or


[04/29/14 - 06:12 AM]
Ovation Raises the Curtain on "Big Ballet" - The New Limited Series Premieres Wednesday, May 28
Wayne Sleep, the shortest man ever to become principal dancer with London's Royal Ballet Company, and Monica Loughman, a Russian-trained prima ballerina, are determined to prove that grace and beauty can be found in untraditional sizes.

[via press release from Ovation]

OVATION RAISES THE CURTAIN ON "BIG BALLET"

The New Limited Series Premieres Wednesday, May 28

SANTA MONICA, CA - April 29, 2014 - Ovation, America's only arts network, presents the U.S. television premiere of Big Ballet, the seat-gripping docu-series about making dreams come true for plus-sized dancers. Wayne Sleep, the shortest man ever to become principal dancer with London's Royal Ballet Company, and Monica Loughman, a Russian-trained prima ballerina, are determined to prove that grace and beauty can be found in untraditional sizes. Big Ballet premieres on Wednesday, May 28 at 10 p.m. ET, only on Ovation.

Each one-hour episode of the three part series follows 18 unlikely performers as they transform into amazing classical dancers. While some of the Big Ballet hopefuls are novices, others have years of experience, like 52-year-old Christine. Having loved ballet since being a small child, Christine achieved her ambition of winning a place at the Royal Ballet School. But, having been told she wouldn't fit their criteria because at 4' 11" she was "too short and the wrong build," she became obsessed with the way she looked and stopped eating, eventually having to return home and sever all ties with ballet.

For many, this is the final opportunity to realize a childhood dream prematurely dashed due to size. The cameras follow the dancers' every move, starting with a tense audition before the grueling training begins. The final episode culminates in a phenomenal production of Swan Lake.

"Every now and then something comes along that changes people's perceptions of what they thought was true," said Monica Loughman, co-host and dancer trainer and mentor. "This could be a game-changer."

"Big Ballet is bound to win over skeptics -- It is truly one of the most touching and heart-felt pieces of content I've seen in a long time," said Scott Woodward, SVP Programming and Production, Ovation. "These incredible dancers remind us that all of us have creative dreams and talents. Sometimes those dreams are dashed by a harsh reality, but they can be reignited and what results can be beautiful and inspiring. "

Produced by Rare Day, Big Ballet will premiere on Wednesday, May 28 at 10 p.m. ET, only on Ovation. Big Ballet is distributed internationally by Zodiak Rights.

For more information, please visit www.ovationtv.com/

About Ovation

Ovation is America's only arts network, whose mission is to inspire the world through all forms of art and artistic expression. Ovation programming is a one-of-a-kind mix of original and selectively curated art-centric series, documentaries, films and specials. Ovation's signature programming includes The Art Of, A Young Doctor's Notebook, and The Fashion Fund. Ovation reaches a national audience of over 50 million homes and is available on cable, satellite, and telco systems, such as Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks, Comcast Cable/Xfinity, RCN, DIRECTV, DISH, Verizon FiOS, AT&T U-Verse, Charter, and Hawaiian Telcom. Ovation is also available on VOD (in both standard and high definition). Ovation's diversified viewer experiences extend across its linear network, the popular ovationtv.com, and active social presence on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and more. Ovation is a cause based-media company and is deeply engaged with the arts both nationally and locally, providing more than $15 million in contributions and in-kind support to community organizations, cultural institutions, and arts education programs. See the Ovation Facebook page for the latest information and conversations happening across the Ovation brand and the arts: www.facebook.com/OvationTV.





  [april 2014]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· BIG BALLET (OVATION)





[10/03/25 - 02:17 PM]
ESPN's Record-Setting '25 MLB Wild Card Series
Across eight games, the MLB Wild Card Series is averaging 4.4 million viewers, up 65% from last year.

[10/03/25 - 12:37 PM]
BET+ Sets October 23 Premiere for "Carl Weber's The Family Business" Season 6
The 10-episode season will premiere with two episodes, followed by one episode weekly, with the finale on Thursday, December 18.

[10/03/25 - 12:07 PM]
"Dancing with the Stars" Continues to Shatter Records - Growing Two Weeks in a Row Since Season Premiere for First Time Since 2005
Plus: "High Potential" hit a season high in Total Viewers (4.24 million), growing by double digits over the show's comparable third episode from last fall.

[10/03/25 - 10:57 AM]
Legends, Champions and Icons of October Highlight FOX Sports' Postseason Broadcaster Lineup
FOX Sports begins its Postseason coverage Saturday, October 4 at 4:00 PM ET on FOX, FOX Deportes, the FOX Sports App and FOX One as the New York Yankees face the Toronto Blue Jays.

[10/03/25 - 10:05 AM]
All-New Season of "Gold Rush" Returns with High-Stake Risks and Land Fury on Friday, November 7 at 8PM ET/PT on Discovery
With only a few short months to mine, top bosses and rising underdogs collide in a race to claim new ground, move more dirt, and strike it rich.

[10/03/25 - 09:12 AM]
FOX Nation Secures Exclusive U.S. Rights to Docuseries "Elizabeth Taylor: Rebel Superstar"
The acclaimed series will make its anticipated U.S. debut on FOX Nation on Monday, October 6.

[10/03/25 - 08:02 AM]
TNT Sports to Be Exclusive Home of 2025 NLDS & NLCS
Both best-of-five NLDS series begin Saturday, October 4.

[10/03/25 - 08:01 AM]
TNT Sports Sets BIG EAST Men's College Basketball Schedule for Inaugural 2025-26 Season
TNT Sports' regular season BIG EAST men's basketball schedule will feature 40 appearances by St. John's, UConn, Creighton, Xavier, and Marquette, programs that each clinched berths in last season's NCAA Men's Tournament.

[10/03/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "27 Nights" - Official Trailer - Netflix
When a woman is admitted by her daughters to a psychiatric clinic for her carefree ways, an expert must judge if she is ill or simply wants to enjoy life.

[10/03/25 - 04:01 AM]
Video: "Steve" - Official Trailer #2 - Netflix
Over one intense day, the devoted head teacher of a last-chance reform school strives to keep his students in line while facing pressures of his own.

[10/03/25 - 03:02 AM]
Miguel Herran Will Play Poli Diaz in "El Porto the Vallecas," the New Film by Daniel Calparsoro for Netflix
Inspired by true events, the film follows the life of Policarpo "Poli" Díaz (Miguel Herrán), a young man from Vallecas who, despite a childhood marked by poverty and family violence, became a boxing legend in 1980s Spain, even fighting for the world lightweight title.

[10/03/25 - 03:01 AM]
Netflix Honors Jane Goodall with Posthumous Release of "Famous Last Words" Docuseries Following Her Passing
The series showcases reflective interviews with some of the world's most influential cultural figures, who agreed to sit down and discuss their legacy, and give their final words, with the understanding that it would only be shared with the world after they passed.

[10/02/25 - 04:09 PM]
ESPN Delivers the Most-Watched WNBA Semifinals Ever
Game 5 between the Indiana Fever and the Las Vegas Aces averaged 1.8 million viewers, peaking at 2.1 million.

[10/02/25 - 03:01 PM]
Video: "Twisted Wonderland" - Trailer - Disney+
Your favorite villains reimagined in ways you've never dared to dream.

[10/02/25 - 02:51 PM]
ESPN's Record-Setting Day One of MLB Wild Card Series
Coverage of Red Sox versus Yankees averaged 6.5 million viewers, peaking at 9.9 million.