
Eleven-year-old New York City public school kids journey into the world of ballroom dancing and reveal pieces of themselves and their world along the way. Told from their candid, sometimes hilarious perspectives, these kids are transformed, from reluctant participants to determined competitors, from typical urban kids to "ladies and gentlemen," on their way to try to compete in the final citywide competition. Providing unique insight into the incredible cultural diversity tha... (Full plot summary below)
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Eleven-year-old New York City public school kids journey into the world of ballroom dancing and reveal pieces of themselves and their world along the way. Told from their candid, sometimes hilarious perspectives, these kids are transformed, from reluctant participants to determined competitors, from typical urban kids to "ladies and gentlemen," on their way to try to compete in the final citywide competition. Providing unique insight into the incredible cultural diversity that is New York City, this film profiles several kids from three schools (out of 60) at this dynamic age, when becoming that "cool" teenager vies for position with familiar innocence, while they learn the merengue, rumba, tango, the foxtrot and swing.
Leave your thoughts about Mad Hot Ballroom.
| Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionEleanor Ringel CaterClearly, the dance lessons are life lessons as well, nurturing self-confidence, team spirit, the joy of dancing and even a slight touch of Old World etiquette in an otherwise too-busy- to-be-courteous world. |
| Village VoiceLaura SinagraLike "Spellbound's" glimpse of the darker side of childhood competition, Mad Hot Ballroom--a look at New York City schools' fifth-grade ballroom dance program--is best when exploring issues of class and gender and definitions of success. |
| Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionEleanor Ringel GillespieClearly, the dance lessons are life lessons as well, nurturing self-confidence, team spirit, the joy of dancing and even a slight touch of Old World etiquette in an otherwise too-busy- to-be-courteous world. |
| One Guy's OpinionFrank SwietekToo scattershot an affair, offering surprisingly little depth in its coverage of either students or teachers. |
| Charlotte ObserverLawrence ToppmanThese kids may be too small for sports and may not be headed to college on academic scholarships. But for once, they've proven to the world and to themselves that they matter. |
| ColeSmithey.comCole SmitheyCharming, poignant and festive "Mad Hot Ballroom" is an inspirational documentary that shows the power of dance to invigorate self-esteem and ambition in young hearts. |
| New York Daily NewsJami BernardThis winning documentary about fifth-graders who learn ballroom dancing is one of those movies that make the world a brighter place. |
| ReelViewsJames BerardinelliIsn't just heartwarming and inspiring, it's a remarkable look at a group of children whose most noteworthy trait is that they are ordinary. |
| Los Angeles Daily NewsGlenn WhippMad Hot Ballroom gets a passing grade based on the precocious charms of its pint-size subjects and filmmakers' palpable enthusiasm for their subjects. |
| Denver Rocky Mountain NewsRobert DenersteinThis engaging look at New York City school kids who learn ballroom dancing and participate in citywide competitions gains impact from watching kids learning unexpected skills. |