Floeur Alder.

Following a sold-out world premiere and encore screenings that packed cinemas, the powerful Western Australian documentary, POINTE: Dancing On A Knife’s Edge, is preparing to tour across Australia with screenings confirmed for Canberra, Darwin, Sydney, Melbourne, Launceston, and an additional encore screening in Perth at Windsor Cinema.

POINTE: Dancing On A Knife’s Edge is a moving and intimate portrait of dancer and choreographer Floeur Alder, daughter of ballet legends Lucette Aldous and Alan Alder. Directed by Dawn Jackson in her debut feature, the film follows Floeur’s journey of survival and artistic rebirth after a brutal, random knife attack at the age of 22 that nearly claimed her life and derailed a promising international ballet career.

While her physical injuries eventually healed, the trauma unleashed deeper wounds, confronting Floeur with painful family history and the burden of legacy. Turning to dance as a form of healing and self-expression, Floeur reclaims her voice through choreography that explores grief, rage, hope, and recovery. The film culminates in her triumphant return to the stage with an emotionally charged performance at His Majesty’s Theatre in Perth.

More than just a dance film, POINTE: Dancing On A Knife’s Edge is a poetic exploration of resilience, identity, trauma recovery, and the redemptive power of creative expression. Rich with rare archival footage, behind-the-scenes glimpses into the studios of ballet royalty, and raw, original choreography, the documentary offers a deeply personal window into an extraordinary life shaped by both tragedy and triumph.

The film features appearances and support from global dance icons, including Chrissie Parrott, David McAllister, Dame Monica Mason, Dame Gillian Lynne, Dame Margot Fonteyn, Rudolf Nureyev, and Robert Bestonso of the Paris Opera — honouring the international ballet community that supported Floeur in her darkest moments.

POINTE: Dancing On A Knife’s Edge received support from Screenwest, Lotterywest (via the Brian Beaton Award), and Screen Australia through the Producer Equity Program. Most funding came from philanthropic donations, with matched contributions via the Australian Cultural Fund Boost Program.

A fundraising campaign is underway to support a captioned version of the film for accessible screenings and to assist with the national tour. So far, 33% of the goal has been raised. You can contribute here.

Here’s where you can catch POINTE: Dancing On A Knife’s Edge:

Perth
Sunday 5 October 1.45pm

Canberra
Sunday 19 October 3.30pm

Darwin
Wednesday 29 October 7pm

Sydney
Thursday 27 November 6.30pm

Melbourne
Sunday 30 November 3.30pm

Launceston
Thursday 4 December 7pm

Adelaide and Brisbane TBA 2026

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