PS Dance!

Hosted by newscaster Paula Zahn, filmmaker Nel Shelby's documentary about dance instruction in the New York City public school system makes a strong case for the inclusion of dance in every child's curriculum. The point isn't that dance programs should aim to produce professional dancers (although some participants may well choose that career path), but rather that dance classes beginning as early as kindergarten help to foster a child's imagination, self-discipline, confidence, and socializing skills (while continuing the process only strengthens those qualities over time). In addition, the film suggests that engaging in creative group movement on a regular basis can enhance overall academic success. PS Dance! offers telling footage of groups at all age levels, from those who are barely older than toddlers—happily gyrating in response to a teacher's encouragement—to high school kids who have earned places in advanced programs conducted by demanding mentors. Along the way, students offer their observations about how the experience has helped them to mature and develop, while instructors talk briefly about their methods and goals. One might suspect that PS Dance! is a thinly-veiled plea for reallocation of resources at a time of shrinking budgets, but as Zahn makes clear, a strong recognition of the value of dance programs in NYC schools already exists. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (F. Swietek)