“Mad Hot Ballroom ”
In grammar school, students cringe at the idea of interacting with the opposite sex, especially when it means that the interaction has to be hands on. At age 11, these little people enjoy the benefits of both worlds, still girls and boys, not yet little men and women. The film “Mad Hot Ballroom” documents the idea of bringing art and culture together with physical education in a competitive and passionate way for different public schools in New York City.
“Mad Hot Ballroom” follows the students of Public Schools 112, 115 and 150. PS112 is located in Bensonhurst Brooklyn, a neighborhood with a high population of Italian and Chinese cultures. PS115 is located in the neighborhood of Washington Heights, which has a high population of Dominican immigrants and PS150 is located in Tribeca, which has a very mixed but affluent neighborhood.
The one thing that all of these neighborhoods and schools have in common is the emphasis of culture and arts that help each and everyone of them explain who the are in one of the largest cities in the world. “Mad Hot Ballroom” demonstrates not only how culture and art can be infused into an education but it also shows how these students feel about current issues in society.
Director Marilyn Agrelo follows these students from their school environments to their home environments. As the viewer you can see the changes in their attitudes about each other and about their families. When the time of competition becomes a serious reality to the students, real behaviors are evoked. One student who is good at the dances does something to offend another student. His “attitude” gets in the way and the teacher lets him go from the competition.
In the final weeks of competition the students that would act all goofy before were finding themselves being more serious and concerned about the competition. The transformation from awkward immature students to trained graceful little ladies and gentlemen is beautiful. To watch them leave behind such insecurities and embrace maturity in a passionate way is incredible, especially when most of them have the odds against them at all times.
“Mad Hot Ballroom” is more than just a look at a competition; it is a look at society and its children. It raises questions about societal norms and the different cultures living together and learning from each other. It celebrates multiculturalism and the idea of success. “Mad Hot Ballroom” will truly affect the way that any child will look at gym class and Fox-trotting again.
- Story- A
- Acting- N/A
- Visuals- A
- Originality/ Innovation- A
- Enjoyability- A
- Overall- A
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