jamcgrane On its face, Hot to Trot (HTT) is an engaging story paying homage to the beauty and grace of ballroom dance while following the journeys of same sex couples driven to compete at the pinnacle of their "sport". However, while the story itself is powerful and compelling, HTT's true impact is far greater than a story well told. For me, it is the interweaving of each individual's humanity with that of the viewer using the thread of the dance that raises the film to a different level. With keen insight, deep compassion and ultimate clarity, Director Gail Freedman quietly makes an imprint on both the heart and mind of the viewer that lasts long after the last credit is run. By presenting in both soft and sharp focus the elements of life that we all share irrespective of our sexual orientation - hopes, dreams and vulnerabilities - Ms. Freedman reminds us that we are all indeed connected and similar in more ways that we are not. That to me is art at its finest.I hope that others who have the power to promote and spread the word about this powerful work will see the critical importance of sharing this at this time

bailengloria As a former dancer and filmmaker, watching Gail Freedman's Hot to Trot pretty much blew me away! I know that making a dance film is not easy; there is too much to get wrong – too trite, too technical, too esoteric, tutu cliché.Hot to Trot gets it right. Outstanding dance sequences are expertly edited and woven into a compelling narrative that captures the dedication, the passion and the courage of 6 main characters -- dancers who possess varying degrees of artistry, flaws and foibles -- whom you get to know, care about, and truly root for in this fascinating and little-known world of same-sex competitive ballroom dancing. It shocks, it delights, it disrupts the status quo – that's the point. But the pressures, the problems, the struggles and the joys of dance (and dancers) are the same, no matter what one's sexual proclivity, identity, nationality, politics, or background. Hot to Trot is a dance film to be lauded, as is the dedication and commitment of its director/producer, Gail Freedman. Her five-year journey of casting, nurturing and lovingly crafting this project was a remarkable feat in itself. What evolved out of that journey is storytelling-in-motion at its best.

bsttrach I first got a peek at Hot to Trot over four years ago when Gail Freedman's trailer began circulating on the web. I was hooked, and have been waiting impatiently ever since. The payoff was worth the wait.What a glorious film that shines a brilliantly bright light on the little known world of same sex ballroom dancing and the wonderful people who fill that world with their energy, enthusiasm and passion.I was fortunate to have had the chance to interview Freedman several years ago for a blog post about the film, which was then still in production. At the time, she said she wanted people to take away from "Hot to Trot" the idea that by "transforming yourself you can rock the world." She went on to say: "We're at a real inflection point as a society. It's a time of unprecedented change. I think this film can be part of that."Fast forward to 2017, and the world needs this film more than ever to help keep the hope alive that positive change--change that will make us all better people--is still possible. Borrowing the race horse analogy that the name "Hot To Trot" brings to mind, I'm betting on this film to help get us far down the track.

ninafelshin Hot to Trot, a wonderfully engaging, visually seductive, and upbeat documentary, is ostensibly 'about' same-sex ballroom dancing. By following the lives of its four protagonists on—and, just as importantly, off—the dance floor for about four years, director Gail Freedman nudges the subtext into the foreground, thus bringing to mind the old feminist rallying cry, "the personal is political."  More than anything, Hot to Trot is about empowerment. Therefore, it is a film not simply for the LGBTQI community, but for all of us, including those who do not self-identify as members of a historically marginalized community. Among other things, the film suggests that our identities are multi-faceted, that they don't just hinge on gender, race, religion, etc. Who hasn't struggled with, or known someone who's struggled with, a relationship, an illness, a parent who disapproves of our choices, and a myriad of other issues and obstacles—on view in Hot to Trot!  For those among us who are uncomfortable with difference, Hot to Trot reminds us that ultimately—corny though it might sound—we're all human beings. A trenchant message for treacherous times.