Essential Watch: "Only When I Dance"

Every ballet student in America should be required to watch Only When I Dance. It follows two young dancers in Rio de Janeiro, one of the most heartbreaking slums in Brazil. To see the passionate dedication of these teenagers despite the obstacles they face is inspiring and gives you no choice than to look at the social climate of dance schools in the States. While I wouldn't make such an ignorant statement to say all students here are apathetic and spoiled, I definitely noticed a difference in appreciation between the cultures. The students featured come from very poor socio-economic backgrounds, their families doing good just to put food on the table. And yet, we see how grateful these dancers are that their parents are doing what they can to provide that opportunity for them, to receive professional training. Unlike in America, where students sometimes juggle ballet class, soccer, and piano lessons, just for the sake of "keeping them busy", these dancers have an incredible focus stemming from knowing exactly what they want, and wanting to give their families a better future. You can find it on Netflix or Amazon. 

Watch Trailer Here