Step, tap, stomp: The power of dance rhythms

There are times when we are overwhelmed by a world which seems to be knocking us down and crushing us under the weight of hate and social inequities. Many of us turn to music and song to lift those blues and inspire us to get back up, persevere, and move forward, yet again. A similar and related method used by many of us is the sheer physical expression of dance, which is both powerful and empowering. Dance is the language of the body. It communicates for us and connects us, across cultures.

While not a dance critic or film reviewer by trade or inclination, I do love dance in all its many forms. From time to time I write about it here, particularly its history and place in our culture.

So my interest was piqued by the announcement of an opening night premiere at the Berkshire International Film Festival. I have finally gotten to see the trailer for STEP, and can’t wait to see the film when it goes into distribution in August.

STEP is the true-life story of a girls’ high-school step team set against the background of the heart of Baltimore. These young women learn to laugh, love and thrive – on and off the stage – even when the world seems to work against them. Empowered by their teachers, teammates, counselors, coaches and families, they chase their ultimate dreams: to win a step championship and to be accepted into college.

The Berkshire Eagle had this review of the film:

…”STEP”chronicles an under-highlighted population, young black women, who find strength, support and a sense of self-worth as members of the step dance team they founded at the Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women (BLSYW), an all-girls college preparatory public charter school. But during its 83 minutes,the film captivates as it offers a cross-section into the contemporary issues our culture continues to grapple with today: equity, poverty, gender bias, and social justice, among  others.

Though these themes and narratives are not uncommon, what makes this film unique is that it banks on the students’ long-term rapport with Amanda Lipitz —making an impressive and impactful feature-length documentary film directorial debut — who meets the young women where they’re at and in careful,compassionate detail, allows them a platform to express what they’ve been experiencing. “These young women, this is their story,” said Lipitz during a phone interview from California. The film has since been scooped up by FoxSearchlight…

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