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When actress Maddie Ziegler first read the script for the film Pretty Lethal<\/em>, which premiered at SXSW over the weekend, she was immediately drawn to it because of its authenticity\u2014even if, sure, the ballerinas are also seen scrappily fighting like a bunch of feral cats.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThere\u2019s been so many dance films that have not accurately depicted what it\u2019s like to be a real-life ballerina,\u201d Ziegler said during a panel discussion at the Fast Company Grill at SXSW.<\/p>\n After first gaining fame as a young dancer on the reality show, Dance Moms<\/em>, Ziegler had strayed from dance to instead pursue acting, and this project proved both emotional and cathartic for her. \u201cIt just completely made me fall in love with dance all over again,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n The team behind Pretty Lethal<\/em> is hoping audiences, too, fall in love with the story of a ballet troupe that\u2019s thrust into a survival situation and must fight their way out\u2014using techniques that come naturally.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The film also introduces audiences to the idea of \u201cBallet-Fu,\u201d or combat fighting that\u2019s grounded in some authenticity, while still leaning into some of the absurdity and fun of the situation, said Vicky Jewson, the director.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re not John Wick, they\u2019re dancers,\u201d Jewson said. \u201cBallerinas are so tough\u2014they have such high pain thresholds, their bodies are their armor\u2014and that gave us room to play and create some action that you\u2019d never seen before.\u201d<\/p>\n Being a member of the cast of a female-led action movie was so fun that actress Avantika Vandanapu hopes she\u2019ll have many more opportunities to take on more such roles in her future.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\nBreaking new ground<\/h2>\n