Looking at the Stars is an intimate glimpse into the lives of the extraordinary ballerinas at the world’s only ballet school for the blind—the Fernanda Bianchini Ballet Association for the Blind.
The stories of these dancers go beyond the challenge of learning to dance without a visual reference. Like many of us, these women want to be good professionals, partners, friends. They want to be relevant and self-sufficient. They work fiercely to become the best versions of themselves.
Geyza is the school’s prima ballerina. She is an example of grace, strength and determination. She started studying ballet with Fernanda Bianchini after losing her sight, at the age of nine. During our film, Geyza arrives at a crossroads: like many women, she feels pulled in two directions, between her family and her career. About to get married, Geyza believes that in order to be a good wife she must dedicate herself to her family. But, she is also determined not to let married life be the end of her aspirations as a ballet dancer and instructor.
One of Geyza’s students is Thalia, a shy teenager with big dreams for her future. Thalia attends a traditional middle school, where she has to deal with rejection from her peers and with her teachers’ inability to accommodate her visual impairment. Thalia’s journey is one of self-discovery and expanding horizons. Besides being a student at the Fernanda Bianchini Association, Thalia takes Braille and independent walking classes. At home, Thalia also writes novels and interacts with friends over the internet. Her greatest companion is her mother, Sandra.
Both Geyza and Thalia found a way to express themselves through ballet. And the Fernanda Bianchini Ballet Association for the Blind is a place where blind and visually impaired youth like them can find comfort and encouragement to exceed even their own expectations.