As someone who has dunked her feet into a tub of ice many a time after a particularly grueling session of pointe work, I find the blood, sweat, and tears that make up a performer's life are very well represented in Ron Honsa's dance documentary. A multitude of A-list choreographers speak their piece to the camera — Merce Cunningham, Judith Jamison, Mark Morris — as they gather for the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival in Becket, Mass. The scenery surrounding the 81-year-old retreat and performance center is lush and serene, and it's clear that a performance here would be breathtaking. But the magic of the stage infusing these dancer's stories very seldom carries over onto screen. The immediacy and sacrifice of a live piece doesn't come through, and Honsa's message suffers as a result. That being said, the historical footage of Jacob's Pillow is fascinating, and if you've ever slogged through an hours-long tech rehearsal, look no further for your comrades-in-arms.
