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Sid Grant, Tara Devon Gallagher, Yomaira Reynoso, Wilson Castillo, Alyssa Polack ... see more see more... , Elsamelys Ulerio , Clarita Zeppie , Alex Tchassov , Victoria Malvagno , Emma Therese Biegacki , Cyrus Hernstadt , Jatnna Toribo , Taha Natab , Louise Verdemare , Jia Wen Zhu , Jonathan , Allison Sheniak , Terry Mintzer , Michelle Rodriguez , Jonathan Rodriguez , Brian David Cange , Graciela Daniele , Heather Berman , Madeleine Hackney , Paul Daggett , Pierre Dulaine , Rodney Lopez

Every year, the New York Public School system sponsors a dance competition for youngsters in fifth grade; in this contest, boys and girls ages 10 and 11 learn traditional ballroom dancing styles such ... read more read more...as the fox trot, the rumba, and the tango, and then pit their skills against other students from around the Big Apple. Mad Hot Ballroom is a documentary which offers an inside look at this event, as well as the teachers and students who take part, with a particular emphasis on three schools: P.S. 112, in a Bensonhurst neighborhood dominated by Italian and Asian families; P.S. 150, located in the wealthy and fashionable Tribeca district; and P.S. 115, a Washington Heights school where the vast majority of families live below the poverty line. Filmmaker Marilyn Agrelo follows the young dancers as they gain confidence and skill and grow into "little ladies and gentlemen," as one teacher puts it, while also examining how cultural differences impact the competition for some students and how the boys and girls feel about the opposite sex as they begin to make friends with one another. Mad Hot Ballroom received a wildly enthusiastic world premiere at the 2005 Slamdance Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

80% liked it

8,102 ratings

Critics

84% liked it

116 critics

PG, 1 hr. 50 min.

Directed by: Marilyn Agrelo

Release Date: May 20, 2005

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DVD Release Date: October 18, 2005

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Stats: 621 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (621)

  • Julie
    August 2, 2010
    Julie
    Sweet but kind of slow.
  • SirPant
    October 2, 2009
    SirPant
    A slow starting documentary that unexpectedly becomes quite captivating.
  • dreamfaeries
    August 6, 2008
    dreamfaeries
    Fantastic... I was cheering for those kids. :)
  • jennifxu
    June 7, 2007
    jennifxu
    OMG what a cuuute documentary! totally got shafted at the oscars, cause i was like MANOHMAN little fifth-graders you have way more hip movement than me.
  • SunilJawahir
    April 4, 2009
    SunilJawahir
    Cute kids dancing. It's sweet but in a PBS special kind of way.
  • eeks2
    May 17, 2012
    eeks2
    Solid documentary on a ballroom dance program for NY public schools. There is an annual competition pitting 5th graders from every school against one another in foxtrots, salsas, and tangos. The film follows a couple different schools, one perennially excellent thanks to a hard... read more-driving dictatorial and passionate teacher/coach, as they progress through the competition or falter. The kids are kids, awkward and surprising in equal measure, and it all makes for a good documentary.
  • casillase1
    May 16, 2012
    casillase1
    The only other thing more prevalent on primetime television now than singing is dancing. This doc from Marilyn Agrelo goes deeper into that topic than say, Dancing With The Stars, and it's a pleasure and tremendously entertaining. Her doc follows a school of fifth graders from Ne... read morew York City, all of them representing different income levels and all of them learning to bust a ballroom move during a ten week course. It's swinging and inspiring, especially listening to the kids themselves and watching them stut their movies.
  • terris85017
    April 5, 2010
    terris85017
    (2005 Director: Marilyn Agrelo) "Sinatra--Someday..The Way You Look Tonight" just LOVE the ball room dancing craze. Gonna have to go to Arthur Murray Studios to learn/relearn ball room dances...and there are some meetups here in the Valley...Dance is movement...Liked the one wi... read moreth the actress from" " My Cousin Vinny", and Take the Lead with Antonio Banderas...the Netflix review I read compared this documentary to the Antonio Banderas film "Take the Lead."

