchine's The Nutcracker arrives. Months of rehearsals and jitters pay off in select scenes of the show over the course of its six-week run. The older students prepare for a community performance introducing the beauty of ballet to New York City schoolchildren, and one advanced student wins a coveted award from Lincoln Center. As the students put their performances behind them and return to their everyday routines, school closes down due to COVID-19. Classes continue virtually, but dancers of all ages must navigate their relationship to ballet without a studio as they prepare for the ever-challenging road ahead.