Dancing Bournonville

As master of the Royal Danish Ballet for almost 50 years, August Bournonville (1805-1879) founded a powerful ballet tradition that became famous around the world and to this day remains the core of the ensemble's repertoire. Only a few notes of the works survive, and it's mainly via dancers' memories that the Bournonville legacy is still passed from generation to generation. The film defines the Royal Danish Ballet's as "a workshop of dance where the quality of the old steps must be polished and fine-tuned every day".
Leth follows the Royal Danisha Ballet's solo dancers as they rehease The Kermesse in Bruges (also known as The Three Gifts) and other dances.