Mary and I met Pat this afternoon at one of the local independent theatres, The Tivoli at Manor Square, to end our vacation with Mad Hot Ballroom. And what a delightful film to end on. In fact, it was the perfect book end to a vacation that began with Cinderella Man. Both are wonderfully triumphant films.
Mad Hot Ballroom is a documentary that follows elementary schools in the New York City area as they train and compete in the local ballroom dancing competition. The American Ballroom Theater offers a non-profit Dancing Classrooms program to over 60 public schools in NYC. These classes for fifth graders are composed of a 10 week training course with the option of participating in the city wide competition at the end of the course. The competition involves 5 couples from each school, each performing one of the 5 dances that are taught: the merengue, rumba, tango, foxtrot, and swing.
This is the first feature film for Marilyn Agrelo and Amy Sewell and it is marvelous. The film profiles students and teachers from 3 elementary schools who train and then participate in the competition. Along the way the camera captures both the teacher’s passion for dance and for their students as well as the many and varied things that go on in the minds of 11 year olds growing up in New York City. These children are not only incredibly funny, but they are wise beyond their years regarding the ways of the world and the dangers that they face each day. This film is funny, and charming, and ultimately very touching. You realize while watching it that few children get this type of hands on connection in the public school system and you also realize that despite the best efforts of the teachers that many of these kids will end up as part of the gang and drug culture that is rampant in their neighborhoods.
Ultimately, however, this is not a sad tale but a tale of triumph. I found myself amazed at how well these kids could dance after just a few weeks of lessons and how much they grew in regards to caring about their classmates and planning for their futures. During the competition portion of the film my heart was beating as fast as it would have been had I been watching a live sports competition. It was truly incredible. If you’ve seen and loved Spellbound then you will love Mad Hot Ballroom. If you have not seen either then you are missing out on 2 of the best movies made in the last few years. Don’t let yourself be put off by the fact that these are “documentaries”. These are truly 2 of the funniest films I’ve seen in a long time.
Mad Hot Ballroom is out in limited release. If you have the opportunity to see it you will not be not be disappointed.
This was a great movie. I am so glad that we went to see it.
Just seeing this movie was a very inspiring experience. Sometimes, I think people are put off by the word “uplifting”, but that work truly describes this movie. We are bombarded with the drug culture and crime on a daily basis. It was wonderful to see teachers getting through to some of the kids that there really is another way. And it’s very humorous too. I was on a “high” for the rest of the day after seeing this movie. Now I want to go rent “Spellbound”.
Have you seen Spellbound before, Pat? It was wonderful.
Wasn’t this a great movie?! I saw it with a friend and she grabbed my arm at the end when the winner was announced. I think she was as nervous as you were, Carl.
I was so inspired to take up dancing lessons again. How cool that would be!
Mary and I have always wanted to take dancing lessons but either get too busy or lose our courage. The newspaper review online here had a list of local places to take dance lessons. I need to check them out.