Live for dance

Rating: 8/10 (8 April 2001)

Sara loses her mother and with it her desire to dance. She is forced to move from her predominantly white home to live with her father in the rougher part of Chicago. Her first day at her new, predominantly black High School sees her meet Derek in class. They do not get along immediately, but she becomes friends with his sister Chenille and she learns that Derek is a brilliant student and is going to medical college when he graduates. They start to date although this does not go down well with everyone, Derek dating a white girl is not popular within his black neighbourhood. This film explores prejudice from both sides of the community. Derek helps Sara to get back to the dance that she loves after the death of her mother and helps her with her free dance piece for her Julliard audition. Despite a rough ride they stay together. A good film, that shows the black and the white communities from a less stereotyped view point. Both Stiles and Thomas give credible performances.