"Take the Lead" is the latest dance themed movie that I watched. This 2006 movie is inspired by the life of Pierre Dulaine, a professional ballroom dancer, and stars Antonio Banderas in the lead.
Antonio Banderas as Pierre Dulaine
One night, Pierre Dulaine (Antonio Banderas), witnessed a young man wrecking a car in the street and discovered that he is a student, letting out anger on his Principal's car.
The next morning sees him at that school, and having a talk with the principal and offering to teach ballroom dance to the students in detention class.
Detention class
Despite the absurd idea, as the kids are rough and tough and prefer hip hop and rap to ballroom, and despite objections from a teacher who reported this to the Parents & Teachers Association, who believed the students need more time to work on their Math, rather than more dancing, Pierre persevered.
Tango demonstration
The students, who were unresponsive and uncooperative at first, were won over when Pierre made a demonstration on tango and how the dancer can actually use dance and body language to communicate with his partner.
The students were sold to this idea
So the students were taught to dance all the ballroom classics from scratch from salsa to rumba to tango to meringue to waltz.
It wasn't easy as there were criticisms from the advanced level dancers in Pierre's professional dance academy due to the vast difference in class and status but he received support from his assistant.
Despite all the hardships the kids have to face in their everyday life, they kept at it due to the promise of a shot at the five grand that is the prize money n the annual ballroom dance competition.
Extra ballroom dancing lessons
At the end of the term, Pierre kept to his promise of entering the students in the competition where they put up a fierce competition against the other professional dancers. Although they did not win, Pierre managed to cultivate a sense of self-believe in these underprivileged students.
Annual Ballroom Dance Competition
Pierre Dulaine's informal ballroom dance lessons to the detention class gave birth to the "Dancing Classrooms" New York City program with plans to expand to schools across America.
After watching this movie, I am willing to suffer another bout of high school if I could attend such a program in school. My neighbour is a ballroom dance coach too but I never took lessons from him. If only he looked an iota like Antonio Banderas and half as hot as him, I would have taken up ballroom dancing long ago *sigh*
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