The popular 2005 film "Mad Hot Ballroom" chronicled the introduction of ballroom dance classes to New York City schools and made a case for the importance of arts education.  Several years later, a new documentary has been released on a similar program in Israel: Hilla Medalia's "Dancing in Jaffa".  Like "Mad Hot Ballroom", this charming film tells the story of pre-teens -- many from underprivileged families -- who gain confidence as they learn the steps of the tango and waltz.  The twist: as a condition of participating in the program, the Israeli children must dance with those of Palestinean descent, and vice versa.

The program is the brainchild of ballroom dancer Pierre Dulaine; born in Jaffa, he and his parents fled the country in 1948.  He returns decades later determined to heal the rifts in this ancient port city, where about one third of the citizens are Palestinean-Isaraelis, protest marches frequent and tense, and hostility rife.