How to Dance in Ohio
Directed byAlexandra Shiva
Produced byBari Pearlman
Alexandra Shiva
CinematographyLaela Kilbourn
Edited byToby Shimin
Music byBryan Senti
Production
companies
Gidalya Pictures
Blumhouse Productions
Distributed byHBO Documentary Films
Release dates
  • January 25, 2015 (2015-01-25) (Sundance Film Festival)
  • October 26, 2015 (2015-10-26) (United States)
Running time
89 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

How to Dance in Ohio is a 2015 American documentary film directed by Alexandra Shiva. The film follows a group of autistic young adults in Columbus, Ohio preparing for their first spring formal. With guidance from their group counselor, Dr. Emilio Amigo, the group spends 12 weeks practicing their social skills in preparation for the dance. HBO Documentary Films acquired television rights to the film eleven days before its world premiere at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival.[1] The film premiered on HBO on October 26, 2015.[2] Three young women are the main subjects of the documentary.

Shiva said of the film: "The dance is sweet and the dance is lovely, but the biggest challenge is how do we show you as a viewer that for Marideth to just say 'Hi,' that's an accomplishment?"[3]

Main participants

Marideth

Marideth Bridges is a 16-year-old who spends most of her time at home on her computer learning facts.

Jessica

Jessica Sullivan is a 22-year-old living at home with her parents. She works at a bakery with an autistic workforce. Her best friend is Caroline.

Caroline

Caroline McKenzie is a 19-year-old college student. She has a boyfriend who she met at Dr. Emilio Amigo's family counseling center and is best friends with Jessica.

Reception

A reviewer for The Hollywood Reporter described the film as "touching"; remarking, "Compared to other documentaries about the condition, it's heartening to see one that accentuates the positive so much, showing families where the parents have managed to keep their marriages intact, where no one gets bullied, no one is a savant, and there's no mention of the debate around vaccines."[4]

Musical adaptation

In January 2018, Playbill reported that a musical based on the documentary was in development, with music by Jacob Yandura and book and lyrics by Rebekah Greer Melocik. The production was to be directed by longtime Broadway producer Harold Prince, who also served as a dramaturge on earlier drafts of the play.[5] Upon Prince's death in 2019, Sammi Cannold took over as director. The musical's world premiere production at Syracuse Stage was announced in June 2022, featuring seven autistic actors playing characters inspired by the documentary participants and Wilson Jermaine Heredia in the role of Emilio Amigo.[6] It was announced on July 20, 2023 that the musical would transfer to Broadway, with opening night scheduled for December 10 at the Belasco Theatre.[7][8] The show, the first Broadway musical to cast actors with autism as characters with autism,[9] opened to generally mixed to positive reviews.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Lang, Brent (January 19, 2015). "Sundance: HBO Nabs 'How to Dance in Ohio'". Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  2. ↑ Kang, Inkoo. "HBO's Upcoming Docs: Autism Portrait 'How to Dance in Ohio,' Urban Portrait 'San Francisco 2.0,' More". Indiewire. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  3. ↑ Genzlinger, Neil (25 October 2015). "Review: 'How to Dance in Ohio,' a Documentary on HBO, Follows Three Women on the Autism Spectrum". The New York Times.
  4. ↑ Felperin, Leslie (30 January 2015). "'How to Dance in Ohio': Sundance Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  5. ↑ Fierberg, Ruthie (29 January 2018). "'Harold Prince at Work on 2 New Shows, Including a How to Dance in Ohio Musical". Playbill. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  6. ↑ Gans, Andrew (16 June 2022). "'Rent's Wilson Jermaine Heredia to Star in How to Dance in Ohio Musical Premiere, Featuring Broadway Vets and 7 Autistic Actors". Playbill. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  7. ↑ Paulson, Michael (2023-07-20). "'How to Dance in Ohio,' a Musical, Plans a Fall Broadway Opening". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  8. ↑ Culwell-Block, Logan (July 20, 2023). "How to Dance in Ohio Sets Fall Broadway Bow". Playbill. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  9. ↑ "'How to Dance in Ohio': A Story About Autism and Connection". The New York Times. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  10. ↑ "How to Dance in Ohio". Did They Like It?. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
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