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Editorial Reviews
Review
A real life Billy Elliot! --Jane Rosenthal, Tribeca Film Festival
Inspirational! --Stephen Holden, The New York Times
An unforgettable experience! Only the hardest of hearts could fail to be moved by this tremendously warm-hearted, yet clear-sighted documentary. --Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
Inspirational! --Stephen Holden, The New York Times
An unforgettable experience! Only the hardest of hearts could fail to be moved by this tremendously warm-hearted, yet clear-sighted documentary. --Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
Product Description
Only When I Dance is a feel-good documentary following two young teenagers, Isabela and Irlan, as they strive to realize an extraordinary dream. One girl, one boy; both black and poor, and living in one of the most violent favelas on the outskirts of Rio. Irlan and Isabela both want to dance ballet, and their ambition is to leave Brazil to join one of the great companies in North America. For them, dance is the way out, an escape, and on stage, it brings them to a state of ecstasy that is rarely found in their day-to-day lives. The question is: can they make it? Only When I Dance is Mad Hot Ballroom meets Billy Elliot - a classic narrative of coming of age. It's about chasing a dream to dance the most perfect dance against all the odds of race and of circumstance. And, of course, the price you must pay for talent, for ambition and for success.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
You want to be successful? Work hard. Train hard. Have a positive attitude. Don't settle for second place.
Brazilian ballet/modern dancers Irlan Santos da Silva and Isabela Coracy hear this from their friends and family as well as their dance instructor, Mariza Estrella. Irlan and Isabela have been working hard to support their craft, and it is now make-or-break time for their careers. They have to win at prestigious international competitions in order to break into the highly competitive profession of dancing.
But what happens before and during these competitions? How do poorer Brazilian families support the travel to these competitions?
What happens if you don't win?
This documentary of these two dancers just out of high school, Irlan and Isabela, is edgy and tense. Some of the conversations are very frank. But some of the dances are wild, powerful, and beautiful.
In Only When I Dance, one dancer falters, and the other excels. But keep researching; you will find that both dancers have made dancing a career, one in New York, and the other in Brazil.
Perhaps working hard, training hard, having a positive attitude, and not settling for second place is not bad advice for a dancer!
Brazilian ballet/modern dancers Irlan Santos da Silva and Isabela Coracy hear this from their friends and family as well as their dance instructor, Mariza Estrella. Irlan and Isabela have been working hard to support their craft, and it is now make-or-break time for their careers. They have to win at prestigious international competitions in order to break into the highly competitive profession of dancing.
But what happens before and during these competitions? How do poorer Brazilian families support the travel to these competitions?
What happens if you don't win?
This documentary of these two dancers just out of high school, Irlan and Isabela, is edgy and tense. Some of the conversations are very frank. But some of the dances are wild, powerful, and beautiful.
In Only When I Dance, one dancer falters, and the other excels. But keep researching; you will find that both dancers have made dancing a career, one in New York, and the other in Brazil.
Perhaps working hard, training hard, having a positive attitude, and not settling for second place is not bad advice for a dancer!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Alex
Format:Amazon Instant Video
"Only When I Dance" tells the story of two teenagers, Irlan and Isabela, living in Rio's favelas (Brazil's version of slums) who dream of getting out by dancing - and just might succeed. They train at a ballet academy in Rio and have astounding talent. Although described by Film Movement as "feel-good," the movie is at times devastating; it's shocking to think that Irlan and Isabela - along with the other young dancers among them - had so much pressure on them at such a young age. For them ballet is a paradox: it helps them to a better lifestyle and gives them money and opportunity while at the same time it costs a ton of money to fund training and competitions (travel, costumes, etc.). Besides the economic situation there are other obstacles standing in the way. Despite amazing talent, Isabela is setback because of her darker skin and she is pressured to lose weight because she's not stick-skinny like the classical idea of a ballerina. For his part, Irlan has extraordinary talent and charisma. Even just seeing him on the screen you are drawn to him - he's got something special. Luckily, the judges notice that "something" too. The film places a slight emphasis on Irlan but it's understandable if Beadie Finzi, the director, was more drawn to his alluring aura. You end up really rooting for these kids and hoping that everything turns out good for them in all aspects of their life, not just in dance. Like one of the other reviewers said, I would love to see a follow-up, I found myself so attached to Isabela and Irlan!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Want to throw open a brand-new window on the world? Get a copy of "Only When I Dance," a delightful documentary about two young dancers who emerge from the slums of Rio de Janero through ballet. What do Americans know about these human hives of poverty for thousands of poor families? Largely, we've seen these slums through the eyes of director Fernando Meirelles in his two-part series "City of God" (2002) and "City of Men" (2007). Both of those films were fairly popular with American audiences because they were spiced with the sex and violence that runs rampant in these vast ghettos. Those two movies basically were the "Godfather" or the "Goodfellas" of the Brazilian slums.
