Running time: 106 minutes
Starring:
Rating 8 out of 10
With ballroom dancing something of a national phenomenon thanks to a certain Saturday night television programme, what better time to release a movie with cute kids strutting their stuff? Mad Hot Ballroom doesn't disappoint: just as Spellbound made a riveting watch when it focused on the peculiarly American spelling bee competitions, this new documentary treats it subject with great care. There are plenty of laughs along the way, and maybe even one or two tears to be shed. The film follows the school ballroom dancing programme which has now featured in New York's public schools for some years. Children beginning high school may take dancing as a credit, and inter-school competitions are held across the city.
These competitions are taken very seriously and become the focal point of the film, as we follow several schools in their attempts to triumph and be crowned champion dancers of the city. There's more to be had than just pleasantly watching the children dance: the film demonstrates how the pastime transcends race and class, with children of all creed and colours joining together with one objective. The kids are given plenty of opportunities to voice their opinions about the world in general as well as their dancing, and it turns out to be entertaining stuff.
The adults also play their part: from the hugely committed teachers who give up time to train their protégés, to the occasionally scary (but fair) judge at the finals. Interestingly, the parents who feature seem the opposite of the pushy parent we might have expected: they are largely relaxed about their child's progress.
All in all this is a very entertaining work which draws you in as you grow to care about each school's progress in the competition. Its success should be both timely and deserved, as it's one of those life-affirming experiences that makes the world seem a better place. This is thanks to its young stars, who still share an infectious childlike innocence at the world around them, and provide plenty for everyone to be mad about.
Paul Hurley
