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“The back, Aurelia,”
a coaching quote from Frederick Wiseman’s La Danse
a documentary film of the Paris Opera Ballet
artistic director and company manager
wall painters and costume tailors
make-up stylists and piano players
concierge and food service workers
although a dancer is concerned about workload
none are interviewed
among the many practice rooms
groups and solos concentrate on work
all performing without individuation
no dancer augmented by home
no families lovers or babies to nurse
in total within so many rooms
a comprehension of the day without staging
all performing simultaneously in the daytime opera ballet.