New K in the block

Step Up: the Kuris testimony


“Because I fought for people who believe in me”
words of Andy (Step Up 2: The Streets)

“Don’t give up, just be yourself coz life is too short to be somebody else”
words of Andy’s mom (Step Up 2: The Streets)

My thoughts are blazing tonight after watching the second installment of “Step Up”, subtitled “The Streets” with Marx and Elson. It’s a dance movie with tricky plot, twisted script, love games and great ending. I first saw the prequel of “Step Up” film about two years ago which stars some of the best rising Hollywood actors of this generation. The first film has touching moments and hyper-active adrenalin rush dance performances. I love it and would love to watch it again just like the first time I watched it from a pirated DVD disc.
But last night, I happen to grab the recopied VCD from my cousin who hacked it in the internet. No, sorry, he just downloaded it from a legal downloading website. Anyway, Andy is a tough girl who can dance as if it’s just the air that she breathes (meaning she’s a born dancer). I realize that if you were born and destined to express your gifts with less-pretense, you can do something stunning without hardship. It flows naturally like water in the river. When she was young, her mom died but left her with relevant words which gave her a purpose to pursue her passion. “Don’t give up, just be yourself coz life is too short to be somebody else”, her mom clearly said. She knew that dancing would be her destiny. Andy grew up in the care of her mom’s bestfriend who was an Afro-American woman. But her involvement in a reckless group of street dancers (composed mostly of black Americans) in their neighborhood, creates public disturbances through their street dancing that made her guardian decide to send her away to her relatives in Texas. It was gainst her will since she considered her groupmates as her family. That night she ran away from home and look for a place to stay. The main character of “Step Up 1” that showed up as his relative of sort, convinced her to audition for a dance scholarship in a prestigious school nearby if she defeats him in a dance contest that night in the club where she loves to hang out. Unfortunately, she lost and was is obligated to follow the agreement. Luckily, she passed the entrance test but the school director wanted her to get rid of her street dancing moves and study classical dance (mostly ballet) which proved to be a hard choice for her part. The school director’s younger brother who was skilled dancer and good-looking guy fell in love for her.
Let’s skip the story: Andy got close to the cute and famous guy in the campus who happen to like her secretly. But she avoided him big time. Until they were fated to get close when the guy wanted to please Andy by forming their own “crew” or dance group in the school when she was kicked out of her old dance crew. Her busy schedule took a strain with her friendship to her old groupmates. Her love interest guy risked his reputation to get close to her and impressed her by organizing their own group of street dancers. Their group was composed of unknown, geeks and unpopular students in the school. The school director hates street dancing and is very strict with his students.
When their new group of dancers tried to perform in a huge gathering of street dancers, they were ridiculed, bullied by Andy’s old dancemates who happens to be the defending champions in the street dancing. They tried to join in the competition but their group was not accepted and rejected.
The rejection they experienced motivated their group to pursue their goal of beating the overconfident old groupmates of Andy through dancing who call themselves 410. But Andy’s old groupmates didn’t like the idea of a new group competing against them. When Andy’s group (called MSA crew) broadcast a music video with sensitive contents against 410 in youtube.com, the conflict heated up.
One day, everybody was shock to see that their school’s rehearsal hall was vandalized by 410. Andy admitted all the blame and cause of the conflict in front of the school director just to save her friends from being expelled in school. That was the end for their hardwork to join in the street dancing competition and MSA Crew was no more with Andy’s expulsion from school.
Until the evening of the big fund-raising event in the school, Andy’s groupmates in the MSA Crew decided to leave and convince her in joining the finals of the street dancing that would also take place that same night. Andy wanted to give up her dreams and decided to leave for Kansas. But for the last moment, her guardian who finally understood Andy’s passion told her these words that changed her mind—“you we’re like you mom, you never give up your passion…I want you to go and do it for yourself”. “Yes thank you,…because I’ve always fought for people who believe in me”, Andy replied.
That evening, Andy spoke in front of the crowd that doesn’t want their presence in the club and hailed the stunning performance of 410. Andy’s old pals were always rude to their group and especially that night. “We’re here to dance and do our own thing. Dancing is supposed to be different people coming together no matter what races, color or dress you wear…we’re here to dance”, she emotionally said with courage. “So if 410 is the best but afraid to lose in the championship, the hell we care, we’re here because we want to dance in the streets”, she added. The crowd was touched by her strong words and Andy’s group headed to the streets where they we’re supposed to dance with freedom, no discrimination or restricting rules. The rain poured harder, they were wet but the crowd cheered at the top of their lungs because they finally understood what free dancing supposed to mean.
Their music was far far different from any of the competiting groups, their dance steps were unique and they dance not because they expected or aspire to win but to express their physical artistry, the rhythm and beat that made up their passion.
The school director saw how the crowd reacted and changed everything through Andy’s strong words. “That was different… see you in the class tomorrow”, he told Andy with a smile in his face. Who would disagree that they won that night? No one, even 410 knew their time is up and that MSA Crew played the game fair and square. Finally, Andy realized that she’s not a born loser after all. It only takes time to hold on until her dreams will come true. Her true friends will always be there for her… always.