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A ‘‘Danseur Étoile’’ and ballet master, Alexander ‘‘Sasha’’ Kalioujny was born in Prague in 1923 to emigrants Russian parents. After a brilliant carreer in Serge Lifar’s Ballet de l’Opéra national de Paris, he was appointed ballet teacher at the Nice Conservatoire. In 1970, he was called back to the Opéra by the other ‘‘Étoiles’’ so that he could teach their classes. There, he devised a training highly praised by dancers, focusing on technique, strength and movement mastery. In 1985, Rudolf Nureyev, then Ballet Director, started planning a book based on those classes, but died before he could complete this project. Thirty-five years later, this film aims to be the living memory of his classes, reconstituted by his former students, Danseurs Étoiles Élisabeth Platel and Charles Jude, and performed by the young dancers of the Ballet School of the Opéra national de Paris. A fascinating testimony and an indispensable work tool for all classical dancers around the world.

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