'Behind the Scenes' Film Series

The Norton Simon Museum Presents
the Film Series ‘Behind the Scenes’

Three documentaries by women filmmakers
explore the world of performance

Pasadena, CA—In celebration of the many dancers on view in the exhibition “Taking Shape: Degas as Sculptor,” the Norton Simon presents the film series Behind the Scenes. These three documentaries examine the world of performance, from the creative process of choreographers to the rigorous preparation of dancers.

Films screen on three consecutive Fridays in March and are free with Museum admission.

In the Steps of Trisha Brown (2016), NR
Directed by Marie-Hélène Rebois
Friday, March 16, 6:00–7:20 p.m.
Choreographer Trisha Brown revolutionized the world of contemporary dance. In the Steps of Trisha Brown takes us behind the scenes in the weeks leading up to a new production of her seminal 1979 work Glacial Decoy, performed in Paris by a new generation of dancers. Interspersed with archival footage from original productions and of Brown herself in rehearsal, In the Steps of Trisha Brown is both a testament to the value of teaching and studying art and dance, and a privileged look at the process of staging a major dance piece.

First Position (2011), NR
Directed by Bess Kargman
Friday, March 23, 6:00–7:35 p.m.
Every year, thousands of aspiring dancers enter one of the world’s most prestigious ballet competitions, the Youth America Grand Prix, where lifelong dreams are at stake. First Position follows six young dancers as they prepare for a chance to enter the world of professional ballet, struggling through bloodied feet, near exhaustion and debilitating injuries, all while navigating the drama of adolescence.

One Day Pina Asked… (1983), NR
Directed by Chantal Akerman
Friday, March 30, 6:00–7:00 p.m.
An encounter between two of the most remarkable female artists of the 20th century, One Day Pina Asked… is a look by director Chantal Akerman at the work of choreographer Pina Bausch and her Wuppertal, Germany–based dance company. Capturing the company’s striking dances and elaborate stagings over a five-week European tour, Akerman takes us inside their process. The dancers describe the development of various dances, and the way in which Bausch calls upon them to supply autobiographical details around which the performances were frequently built.


ADMISSION: All screenings are free with Museum admission. Admission is $15.00 for adults; $12.00 for seniors; and free for Museum members, students with I.D., and everyone age 18 and under. For more information, call (626) 449-6840 or visit www.nortonsimon.org.

WHERE: Norton Simon Museum| 411 West Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena; located on the corner of Colorado and Orange Grove Boulevards at the intersection of the Foothill (210) and Ventura (134) freeways | Parking at the Norton Simon Museum is free.