NeverLift I've lost count of how many times I've seen this film -- at least once with each new friend. It is a celebration of beauty, childhood, and transition -- and, oh, yes, dance. I wish at my adult age I could dance with the grace and involvement of these children. The film maker follows them outside the studio, to show us their hopes and dreams. It is astoundingly rendered, particularly for this physically inept klutz reviewer that finally found his dance as he approached 50, and now agonizes: Where were these teachers when I needed them? If you have felt the music but never felt comfortable showing that feeling in public, believing you were too clumsy to exhibit your appreciation: See this movie. Glory in it. Then take a few lessons. It's there, go for it.

Python Hyena Mad Hot Ballroom (2005): Dir: Marilyn Agrelo: Crowd pleasing documentary about the energy emphasized by children involved in ballroom dancing. Director Marilyn Agrelo details the repetitious structure with humorous comments and reactions of the children themselves who grow more passionate as the state competition grows near. We witness hard work rewarded as well as disappointment including teachers that inspire these kids to do better. One particular teacher voices the fact that it is difficult choosing finalists because these kids work very hard. It is inspiring with a lot of heart and soul. Three schools are combined here including Tribeca, Bensonhurst, and Washington Heights. These children are presented as very bright within each activity. There are various dance methods featured throughout as they learn new skills and struggle to connect with the opposite genders but viewers will likely applaud their efforts. Director Agrelo succeeds in presenting a film where children are given alternatives in terms of skill and communication, and teachers are rewarded for the long drawn hard work in coordinating the whole event. It also gives off the impression that one's dreams can be sought this early in life. It is a wonderful documentary that showcases a new scene to ballroom dancing resulting in a film that is every bit the winner as the children themselves. Score: 9 / 10

SataiDelen I really liked this. I think it shows that you don't have to be a rich suburb to get good programs in your school.This documentary follows different groups of school kids over the course of eight weeks and how they are taught ballroom dancing and how to prepare for the annual competition.*Potential Spoiler*: I was watching this and when it came time for the contest itself I was observing the judges and kept seeing this one judge in particular that reminded me of an actress from Micky & Maude. I kept thinking, "Nah, that's not her. It's just someone that looks like her." But then I thought how this movie was made in NY and that is where this actress resides and that there's a very real possibility that it is her. So I watched the credits. And I saw her name. And yep, it was her. I am curious to know either how far her career has fallen that she's judging a group of kids at an annual school contest or if she just decided that she'd had enough of acting and wanted to do something different in her life. Anyway, the actress' name is Ann Reinking.*End to Potential Spoiler*Either way, this film was very good and I think it could potentially give hope to inner city kids (and maybe to kids everywhere) that you do have choices in life and you don't have to run out and join a gang. You could just as easily find your purpose in the classroom or in a specialized program.If you have kids and you want to show them that there is hope for their future other than gangs and violence, then this is a movie they should watch.

bcool6341 I absolutely loved this movie and I think the only thing that would have made me like it more and give it a 10 is if they would have shown more of the dances during the competitions (they tended to break away and show more interviews while the dancing was going on) and it would have been nice if they showed more of the other dancers at the competitions that weren't the main focus of the documentary. I was watching some of the kids in the background and there were some really good dancers in there. I would love to hear 15 years from now that some of these kids that went through the program ended up being professional dancers.