Tagline: Never Follow.
A former professional ballroom dancer volunteers at a New York public school to teach dance. The hip-hop instincts of his students soon clash with his ballroom methods, so he teams up with them to create a new style of dance. Eventually the students trust him and he becomes their mentor.
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”.
The film revolves around a professional dancer who volunteers to teach in the New York City public school system. But when his classic methods clash with his students’ hip hop instincts, he teams up with them to create a new style of dance and becomes their mentor in the process. “Take the Lead” co-stars Alfre Woodard and marks the feature directing debut of veteran music video helmer Liz Friedlander (U2, Blink 182, Simple Plan).
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.
Production notes provided by New Line Cinema.
Take the Lead
Starring: Antonio Banderas, Alfre Woodard, Elijah Kelley, Dante Basco, Jenna Dewan
Directed by: Liz Friedlander
Screenplay by: Dianne Houston
Release Date: April 7th, 2006
Running Time: 117 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for thematic material, language and some violence.
Studio: New Line Cinema
Box Office Totals
Domestic: $34,742,066 (52.8%)
Foreign: $31,000,463 (47.2%)
Total: $65,742,529 (Worldwide)