Review of Dancing Outlaw (1991) by Kevin B — 23 Jun 2011

The Dancing Outlaw is a realistic and poignant look into what some might called redneck culture in modern day Appalachia. The eccentric mountain dancer Jesco White proves that there is more then meets the eye to the West Virginia coalfields by telling stories about his past, tap dancing, and arguing with his wife.

In this documentary, the focus is mainly on Jesco who tells the story of his wild past and multiple run ins with the law. Most notably, he tells the story of his murdered father who taught Jesco his unique dancing style and of his mother "The Miracle Woman" who raised more than twenty children as well as adopting several more.

The dialogue is priceless and strangely poetic. It's hard not to watch this over and over again. The film manages to capture Boone County West Virginia in a brutally honest way making it an instant classic.