“LIFT”

Filmed over 10 years, the viewer watches the growth and setbacks experienced by 3 promising young ballet stars where poverty and housing insecurity are their daily reality. LIFT is a program developed by the NY Theater Ballet that gives underserved children the chance to dance. Steven Melendez was one of those kids who not just made it through the program, but went on to dance with the company and eventually take on leadership roles. He is the film’s focal point as he mentors young dancers while he simultaneously deals with the repressed trauma he experienced growing up in terrible poverty. I learned so much about families who persevere despite their circumstances and so appreciate programs like LIFT that provide opportunities for kids to follow a passion.