What can you say about a documentary that charts the fortunes of pre-teens on their way to a ballroom dancing championship, other than crowd-pleaser? Mad Hot Ballroom is certainly that – an energising film that only the most churlish would dismiss. New York has a programme of competitive ballroom dancing for ten year olds which, no doubt sensing an opportunity akin to Spellbound­, was charted by doco makers Marilyn Agrelo and Amy Sewell. They follow three schools preparing for area finals in an aggressive bid for the title. Agrelo and Sewell are four to the floor as they sit and spin with kids and teachers, hoping to gain an insight into what makes them tick on and off the floor. Dancing is not a solo effort and, unlike Spellbound, the filmmakers keep their focus on these noisy, chaotic groups, almost to the film’s detriment, for remembering just which Gene Kelly belongs to which Ginger Rogers takes some doing. Ultimately it doesn’t really matter for Mad Hot Ballroom is more about kids doing it for themselves than their respective schools. Because the story shies away from probing far into the kids backgrounds, we don’t meet their parents for one thing, much of the potential depth is lost. Many come from tough neighbourhoods and this would flesh out our understanding to their reaction and rationale about dance. Instead we stay light on our feet which may be no bad thing. Mad Hot Ballroom achieves everything it sets out to do and accordingly has several gongs of its own, including Audience Award at this years Sydney Film Festival. As I said, crowd-pleaser. // COLIN FRASER