3D Street Dance (2010); dance romantic drama film review

Theatrical poster artwork for the romance drama dance film Street Dance.

Classically Contemporary by Linh

Street Dance is a British film presented in 3D but this film is engaging and entertaining enough even without the technology.  Street Dance is not the usual dance film with a flimsy plot embellished with copious amounts of over-sexed dance sequences by hormonally-charged pre-pubescent adolescents. It cleverly intertwines its storyline with characterisations, even though it follows some steps down the well-worn path of Hollywood feel-good dance films. The film is set in London, and revolves around a group of talented and multi-cultural young dancers from different disciplines of dance - ballet and street dance. There are parables that convey implicitly the unification of diversity and explicitly presents dance as an expressive artform that has the ability to divide or unite its participants.

PASSIONATE PAIR: Tomas (Richard Winsor) and Carly (Nichola Burly) dance in the finals in the film Street Dance. Image: Vertigo Films.

The film follows a group of young street dancers led by a very talented dancer named Jay (Ukweli Roach). Five weeks before their finals in the dance competition, Jay promptly and mysteriously quits the group, leaving his girlfriend and dance companion Carly (Nichola Burley) in charge. After convincing the group that they can still compete without Jay, Carly sets out to find a space for them to practise. During one of her lunch delivery runs, Carly meets ballet schoolmistress Helena (Charlotte Rampling), and convinces her to let the dance group train in her auditorium. Helena and Carly strike a deal where Carly’s street dancers can use the dance space if Helena’s ballet dancers become part of the dance group.  The tension between ballet and street dancers boils over until Helena suggests Carly take a different approach in training her team.

PERFECT POISE: Chloe (Sianad Gregory), Bex (Jennifer Leung), Gabe (Hugo Cortes) and Isabelle (Rachel McDowall) rehearse ballet moves in the film Street Dance. Image: Vertigo Films.

 

Street Dance is mainly Carly’s story and how a young woman can lead a team of disillusioned dancers to victory despite the obstacles. Nichola Burley is a competent dancer, and is convincing as the persistent and dedicated Carly, as she leads and succeeds with her dance team for the finals.

Stage and screen veteran Charlotte Rampling is the former ballet dancer Helena who becomes Carly’s mentor and is willing to try anything in order to get her ballet dancers into the Royal Academy. While she works to ensure funding for her ballet classes avoids getting cut from the curriculum, she helps Carly find ways to include expression and emotion in her street dance routines. Rampling doesn’t dance much in the film but she can still make smooth moves of a different kind.

GRACEFUL GUYS: Gabe (Hugo Cortes) and  Tomas (Richard Winsor) show off their ballet skills in the film Street Dance. Image: Vertigo Films.

The film’s love story is secondary to the dance narrative, and the characters’ primary focus is the love for dance and their competitiveness brings out the best and worst in them. Highlights include the impromptu sandwich-making dance scene, the nightclub dance-offs and the team’s performance in the finals.

The choreography is amazing and the cast is tremendously accomplished in their dance moves, their timing to the music and with each other looks effortless. The discipline, etiquette and grace of ballet blended with the improvised and high-speed energetic pace of street dance looks spectacular. Street Dance shows that regardless of the dance style, dancing can transcend race, gender and social class and gets the adrenaline pumping while the music is thumping.

The film features an excellent soundtrack with Cheryl Cole, Train, Elton John, the delightful Sugar Plum Fairy music from Tchaikovsky’s ballet ‘The Nutcracker’, and a myriad of popular hip-hop songs and soul music, accompany the light-hearted but likeable film. Street Dance may not garner the cult status of Dirty Dancing but it’s still a winning combination of dance, fun and romance.

Promotional poster for the romance drama dance film Street Dance.

Directors: Max Giwa, Dania Pasquini

   

Writer: Jane English (screenplay)

Cast: Charlotte Rampling, Nichola Burley, Richard Winsor, Rachel McDowall, Sianad Gregory , Tameka Empson, Teneisha Bonner, Jennifer Leung, Ukweli Roach, Hugo Cortes, Eleanor Bron, Patrick Baladi, Lex Milczarek, Jocelyn Jee Esien, Kofi Aggyman, Patrick Baladi, George Sampson, Rhiann Keys, Daniella Masterson, Frank Harper, Jeremy Sheffield, Bradley Charles, Mark Tristan Eccles, Chris Wilson, Diversity, Flawless

Producers: Rupert Preston, Christine Langan, Paula Jalfon, James Richardson, Allan Niblo, Jim Spencer

Cinematographer: Sam McCurdy

          

Film Editor: Tim Murrell

Production: Richard Bullock (Production Designer), Sophie Hervieu (Art Director), Alex Marden (Set Dcorator)

Costume Designer: Andrew Cox

Running Time: 1 hour and 38 minutes