Tagline: Never Follow.
Follows the story of a French emigrant who volunteers at an inner-city high school. Inspired by a true story, Antonio Banderas stars as internationally acclaimed ballroom dancer Pierre Dulane in the family drama “Take the Lead”.
Pierre Dulaine (Antonio Banderas) is a renowned professional ballroom dancer, who teaches ballroom dancing at his Manhattan dance studio. After seeing a car being vandalized by a student outside an inner-city high school, Pierre Dulaine walks into the school to talk to the Principal (Alfre Woodard). She has no time for him and to get rid of him she throws him a challenge, that he could make a difference by working with her worst students.
Pierre Dulaine accepts the challenge and volunteers to teach ballroom dancing to a variety of students that have been sent to detention. The students are very skeptical of Pierre Dulaine, especially, when they find out that he wants to teach them ballroom dancing. All they know is hip-hop dancing. Dulaine’s commitment and ability to change and adapt dance moves, eventually bring the student to his side. Together, they create a new style of dance and enter a major ballroom dance competition in New York City.
Antonio Banderas stars in Take the Lead, a drama inspired by the true story of Pierre Dulaine, an inspirational Manhattan dance teacher and competitor who volunteers his time to teach ballroom dancing to a diverse group of New York inner-city high school students serving detention.
The students are initially skeptical of Dulaine, especially when they learn what he’s there to teach them, but his unwavering commitment and dedication slowly inspire them to embrace his program.
In fact, they even take it one step further and combine Dulaine’s classical dance with their unique hip-hop style and music to create a high-energy, unique fusion. As Dulaine becomes a mentor for his students, many of whom haven’t had much to strive towards in their lives, he inspires them to hone their craft for a prestigious city ballroom competition, and in return they share with each other valuable lessons about pride, respect and honor.
Take the Lead (2006)
Directed by: Liz Friedlander
Starring: Antonio Banderas, Jenna Dewan, Alfre Woodard, Elijah Kelley, Dante Basco, Laura Benanti, Jonathan Malen, Jasika Nicole, Lauren Collins, Rob Brown, Yaya DaCosta
Screenplay by: Dianne Houston
Production Design by: Paul D. Austerberry
Costume Design by: Melissa Toth
Set Decoration by: Gordon Sim
Art Direction by: Nigel Churcher
Music by: Swizz Beatz, Aaron Zigman
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for thematic material, language and some violence.
Distributed by: New Line Cinema
Release Date: April 7, 2006
Visits: 56
