In Balanchine's Classroom, the new documentary on American ballet's Russian-born hero, I found a glimpse of SAB, the school I had attended so long ago as well as how it was to be in the Company which I never experienced. There was respect, grace, passion, and the total dedication of almost every person who walked through the doors. Balanchine was like a guru to so many of his dancers.

Most, or many, like Merrill Ashley, were utterly devoted and now teach the master's methods with unwavering fierceness. Carrying on the traditions and very specific knowledge is a gift to us all. Heather Watts is irreverent and funny and has some distance on herself as a Cali Girl and how hard it was to be a Balanchine dancer. Eddie Villella exposes his own checkered history, and is all the more human for it. Jacques d'Amboise was always a favorite and devoted his life not just to Balanchine, but to children who would not grow into Balanchine dancers.

Missing from this very fine and closely observed documentary with rare found footage are any of the nay sayers. Where is Gelsey Kirkland, for example? But Connie Hochman, the director who was also once a student, was sensitive to Balanchine's memory. What she has given us instead is a delicate homage, and that alone is worthy. Brava.