Mad Hot Ballroom (2005)

The students of several New York City elementary schools learn ballroom dancing and compete in a city wide dance competition.

Director:

Marilyn Agrelo

Writer:

Amy Sewell

Stars:

Heather Berman, Emma Therese Biegacki, Eva Carrozza

8 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Heather Berman	...	Herself
Emma Therese Biegacki	...	Herself
Eva Carrozza	...	Herself
Evangelina Carrozzo	...	Herself
Paul Daggett	...	Himself
Graciela Daniele	...	Herself - Judge
Pierre Dulaine	...	Himself - Organizer and MC of the Final Dance Competition
Tara Devon Gallagher	...	Herself
Madeleine Hackney	...	Herself
Charlotte Jorgensen	...	Final Competition Judge
Rodney Lopez	...	Himself
Victoria Malvagno	...	Herself
Stacee Mandeville	...	Herself
Nell Mooney	...	Herself
Daniel Ponickly	...	Himself

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

school | new york city | ballroom dancing | merengue | dance | 

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Taglines:

Anyone can make it if they know how to shake it.

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Genres:

Documentary | Family | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for some thematic elements

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

13 May 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Forró táncparkett

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

£29,907 (UK) (25 November 2005)

Gross:

£29,907 (UK) (25 November 2005)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Just One Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Cinematographer Claudia Raschke held the camera at stomach level to keep it in line with the children's faces.

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Quotes

Tiny boy with curly hair: A girl and a boy loving each other, you know, really loving each other and being together and
[waxes lyrically for a while]
Tiny boy with curly hair: ... It is very beautiful!

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Crazy Credits

Some of the children add their observations about life in film clips during the credits.

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Connections

Referenced in Ebert Presents: At the Movies: Episode #1.3 (2011)

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Soundtracks

"FEVER"
by Peggy Lee

User Reviews

Truly Moving Picture

I am one of the judges for the Heartland Film Festival that screens films for their Truly Moving Picture Award. A Truly Moving Picture "...explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life." Heartland gave that award to this film.

This is a documentary that plays out like a story. Three fifth grade classes of different schools in diverse NYC learn ballroom dancing in order to compete in a citywide dance contest in downtown Manhatten. You watch the kids evolve from clumsy to close-to-graceful and from hesitant to confident.

The best part was that the kids ignored the camera. They didn't play to the camera at all. And ten year old kids are beautiful as they bounce back-and-forth from juvenile to young adult and back to juvenile in a matter of seconds.

The camera work and directing are interesting because you don't notice them. You feel you are the observer and not the camera. The movie simply looks honest and truthful.

FYI - There is a Truly Moving Picture web site where there is a listing of past winners going back 70 years.