Films

“Beauty and Fire and Freedom”

A film created by The Will to Dance to address the stigmatism associated with being a male ballet dancer.

  • Director & Producer: William Stout

    Director of Photography: Quinton Wharton & Jacob Kruty

    Producer: Sneha Jain

    Choreographer: Christopher Wheeldon, Liam Scarlett

    Composer: Joi Marchetti

    Musicians: The Sixth Station Trio (Katelyn Tan, Federico Strand-Ramirez, & Anju Goto)

    Writers: William Stout & Gabriella Stout

    Dancers: Joseph Walsh, Dylan Pierzina, Lucas Lopez, David Javier, and students of SFB

  • Young male dancers who desire role models for further aspiration, young boys who are debating whether to join or continue ballet, and the general public.

  • To give young boys role models to look up to, to encourage a sense of community between young male dancers across the country, to promote nationwide exposure to the arts, and to educate the public in order to confront the preconceived notions and stigmas associated with being a male ballet dancer.

  • To be displayed in art exhibits (museum, airports, and other public venues), for public screenings (at elementary schools, theaters, and other venues), and for submittal to (local, national and international) film festivals.

  • SF Filming: April, 2025 [complete]

    NYC Filming: TBD

    Premier: TBD

  • For more information regarding this film, contact willmcclurestout@gmail.com

Behind the Scenes

Photos captured by Kevin Painchaud, May 2025

Three male dancers, two children, and an adult, sitting cross-legged on a stage in an empty San Francisco Ballet War Memorial Opera House theater with red velvet seats, giving each other high fives.
A San Francisco Ballet dancer, Dylan Pierzina, in mid-air leap inside a dark theater or studio with stage lights.
Hip-hop street dancer of the Golden State Warriors Dance Team jumping in the air on a hilltop with a San Francisco cityscape in the background, a tree on the right, and a partly cloudy sky overhead.
A stage in the War Memorial Opera House theater with a performer, Joesph Walsh, practicing and two young boys sitting in the audience area observing.
Three people filming with a camera and remote control outdoors on a grassy field near a fence and trees.
Joesph Walsh, a male dancer, sitting on a stage floor in a dark theater, illuminated by stage lights, touching the foot of a smaller person lying on the ground.
A ballerina rehearsing alone on an empty stage in a theater with dim lighting.
Ballet dancer performing on stage during a concert, illuminated by warm stage lights.
Film crew of the film "The Will to Dance." Group photo of eleven people standing in front of a sign that reads 'San Francisco Ballet Chris Hellman Center for Dance'.
Person crouching on a stage floor, adjusting a camera, in a dark theater behind a partially opened set piece.
Three young men in a park, one holding a camera stabilizer, one looking at his phone, and another standing near a large tree, with trees and a dry, dirt path in the background.
A young man standing outdoors next to a large tree, with a blurred cityscape in the background.
A young boy stands on a grassy hill, gazing at a cityscape under a clear blue sky.
View of a tennis court seen through a chain-link fence, with three people playing tennis and a cameraman recording them.
A young man in a gray hoodie looking up at the camera, making a gesture with his hand near his face, taken outdoors on a sunny day near a tennis court.
Black and white photo of a boy with long hair, standing outside near a brick wall, reaching out with his hand towards the camera, making a framing gesture with his fingers.
Black and white photo of a young man with dark hair, smiling, leaning toward the camera with his eyes closed, with another person's hand reaching out toward him. The background shows a tiled wall, some greenery, and a wooden bench.
A young boy in a blue shirt and jeans playfully dancing or jumping on a dirt ground in a forested area with trees and fallen logs in the background.
Person holding a rugged electronic device outdoors, with another person sitting nearby and a drone or similar equipment on the ground.
A professional video camera mounted on a tripod outdoors on grass, capturing a scene involving fallen tree branches.
A man standing on rocks on a hill with a city and a bay in the background
A young man training in a park, practicing martial arts or running, on a paved ground with trees and green foliage in the background.
Person standing in an empty theater balcony overlooking the stage, with stage lights and equipment visible.
A woman crouching on a theater stage adjusting a camera, seen from behind a set piece or prop, with theater equipment and ladders in the background.
Three people standing on a stage in a theater, with the theater's seats and balconies visible in the background.
The stage of a theater or performance venue with three crew members setting up or rehearsing, and the auditorium with empty seats in the background.
Two performers mid-jump in a dark theater or dance studio with stage lights overhead.
Two male ballet dancers in blue shirts and black pants performing a leap in a dark studio with stage lighting.
An empty theater with red seats, ornate gold decor, and balconies, with three people standing in the front of the seating area.
Silhouettes of three dancers on a dark stage, with one dancer kneeling and two standing, casting reflections on the shiny floor.
Three people on a stage in a theater, silhouetted against bright stage lights. One person is standing with arms extended, a seated person is watching, and another person with a hat is observing from the side.

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