Adopted by Ballet

Adopted by Ballet is a documentary about Liudmila Konovalova, Prima Ballerina of the Vienna State Ballet, tracing her journey from a difficult childhood to international acclaim.

After losing her mother to alcohol-related struggles, Liudmila and her younger brother were placed in an orphanage. Amid loss and solitude, ballet became her sanctuary—a means of escape, expression, and self-discovery. From her early training at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy to gracing the world’s greatest stages, the film reveals her relentless dedication, resilience, and transformation through dance.

Featuring heartfelt interviews, archival footage, and breathtaking performances, Adopted by Ballet is not just a dancer’s biography, but a testament to the healing power of art and the unbreakable human spirit.

  • Andrei Bart
    Director
  • Lola Abigail Koch
    Executive Producer
  • Liudmila Konovalova
    Key Cast
  • Andrei M Bart
    Writer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Genres:
    Art, Dance
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    February 28, 2026
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    Austria, Italy, United States
  • Language:
    English, German, Italian, Russian
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital 4K
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:8
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Andrei Bart

Andrei Bart is a filmmaker of Belarusian roots, born in Ukraine and now living in New York for most of his life. He has worked across documentary, narrative, and commercial projects, always drawn to stories of human resilience and transformation. Adopted by Ballet is his first film about dance — a documentary that made him fall in love with ballet and inspired a new creative journey.

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Director Statement

I was drawn to Liudmila Konovalova’s story because it reflects not only the discipline and beauty of ballet, but also the power of art to save a life. Growing up in an orphanage and surviving domestic violence, she transformed pain into grace and tragedy into art.

For me, this film is not just about ballet—it’s about survival, identity, and the power of the female spirit to rise beyond circumstance.