Dance with Me (1998)

User Rating:

5.0/10   

Director:

Randa Haines

Writer (WGA):

Daryl Matthews (written by)

Release Date:

21 August 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | Music

Tagline:

In the dance of life, love can happen in a heartbeat.

Plot:

Young Cuban Rafael just buried his mother, and comes to Houston to meet his father John for the first time...

Plot Keywords:

Dance | Beautiful Woman | Dance Contest | Ballroom Dancing

Awards:

5 nominations

Cast

Vanessa Williams	...	Ruby Sinclair
Chayanne	...	Rafael Infante
Kris Kristofferson	...	John Burnett
Joan Plowright	...	Bea Johnson
Jane Krakowski	...	Patricia
Beth Grant	...	Lovejoy
Harry Groener	...	Michael
William Marquez	...	Stefano
Scott Paetty	...	Steve
Rick Valenzuela	...	Julian Marshall
Chaz Oswill	...	Peter
Liz Curtis	...	Kim
Bill Applebaum	...	Don Harrington
Angelo Pagan	...	Cuban Mailman
Victor Marcel	...	Fernando

Also Known As:

Shut Up and Dance (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

126 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:PG (certificate #35240) | Iceland:L | Canada:G (British Columbia/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | South Korea:12 | Argentina:Atp | France:U | Hong Kong:I | Norway:A | Peru:PT | Sweden:Btl | UK:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Dominican Republic

Company:

Ballroom Dancer

Goofs:

Continuity: After Rafael and Ruby come home from dancing and the sprinklers come on the first steps that Rafael take, puddles of water are already visible under his feet.

Quotes:

Rafael Infante: You need to talk to me?
Ruby Sinclair: I don't wonna be in love.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Na Tum Jaano Na Hum (2002)

Soundtrack:

Jibaro

Excellent dance film a throwback

The old dance films of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, and Gene Kelly, may have been a technical marvel, but they also understood that dancing was a form of communication, of things left unsaid. This film fits right in with that tradition, though of course it's using more modern dances, but I think Astaire would look at the chemistry between Chayanne and Williams when they're dancing, and approve. You can tell director Randa Haines is a fan of the dancing the way she lovingly photographs it, and gives all the dancers a chance to shine, especially during the long dance scene at the club. She's also the first director who really gives Williams a chance to cut loose and show her talent. I don't know much about Chayanne, but he's good too.

So the plot isn't much. Who watches musicals just for the plot? And actually, I liked how they handled certain aspects, like the dance competition and how Chayanne and Williams resolve their feelings for one another without even dancing together. The only real criticism I have is the movie is a little too long, but that's only a quibble.