Take the lead [videorecording] / New Line Cinema presents ; a Tiara Blu Films production ; produced by Diane Nabatoff, Michelle Grace, Christopher Godsick ; written by Dianne Houston ; directed by Liz Friedlander.
Antonio Banderas (Pierre Dulaine), Rob Brown (Rock), Yaya DaCosta (LaRhette), Dante Basco (Ramos), John Ortiz (Mr. Temple), Laura Benanti (Tina), Marcus T. Paulk (Eddie), Jenna Dewan (Sasha), Alfre Woodard (Augustine James). Inspired by the life of Pierre Dulaine, creator of "Dancing Classrooms" for public schools in New York City. Special features: Deleted/alternate scenes with optional commentary by director Liz Friedlander ; You take the lead - multi-angle tango ; Meet the dungeon kids (17 min.) ; Between the steps: a profile of Pierre Dulaine (17 min.) ; Liz, Swizz, and Ziggy: the director & her music team (10 min.) ; Feature commentary with director Liz Friedlander and editor Robert Ivison ; Trailer remixes ; Trailers ; DVD-ROM features.
Contents:
Opening credits -- Galas -- Justice -- A true gentleman -- An introduction -- Chance to absorb -- Welcome to the foxtrot -- Check this out! -- White bread -- Home sweet home -- Rip -- They need help -- Trust is to be earned -- Concerned parents -- Can you feel it? -- You're welcome -- Please don't freak out -- Let's walk/end titles.
Summary:
Pierre is a ballroom-dance instructor with courtly manners whose pupils tend to be well-heeled teenagers. Partly as a dare and partly as a joke, he is offered the job of supervising a South Bronx high school detention class, where the students regard him as a visitor from the moon. They resist him, but he fascinates them, and before long, Pierre has talked them into learning a few steps. He even suggests that if they work hard enough, they might have a shot in a citywide dance competition, which offers a first prize of $5,000. As they morph into Astaire's and Charisse's, and as Pierre's lessons instill self-mastery, self-restraint, and self-respect, these previously aimless kids blossom into confident, self-possessed young adults.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.