    My review? Imagine taking a group of 5th graders by NYC subway to a dance competition? "I see them turning into ladies and gentlemen," an instructor reflects with tear-filled eyes. Favorably showcases a free of charge 10-week after school programs for 5th grade NYC students at several NY schools, including Washington Heights & Brooklyn, many of whom are financially disad-vantaged. This documentary includes some wonderful teacher-student interaction without the hard edge of the high schoolers, which is where the resemblance to "Take The Lead" ends. "Look at your partner--don't look at me! And S-M-I-L-E!" The first dance introduced is the Merengue dance from where the students are asked? Why the Dominican Republic we learn!! TIPS for the merengue? Keep your knees down, bent. Shares some of the feelings of the 5th graders who still are a bit awkward with dance. Dance (& movement, athletics & music study) is great for the mind as well as physical health. Social interaction as well as competition is taught--thje students may enter a dance competition. Another dance introduced is the Foxtrot (described as sly, sneaky & quiet by the instructor). Yet another ballroom dance taught is The Swing (originated in U.S.A.); Rumba (Cuba), and T-A-N-G-O (Argentina--tho there are other "Tango's" I learned from Dancing with the Stars!!) Instructor encourages the students "to make believe everyone when you are doing the Tango to imitate cat moves." One of the participant shares that his Nanny has taught him & his friends the Foxtrot. Some immigrants to NYC share their stories. 2 of the children highlighted are restricted from dancing by their religious customs and instead are DJ's playing the music selections. One students shares insights into being female such as the good, "It's Hard to Be a Girl." "It's fun being 10 because when you are 10 you can play alot...." In the competition they include the song: "You Give Me Fever," Loved the final dance competition held in a primary-color painted school auditorium!!

    Some links to share: /http://www.toseeka.com/subject/ballroom%2Bdance
  • jimrin
    October 14, 2009
    jimrin
    Extremely inspirational movie about how with the appropriate adult leadership, kids can become focused, hard-working, and dedicated. As mentioned in one of the movies, one of the schools is in an area where 97% of the families are in poverty. We don't need school vouchers which c... read morean potentially move money away from these schools but we need better school programs and better role models for these kids.
  • lisatoday1
    January 1, 2009
    lisatoday1
    An inspiring story of kids learning to ballroom dance but of course the real story goes much deeper. I loved it and the kids!

View All Mad Hot Ballroom Reviews

Critic Reviews

Peter Travers
August 5, 2005
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Listening to the kids talk is a treat in itself, but watching them strut their stuff in the final competition is enough to make you stand up and cheer.

Richard Roeper
June 20, 2005
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

It's kind of like the dance version of that documentary Rock School. Full Review

Roger Moore
June 10, 2005
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

The kids are adorable, and so is the movie. Full Review

Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
June 5, 2005
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Clearly, 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... Full Review

Tom Long
June 3, 2005
Tom Long, Detroit News

The film's unintentional revelation may be that the competition isn't near as important as the education. The trophy is only a faint shadow of what has been accomplished.

Lisa Kennedy
June 3, 2005
Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post

Wins you over with kid after kid after kid saying the darndest things about boys and girls, winning and losing, and a host of other issues. Full Review

Philip Wuntch
June 3, 2005
Philip Wuntch, Dallas Morning News

For director Marilyn Agrelo and screenwriter Amy Sewell, the documentary is a beautifully realized first effort. For the documented youngsters, it's a celebration of their stamina, tenacity and unforc... Full Review

Terry Lawson
June 3, 2005
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press

Mad Hot Ballroom had me at '... and go!' Full Review

Jessica Reaves
June 3, 2005
Jessica Reaves, Chicago Tribune

It's a dynamic snapshot of youth in the big city, of kids who talk tough and act up but savor the discipline and structure of their dance classes. Full Review

Robert Denerstein
June 3, 2005
Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News

This 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.

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  • what 2005 film is a documentary about students learning to ballroom dance and compete?  Answer »
  • In Mad Hot Ballroom, which of the following WAS NOT a dance the teams had to do?  Answer »
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