Neither of these choices is really explored. The film is simply about her dream to dance and all the things that get in her way. The one area where the film might have been truly daring was in regards to race. The race issue only comes into play once Sara has resolved to no longer let her mother's death keep her from dancing. Thus racial tension is simply a new obstacle for Sara's dream now that the old one is gone.
Race is merely a plot device.
For a moment, it seemed that MTV was providing a model world where race doesn't matter. But most of this film is, so to truly embrace the fantasy would have been quite an achievement. Instead, Chenille, Derek's sister and Sara's best friend, sets Sara straight on dating the one good Black man in the city. And causes the breakup which will create the final obstacles to Sara's commitment to audition. Sara's dancing supercedes everything.