DVD / VIDEO: Mad Hot Ballroom

MAD HOT BALLROOM (2005)

My Rating: *** ½ (out of *****)
Director: Marilyn Agrelo
Editor: Sabine Krayenbuhl

My Review:

Hot on the heels of 2003's superb Spellbound (a compelling look at several children competing in the Scripps National Spelling Bee), Mad Hot Ballroom emerges as yet another kids-in-competition documentary, but trades the endless word drills, poignant overachieving, and invested parents of that film for fancy footwork, dreams of stardom, and (sometimes overly) invested teachers. While not as engaging or expertly edited as Spellbound, this film offers a charming look at the simple yet exhilarating joy of dance, as seen through the eyes of some very delightful and precocious grade-school children.

The filmmakers follow dance programs in three New York City public schools from their hopeful aspirations to compete in national competition to the fulfillment of these dreams. Interspersed between sequences depicting classroom instruction, after-school practices, and various competitions, we are treated to scenes of the kids in relaxation mode, simply discussing their views and feelings on a variety of diverse topics, from dating and same-sex marriage to the dangers of drugs and their effect upon future dreams and goals. These scenes work incredibly well because they allow the kids to be themselves - wonderfully, appropriately smart, hopeful, and young, just as they should be. The movie truly comes alive in these moments, as the children are allowed to shine. With such charming subjects, these moments not as frequent or developed as one would hope for.

The "interview" sequences of the film are its greatest strength, because the competition and training, while engaging, are not nearly as captivating as those in Spellbound. The whole production actually suffers from being released after that film, partly because the kids-in- competition scenario is no longer fresh, but primarily due to the fact that the structure of Mad Hot Ballroom feels less spontaneous and more staged that did its word-minded counterpart.

These critiques matter little when watching these children delight themselves in dance. Their individual personalities help to negate any cliches that the filmmakers indulge, and the final result is a thoroughly enjoyable journey into dreams, determination, and the pure joy of moving to music. Don't miss the end credits. They contain some of the best footage in the entire film.

PG, for some mild thematic elements