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Gotta Dance
By Grace Montgomery,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Upbeat docu about senior dance team has mild swearing.
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Gotta Dance
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What's the Story?
GOTTA DANCE tells the story of how, to liven up their game entertainment, the New York Nets decide to add a senior dance team made up of members age 60 and up. Many people try out, but only 12 make the team -- 11 women and one man. Although many of them have dance experience, none of them is prepared for the amount of hard work in store. With hip-hop music and dance moves out of their comfort zones and mounting pressure to perform, the seniors have to push their bodies to perform and keep their spirits high, even when the going gets rough.
Is It Any Good?
Uplifting and inspiring, this fun documentary is a great mood booster, especially for an older crowd. Each dancer in Gotta Dance is hardworking and persistent, and it's wonderful to watch their personalities and confidence bloom. It's also refreshing to see a film that champions older women and their bodies and shows that age really is just a number.
But younger viewers will most likely lose interest in this film fairly quickly, as there's not a lot of action and the same themes are repeated throughout. Even some adult viewers may tire of the film's messages, which aren't very complex. But parents and grandparents looking for a fun and frothy watch should give it a try.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about courage. How do the NetSational Seniors show courage? What fears did many of them have that they had to overcome in trying out for and performing with the dance troupe?
How do the NetSational Seniors show teamwork? How did they work well together? What did they do separately to benefit the team?
How does the team show perseverance? Why is this an important character strength?
Movie Details
- In theaters: July 31, 2009
- On DVD or streaming: December 8, 2009
- Director: Dori Berinstein
- Studio: Dramatic Forces
- Genre: Documentary
- Character Strengths: Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time: 93 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: February 3, 2023
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