Mad Hot Ballroom

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Director: Marilyn Agrelo
Total Running Time: 105 minutes
Release Date: 2005
Study Guide: Mad Hot Ballroom – Click Here

Synopsis
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. (IMDB)

Awards
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards – Best Documentary, Nominated
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards – Best Documentary, Nominated
Christopher Awards – Winner
Golden Trailer Awards – Best Documentary, Nominated
Gotham Awards – Best Documentary
Image Awards – Outstanding Independent or Foreign Film, Nominated
International Documentary Association – Feature Documentary, Nominated
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival – Best Documentary
Philadelphia Film Festival – Audience Award
Satellite Awards – Outstanding Motion Picture Documentary
Young Artist Awards – Outstanding Youth Feature Documentary