Mad Hot Ballroom

This is by far my favorite documentary. It's about  600 kids from inner city, New York public schools who have participated in a ballroom dancing competitions. The movie follows the story of several schools who have competed in the ballroom competition and talks about the positive influence of dance on these students. The story is told from many different perspectives. You see the kids from each high school and their interactions. You also see the teachers inspired by this program, the students who have changed as a result of the competition. The story is inspiring and it focus on this high school who wins the competition.

There isn't too much dramatic aspects of the documentary because it shows real kids. Most kids don't wear make at this age and there isn't really acting because its just the kids being kids. It's great to see the kids different outlooks on life, and see the diversity of students in New York City. There aren't really costumes either because the students, teachers, etc. wear what they have always worn.

There is great music to go along with the film, because ballroom dancing has such defined music for each dance. They use a lot of fades to go from one school learning the tango, to another school dancing the tango. The film mostly consists of the students practicing the dances for the competitions with interviews in between. There are interviews with the different teachers, and students from all the participating schools. I like how this film is real. It doesn't make anything overly-dramatic and it really shows the diversity of young students who have participated in this program. The film doesn't include fancy editing yet it tells a magnificent story. The film has text slides to identify the schools, people who are interviews, and days until the competition.

The film informed the public about an incredible unknown program for inner city schools. Some of the kids have parents who don't speak English, and one of the dancers himself doesn't speak English, yet his school wins the competition. You see the interactions between boys and girls as they become teenagers. The students learn the Rumba, Tango, Swing, Merengue, and Foxtrot as they grow up in the big city.

Mad Hot Ballroom, 120 minutes, 5 out of 5 stars