Flex Is Kings

Shot in Brooklyn, this interesting documentary spotlights several expert practitioners of a dance style called “flex,” which somewhat resembles the robotic-dance craze of the 1980s but demands a certain fluidity and agility that makes it look as if a dancer could dislocate joints. Dancers participate in an annual flex competition called “Battlefest,” which attracts passionate supporters of local dance heroes, but most of Flex Is Kings centers on a couple of dedicated flex masters: Flizzo, who runs a dance crew and teaches teens how to perfect their technique; and Jay Donn, whose movements are so expressive and imaginative that he is recruited by a New York children's theater to play the lead in a dance-heavy version of Pinocchio. Filmmakers Deirdre Schoo and Michael Beach Nichols capture moments of triumph, as well as frustration, while offering glimpses into the private lives of their subjects. Dance enthusiasts will certainly appreciate this film about a group of people who are looking to become a positive force in their community through art. Recommended. (T. Keogh)