Slavenska

The older ballerinas Yvette Chauviré and Mia Slavenska were also in the film.

Shortly before Mia Slavenska died in 2002, Maria Ramas, her daughter, made a promise: to tell her story.

In 1947, Ms. Slavenska created Ballet Variante, a touring group, and five years later formed the Slavenska-Franklin Ballet — an effort to create something progressive — with Mr. Franklin.

Tennessee Williams, Ms. Slavenska said, visited her backstage and told her she was his best Blanche.

“Streetcar” was sold to American Ballet Theater, and Ms. Slavenska forced herself to attend the premiere, where, she said, the dancer Nora Kaye expressed her unhappiness with the costume.