ELLA

Australia, 2016, 92 minutes, Colour.
Ella Havelka, Janna Havelka, David Mc Allister, Steven Heathcote, Stephen Page.
Directed by Douglas Watkin.

This is an interesting, entertaining and perceptive documentary.

The subject is a Ella Havelko, who was born in Dubbo in north-western New South Wales, living with her single mother, Janna, her father having left them and not making any contact but discovered to have a scrapbook about his daughter’s success. Ella went to dancing classes in Dubbo and her teacher recognised her talent.

So, this is a ballet documentary. It traces Ella’s moving from Dubbo to Melbourne when she was young, years of training as an apprentice with the Australian Ballet. Quite a lot of footage from Ella’s childhood at classes in Dubbo as well as material from the Australian Ballet are incorporated into the story. And, throughout the film, there is interview with Ella herself, a poised personality, answering all her questions, thoughtful about her life, opportunities, disappointments, success.

And, most significantly, Ella has an indigenous background – with images of her grandmother and marriage, interviews with her mother throughout the film. When Ella became a member of the Australian Ballet in 2012, it made headlines that she was the first indigenous dancer to become part of this Ballet.

However, very interestingly in terms of indigenous dance, when Ella did not become a dancer with the Australian Ballet, she was welcomed into the Bangarra Dance theatre troupe. Ella had to learn a different kind of dance, use of her body, different pressures on her limbs. There are quite a number of excerpts from Bangarra which will delight audiences.

Ella wanted to return to the Australian Ballet, was accepted back, discovered how different contemporary dance theatre styles were from ballet, severe physical re-training, some injuries and layups, disappointment in not being selected at first, a return to Dubbo for time with her mother, friends in Dubbo, and in some ballet instruction for the children there.

Ultimately, Ella becomes part of the Australian Ballet Troupe, goes on tour.

There are also the expected talking heads, very interesting, especially Ella’s mother, but also David Mc Allister, director of the Australian Ballet and former dancer and trainer, Steven Heathcote. And, from Bangarra, the director, Stephen Page.

Certainly of interest to audiences who like the Ballet, are interested in indigenous affairs, but well made to extend strong interest to wider audiences.