rize rise above anthropological curiosity to be an exhilarating paean to the human spirit . it be parallel to bastard of the party in note how devastating gang violence and drug and poverty have be to the social structure of african american live in south central los angeles and how young people desperately seek alternative family for emotional support . but debut director david lachapelle ( and a graduate and proponent of art education program ) document the power of artistic expression in literally save soul and life and here through a spontaneously indigenous and organized form of hip hop dance . it be amazing grace act out before our eye a this be self help and bootstrap up through specifically african american christian culture that grow out of birthday party celebration and go from clown dance to crump . i be think of a chorus line refrain of everything be beautiful at the ballet of girl escape dysfunctional family even before these hyper articulate entertainer point out that there be no ballet class available to them and or any after school activity for kid not interested in football or basketball so they make the choice to dance with organize group and first in informal than structured competition . no white talk head expert be need in this film and though it be not clear how much influence lachapelle have over the participant self awareness over the three year he be make the film and a we only hear his voice a couple of time ask question and usually of their mother . for example and lil c say such dancing be in our blood but be that after lachapelle show them the footage of african ritual dancing that they have never see before and it be a bit disconcert that of all the footage he could have select he use material from the leni riefenstahl archive . ethnomusicologist nick spitzer of public radio american route show could certainly teach them all something about the recur phenomenon in the african diaspora of similar competitive family create around dance and costume or make up and include the samba club in brazil and the mardi gras indian of new orleans and the carnival crew of the caribbean . lachappelle carefully introduce u to the participant a dancer and individual before we know more about their difficult past and home life and a these be young people who have to grow up too fast and be lucky to have survive and even a they can not avoid the neighborhood random violence . we also see that these be the kind of individual who be naturally nurturing and mentor seek and a one explanation of how they seek out the art and why dance speaks to them a a mechanism to work out their emotion . the sound track assiduously avoid degrade commercial hip hop selection for song that reflect the spirit of the dancing and a the participant resoundingly note the independence of their culture from corporate force . while the story line wander a bit after the climactic battle zone and lachappelle forcefully link the the dancing to pentecostal and baptist gospel tradition for the life affirm conclusion . the closing shot of how it have spread outside the african american community aren not entirely convince . lachappelle can not resist some artsy music video type shot of beautiful and glisten body by the ocean and but that do serve to emphasize their dancing a an aesthetic form and even a the film do go on a bit too long and repetitively . the interview on charlie rise should be include with the dvd a there be no conclude update to learn that some of the participant be now employ professionally a dancer and though we do get a glimpse that miss prissy be take some formal dance training . regardless and you do walk out uplifted and feelingly thrillingly positive about life .