Watch Flesh and Bone

Flesh and Bone is a dark and gritty drama television series created by Moira Walley-Beckett, produced by Starz, and directed by David Michod. The show has a cast of talented actors, which includes Sarah Hay, Ben Daniels, Carling Talcott, Damon Herriman, Emily Tyra, Irina Dvorovenko, Josh Helman, Marina Benedict, Raychel Diane Weiner, Sascha Radetsky, Tina Benko, and Vanessa Aspillaga. The show is centered around the world of ballet, but what it portrays is a dance that goes beyond the boundaries of classical art.

The show follows the story of Claire Robbins (Sarah Hay), a young and talented ballerina who flees her abusive home in Pittsburgh and moves to New York City to start anew. In the Big Apple, she auditions for a role in a ballet company and impresses Paul Grayson (Ben Daniels), the company's charismatic and unpredictable artistic director. Despite her lack of experience, Claire is accepted into the company and quickly becomes a rising star.

Flesh and Bone is not your typical ballet-themed show. It takes a dark and unflinching look at the glamorized world of dance, the physical and emotional toll it takes on performers, and the ugly reality that exists behind the curtain. The show mercilessly exposes the harsh realities of the dance world, such as eating disorders, drug abuse, sexual exploitation, and the cutthroat competition that exists between artists.

One of the most striking things about Flesh and Bone is the way it depicts the physicality of dance. The show is not shy about showing the grueling and painful rehearsals that dancers go through every day to perfect their craft. The camera zooms in on the dancers' strained muscles, bloodied feet, and sweat-soaked costumes, creating an almost visceral experience for the viewer. It's a brutal depiction of how far dancers will go to achieve perfection and how that perfection comes at a great cost.

Beyond the grueling rehearsals and performances, the show also explores the emotional and psychological toll that dancing takes on these young artists. The dancers' personal lives bleed into their professional ones, and the two become intertwined in a way that blurs the lines between reality and performance. Each dancer has their own demons to face, and the show does not shy away from exploring their vulnerabilities and flaws.

Some of the standout performances in the series come from Sarah Hay as Claire Robbins and Ben Daniels as Paul Grayson. Hay delivers a raw and powerful performance as a young dancer who is determined to make it to the top of the dance world no matter what. Daniels, on the other hand, is the seasoned and ruthless artistic director who holds the key to Claire's success. The two actors have a palpable chemistry that makes their scenes together electric and intense.

The supporting cast is also top-notch, with Carling Talcott as the vulnerable and innocent Ashley, Damon Herriman as the charming and manipulative Romeo, and Irina Dvorovenko as the aging prima ballerina Kiira. Each character adds depth and nuance to the show, making it a rich and complex viewing experience.

Overall, Flesh and Bone is not a show for the faint of heart. Its unflinching look at the dark side of the dance world can be difficult to watch at times, but it's also a beautifully crafted and powerful series that is well worth the discomfort. It's a must-watch for fans of gritty dramas and dance enthusiasts alike.

Flesh and Bone is a series that ran for 1 seasons (8 episodes) between November 8, 2015 and on starz