“Mad Hot Ballroom” was an interesting look at how a ballroom dancing program in New York City public schools has had a positive impact on those 5th graders who participate in it.
The documentary told the story in a very effective way, cutting between footage of dance practice/competition with interviews with the kids and teachers who make it happen. It also did a great job setting the scene with shots of the neighborhoods where these kids are from. I thought transitions between all the different locations was one of the strengths of this documentary. The cinematography choices helped a lot in that regard. It was nice to end on a high note of the victory, but I would have liked a little more follow-up in the conclusion. Even just a montage of pictures with text and/or voice over right before the credits.
This 5th grade “Dancing With the Stars”, in essence, is an interesting topic for a documentary, and I thought the filmmakers told it well. It showed how much of an impact it has had on these kid’s lives, and it really captured the unique insights of the 10 year old mind well.
