Everybody Dance

Directed by Dan Watt, Everybody Dance explores the lives of five young people with disabilities and their efforts to mount a ballet recital alongside their tireless teacher, Bonnie Schlachte. It’s inherently compelling subject matter that’s employed to a slightly erratic yet mostly effective (and affecting) degree by Watt, as the filmmaker delivers a stirring documentary that fares best in its briskly-paced and impressively engaging first half – with the compelling vibe perpetuated (and heightened) by an ongoing emphasis on exceedingly agreeable, affable personalities. Watt generally does a superb job of exploring Schlachte’s day-to-day routine and the tireless work of her dedicated team of teenage volunteers, although it remains clear that Everybody Dance is at its best when focused on the individual stories of the children and their parents. It’s rather disappointing to note, then, that the picture does fizzle out to a slight degree in its final half hour, as Watt stresses the preparations for the recital to an exacting extent that’s ultimately oppressive (ie it’s just not, in large part, as compelling as everything that came before). The recital itself, however, is admittedly quite touching and moving and ensures that the picture ends on a positive note, which finally cements Everybody Dance’s place as a well-intentioned documentary that periodically packs an impressively emotional punch.

*** out of ****