Gotta Dance

A cheerful story about the NBA's first senior dance squad and the likable amateurs who shatter old-fashioned perceptions about the elderly combine to make director Dori Berinstein's documentary, Gotta Dance, a high-energy, fun-loving audience pleaser. L.A. based Mitropoulos Films, distributor for Gotta Dance, can expect a positive response from older arthouse audiences in late July, but smart marketing that emphasizes the youthful aspects of the story will determine any chance at crossover business in a crowded specialty marketplace.

Shadowing the NETSational Seniors (twelve women and one man) as they bond together and practice for performances prior to New Jersey Nets basketball games, Berinstein wisely places the spotlight on the film's winning subjects and leaves socio-political themes regarding age up for audiences to decide. Gotta Dance, purchased by Mitropoulos after its premiere at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival, remains a personal story about average folk who tackle new challenges and discover untapped talents at a time when most people take it easy. Berinstein, a Tony-winning Broadway producer directing her third feature documentary, brings to life all 13 NETSational dancers via their backgrounds, working-class lifestyles and families. She also recognizes the most colorful members of the dance squad and pushes her best material front and center.

During the 2007 Nets games, crowds at New Jersey's Izod Center (Continental Airlines Arena at the time of the filming) expected the pretty young women who make up the Nets Dancers to keep them entertained. As an added bonus, and to the surprise of the fans, a senior dance squad took to the floor in white gym pants and red Nets jerseys, performing Hip Hop inspired routines. They quickly became a hit with both Nets fans and beyond, appearing on network morning shows and getting written up in New York papers.

When a new and more challenging routine tests the dancers' joints and muscles, drama builds. Will Nets management let the now popular NETSational Seniors return to the floor or cancel their season-ending appearances due to sloppy footwork?

Like the popular TV shows So You Think You Can Dance and American Idol, Gotta Dance thrives on the stories of everyday people revealing extraordinary talent in the most tense situation imaginable: in front of a large crowd. Its elderly subjects invite a comparison to those in the recent documentary Young@Heart, which is about a senior choir performing rock ’n’ roll. But the NETSational Seniors are an all-ages effort thanks to the work of their young female coaches and a youth dance troupe that joins them for a show-stopping finale.

The film's best scenes revolve around Fanny, a feisty 81 year old Filipina, whose granddaughter is a Nets Dancer; Betty, a matronly 64 year old grade school teacher who comes alive as the de-facto leader of the squad and outspoken Deanna, a 65 year old clerk who becomes the star of her Manhattan office when her boss sees her dance audition on TV.

Mitropoulos Films, which plans to release Gotta Dance in July 2009, has a film ready made for older specialty film fans that relate to the NETSational Seniors. A marketing campaign that draws comparisons to popular talent shows and plays up the young coaches, Jaclyn Sabol and Marla Collins, and student dancers will boost the chance of wider arthouse audiences—although the film's limited release plans will result in a domestic gross far less than the $4 million earned by Young@Heart.

Dori Berinstein, who directed the documentaries Show Business: The Road To Broadway, a behind-the-scenes look at Broadway shows Wicked and Avenue Q, and Some Assembly Required, about teenage contestants at the national toy invention contest, puts her strong storytelling skills to good use and emphasizes the fact that the NETSational dancers could be our grandparents, our neighbors, our friends.

While opening credits are lively and slick, the overall film lacks visual polish. Cameraman Leo Lawrence uses talking head interviews in a matter of fact manner. When the NETSational Seniors take to the arena floor, especially for their climactic routine with a team of child dancers, the need for faster camerawork and a more cinematic treatment of the story becomes apparent. Still, editor Adam Zucker keeps the story lively and builds suspense about the fate of the seniors.

It's also worth noting that the Gotta Dance brand has expanded to a social networking site for seniors, a dance program on Royal Caribbean Cruise ships, dance workshops and finally, a planned Broadway show. All of which provides helpful marketing support for the indie documentary looking to spread the Gotta Dance story.

Distributor: Mitropoulos Films
Director/Producer: Dori Berinstein
Screenwriters: Dori Berinstein and Adam Zucker
Rating: Unrated
Running time: 94 min
Release date: July 31 NY, August 21 LA