Publications
Partners
What it's about:
The legacy of legendary dancer and choreographer Honey Daniels lives on in spirited 17-year-old Maria Bennett.
After a brush with the law, Maria has returned to her gritty Bronx roots to rebuild her life with nothing but a talent for street dance and a burning ambition to prove herself. She finds refuge in the place that made her feel most alive as kid - the rec centre where Honey’s exuberant classes first ignited her passion for dance. Keeping on the straight and narrow means living with Honey’s mom Connie and holding down a job just to make ends meet. But a rare night out at a local dance club gives her an opportunity to let loose with a joy and energy she had almost forgotten. Maria’s killer moves catch the eye of Brandon, a rec center volunteer, who invites her to help him transform a group of gifted but undisciplined dancers called the HDs. Maria’s skills also attract the attention of her old boyfriend, Luis, the charismatic leader of the award-winning 718 dance crew, who hopes to lure her back into the street world she's trying to escape.
Seeing a chance at creating a new and meaningful life, Maria pours her heart and soul into dance and begins training the HDs to compete on the television dance competition "Dance or Die" - which means going up against the 718 and Luis. Like Honey before her, Maria rediscovers the thrill of dancing as she finds out who she truly is and where she belongs.
What the critics thought:
"About as emotionally profound as a tampon advert, and probably less suspenseful..."
- Sophie Ivan, Film4
"It does at least deliver decent dancing. But so do many music videos, and they struggle to sustain interest over four minutes, let alone the 112 that this will steal from you."
- James O'Brien, Daily Mail
"Nearly every dance film cliché is done to death here, but at least the hip-hoppery is spectacular, played out before a panel of judges who make Cheryl Cole look like a genius."
- Derek Malcolm, This is London
The legacy of legendary dancer and choreographer Honey Daniels lives on in spirited 17-year-old Maria Bennett.
After a brush with the law, Maria has returned to her gritty Bronx roots to rebuild her life with nothing but a talent for street dance and a burning ambition to prove herself. She finds refuge in the place that made her feel most alive as kid - the rec centre where Honey’s exuberant classes first ignited her passion for dance. Keeping on the straight and narrow means living with Honey’s mom Connie and holding down a job just to make ends meet. But a rare night out at a local dance club gives her an opportunity to let loose with a joy and energy she had almost forgotten. Maria’s killer moves catch the eye of Brandon, a rec center volunteer, who invites her to help him transform a group of gifted but undisciplined dancers called the HDs. Maria’s skills also attract the attention of her old boyfriend, Luis, the charismatic leader of the award-winning 718 dance crew, who hopes to lure her back into the street world she's trying to escape.
Seeing a chance at creating a new and meaningful life, Maria pours her heart and soul into dance and begins training the HDs to compete on the television dance competition "Dance or Die" - which means going up against the 718 and Luis. Like Honey before her, Maria rediscovers the thrill of dancing as she finds out who she truly is and where she belongs.
What the critics thought:
"About as emotionally profound as a tampon advert, and probably less suspenseful..."
- Sophie Ivan, Film4
"It does at least deliver decent dancing. But so do many music videos, and they struggle to sustain interest over four minutes, let alone the 112 that this will steal from you."
- James O'Brien, Daily Mail
"Nearly every dance film cliché is done to death here, but at least the hip-hoppery is spectacular, played out before a panel of judges who make Cheryl Cole look like a genius."
- Derek Malcolm, This is London
