96 minutes, documentary, color, English & Spanish w/ English subtitles, 2013

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Secundaria quietly follows one high school class on its journey through Cuba's world-famous National Ballet School. The teens love to dance, but for many of them dance is also their sole escape from a life of poverty. The documentary begins as an observational portrait, but in their third year of school the main character, Mayara, takes charge of her destiny in an astonishing way. Suddenly this simple portrait takes a dramatic turn as Mayara's action surprises everyone: teachers, friends, family and, ultimately, the filmmaker herself.

"Don’t miss Secundaria...an illuminating journey into Cuba’s National Ballet School." - The New York Times

"A lucid, watchful portrait of young ballet dancers desperately trying to plié their way out of poverty and into Cuba's Ballet Nacional." - The Boston Globe

"Moves from a sensitive examination of the physical and creative demands of dance to a more dramatic study in political repression and personal choice." - The Arts Fuse

"Documenting the high school ballet training and competitions held by Cuba’s world famous National Ballet School, it was not only beautiful but it magically captured the ever-present economic issues of Cuba." - Indiewire

"Doherty's camera meanders, capturing in subtle detail the rigor of daily drills, the thrill of competition and the terror and heartbreak that accompany a high-risk, life-altering decision — all against an evocative soundtrack of classical and Afro-Cuban rhythms." - The Huffington Post

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