Mad Hot Ballroom meets Billy Elliot describes this absorbing documentary about two teenagers from one of the most violent favelas on the outskirts of Rio who strive to realise an extraordinary dream. Irlan and Isabela both want to dance ballet, and their ambition is to leave Brazil to join one of the great North American companies. For them, dance is the way out, offering an ecstasy that is rarely found in their day-to-day lives. The question is, can they make it? Only When I Dance follows these two gifted teenagers during the year that will make or break their dream, to dance the most perfect dance against all the odds of race and circumstance.
Neil Gaiman’s novel has been brilliantly adapted for the screen by Henry Selick, with the director’s unique and stylish stop-motion animation. A modern-day Alice in Wonderland, Coraline enters another world through a mysterious door where she finds a sinister ‘other mother’ who has trapped her real parents. Desperate to escape, Coraline is faced with one weird situation after another as the parents behave in ever more peculiar and threatening ways. Mixing horror with humour, the film has its scary moments, and will delight those who have enjoyed the highly original book.
USA • 2009 • Animation/Family/Fantasy • 96 mins Director: Henry Selick
Locations
Dates
Dublin IFI
Apr 29, 10.30am
ALSO SHOWING AT
Dates
Tallaght, UCI Cinema
Mar 4
Booking through IFI Education on 01 679 5744
Follow-up workshops in Tallaght County Library:
Junior Cycle: Adapting Coraline for screen. Mar 4, 12.30pm
Transition Year/Senior Art: Animating Coraline. Mar 5, 11.00am
60 places available, limited to 20 per school.
Booking through IFI Education on 01 679 5744.
Film and workshop: €8 per student
Mad Hot Ballroom meets Billy Elliot describes this absorbing documentary about two teenagers from one of the most violent favelas on the outskirts of Rio who strive to realise an extraordinary dream. Irlan and Isabela both want to dance ballet, and their ambition is to leave Brazil to join one of the great North American companies. For them, dance is the way out, offering an ecstasy that is rarely found in their day-to-day lives. The question is, can they make it? Only When I Dance follows these two gifted teenagers during the year that will make or break their dream, to dance the most perfect dance against all the odds of race and circumstance. 
Neil Gaiman’s novel has been brilliantly adapted for the screen by Henry Selick, with the director’s unique and stylish stop-motion animation. A modern-day Alice in Wonderland, Coraline enters another world through a mysterious door where she finds a sinister ‘other mother’ who has trapped her real parents. Desperate to escape, Coraline is faced with one weird situation after another as the parents behave in ever more peculiar and threatening ways. Mixing horror with humour, the film has its scary moments, and will delight those who have enjoyed the highly original book. 
