| The musical drama (echoing both “Saturday Night Fever” and “Dirty Dancing”) depicts a complicated clash of cultures, both ethnic and artistic, in telling the story of a white, middle-class, small town teen, Sara (Stiles), thrust into an unfamiliar world when she enrolls in an inner city virtually all-black Chicago high school following her mother’s untimely death. There, she finds solace and affection with a handsome, gifted and popular African-American student Derek (Thomas). The romance flourishes because the pair share a passion for dance – she was once an aspiring ballerina, and he the crown prince of a local hip-hop hangout. However, the couple faces a growing antagonism toward their budding romance, as well as struggles with their own individual obstacles. At stake are Derek’s hopes for a better life and Sara’s rediscovery of her dreams. |
