“Étoile”: Ballet With An Edge

As a former dancer, I’ve seen every ballet movie or TV series there is. From the 1948 chestnut, The Red Shoes, to a glorious Baryshnikov in The Turning Point (77) to ‘tween favorite Center Stage (2000) and the train wreck that was Black Swan (2010),  I’ve literally done the legwork.

So, of course, I was thrilled about the new Amazon Prime series, Étoile. It’s the latest creation from TV power team Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino (Gilmore Girls, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel). Sherman-Palladino once studied ballet and did another short-lived series, Bunheads, about a mother-daughter ballet school. According to her, Étoile is an attempt at exploring the dance world with a bit more nuance.

The word “Étoile” means “star” in every sense of the word. The plot revolves around two major ballet companies, one in New York (run by the high-strung Luke Kirby), one in Paris (run by Charlotte Gainsbourg, exuding effortless French style with some quirky British humor). Both companies are suffering from diminished ticket sales, financial issues, and struggles with temperamental dancers. In a bold move, they decide to swap their key artists to generate some buzz. On paper, it seems like a good idea; the reality is anything but.

After watching a few of the eight episodes of Season One, my first thought was, “Ballet is not funny.” Yes, there are funny moments in that world – the way the eccentric choreographer (Gideon Glick) describes the steps in his piece (“…the ‘Whoosh Whoosh’…”). But there’s not enough of that “inside ballet” humor to sustain an hour-long episode.

We’re first introduced to the French prima, Cheyenne Toussaint (Lou de Laâge), on a Greenpeace-like crusade. She’s filled with righteous anger about almost everything – the gas-guzzling limo sent to pick her up at the airport, the use of plastic cups at the theater, the need to suck up to wealthy donors. Her stompy-footed diva behavior becomes amusing, but this is assuming that you make it through the entire series to appreciate it.

Étoile does a good job of showing the real, often unpleasant tasks involved in sustaining a major ballet company: doing shows that draw an audience but that dancers hate (The Nutcracker), or indulging annoying rich patrons. Simon Callow plays a slimy billionaire who insists on having a historic theater re-named after him; the “ick” factor is off the charts, but sadly, this is what happens in real life (see: New York’s hallowed State Theater renamed the “David H. Koch Theater”).

The hothouse environment of rising dancers gets a look. “Mishi” (Tais Vinolo) has been struggling in New York, but in Paris, her influential parents get her promoted, ostracizing her even more from normal life/friends. In New York, Cheyenne takes young “SuSu” (LaMay Zhang) under her wing, encouraging her budding talent, plus the inner bratiness required to be truly great.

Étoile showcases some great dancers, like Tiler Peck and Robbie Fairchild (New York City Ballet). The music choices are interesting, including songs from T.Rex, David Byrne, and Sparks. The sly observations about young dancers’ obsessions with social media or bringing their dogs to class are spot on.

For a series about ballet, though, it takes ages to see any actual dancing. When we do, the pieces are a mix of interesting and “meh.” Lou de Laâge had some dance training as a child, but really upped her game for the series (as well as learning English) – she’s breathtaking.

Étoile nicely reveals the inner workings of a company: quirky board members, the competition (and boredom) among the corps, fleeting romances, and the stalking shadow of age that hovers over everyone in that world. But it’s a series that doesn’t seem to know what it wants to be: Funny? Dramatic? Is it just trying to be “cool”? It’s uncertain. A second season has been ordered, so we shall see how this all plays out.

At this stage, dance fans will likely enjoy Étoile. Everyone else? Well, your time is probably better spent at the bar – just not this barre.

-Cindy Grogan

Fair use image of Étoile (Amazon Prime)