In "Only When I Dance," we see these same slums in the opening scene---but then the young dancer named Irlan raises his foot heavenward in his morning exercise routine and the entire story transforms. There's light and hope and art. And, no, this is not a fairy tale. We are warned immediately that life here is dangerous for everyone: "Here, if we don't teach our children to live an honest life, they may become a drug dealer. That's a short life that leads either to a coffin or to jail."
BUT---not for Irlan and not for Isabela, two teens who dream of becoming professional dancers. They devote themselves wholeheartedly to these fond hopes. For most American viewers who've only seen the gun-slinging, drug-dealing side of poverty in Rio, these scenes are startling. It's the sort of DVD that you'll enjoy if you love the arts and it's also a perfect film for young people hoping for a career in the arts.
In "Only When I Dance," we see these same slums in the opening scene---but then the young dancer named Irlan raises his foot heavenward in his morning exercise routine and the entire story transforms. There's light and hope and art. And, no, this is not a fairy tale. We are warned immediately that life here is dangerous for everyone: "Here, if we don't teach our children to live an honest life, they may become a drug dealer. That's a short life that leads either to a coffin or to jail."
BUT---not for Irlan and not for Isabela, two teens who dream of becoming professional dancers. They devote themselves wholeheartedly to these fond hopes. For most American viewers who've only seen the gun-slinging, drug-dealing side of poverty in Rio, these scenes are startling. It's the sort of DVD that you'll enjoy if you love the arts and it's also a perfect film for young people hoping for a career in the arts.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Real Heart Breaker
This documentary gives you a real up close and personal look at what life is like for the less fortunate in Brazil. Read more
Published 1 month ago by B. Alfred
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dance documentary
I am a fan of the network dance shows so was very interested in seeing this documentary. It follows two Brazilian youngsters who have aspirations to become ballet dancers. Read more
Published 2 months ago by nfrank44
4.0 out of 5 stars
Poor Does Not = Ignorant or Inferior
This documentary was about ballet/dance (obviously) and the struggle of two gifted dancers as they sought a place in the exclusive world of dance. Read more
Published 6 months ago by R. Battle
5.0 out of 5 stars
Inspiring, heart-warming and very beautiful doc
This is one of the most inspiring documentaries I've ever seen!
It tells the story of Irlan and Isabela, two teenagers from favelas of Rio, who pursue their dream of... Read more
It tells the story of Irlan and Isabela, two teenagers from favelas of Rio, who pursue their dream of... Read more
Published on January 18, 2011 by navissima
5.0 out of 5 stars
So you think you can dance? You can't. These kids can.
(special thanks to Film Movement for providing me with a screener!)
A little-known, deep secret of mine is that I used to do ballet as a child. Read more
A little-known, deep secret of mine is that I used to do ballet as a child. Read more
Published on December 6, 2010 by Chris Swanson
4.0 out of 5 stars
Dancing to bring joy to an impoverished life
This review has spoilers, so read with caution!
I saw this at a free screening in the DC suburbs. Read more
I saw this at a free screening in the DC suburbs. Read more
Published on November 22, 2010 by D. Howard
4.0 out of 5 stars
Dance as a Way Out of Poverty
Beadie Finzi's ballet documentary Only When I Dance was one of the surprises at the Tribeca Film Festival. Read more
Published on June 24, 2010 by Bryan A. Pfleeger
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