Stomp the Yard (2007)

After the death of his brother, an expert street dancer goes to Georgia to attend Truth University. But his efforts to get an education and woo the girl he likes are sidelined when he joins... See full summary »

Director:

Sylvain White

Writers:

Robert Adetuyi (screenplay), Gregory Ramon Anderson (earlier screenplay) (as Gregory Anderson)

Stars:

Columbus Short, Meagan Good, Ne-Yo

9 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Columbus Short	...	DJ
Meagan Good	...	April
Ne-Yo	...	Rich Brown
Darrin Dewitt Henson	...	Grant (as Darrin Henson)
Brian White	...	Sylvester
Laz Alonso	...	Zeke
Valarie Pettiford	...	Jackie
Jermaine Williams	...	Noel
Allan Louis	...	Dr. Palmer
Harry Lennix	...	Nate
Chris Brown	...	Duron
Oliver Ryan Best	...	Easy
Duain Richmond	...	Mark (as Richmond Duain Martyn)
Justin Hires	...	Byron
Sahr Ngaujah	...	Harold

Storyline

After the death of his brother, an expert street dancer goes to Georgia to attend Truth University. But his efforts to get an education and woo the girl he likes are sidelined when he joins in his fraternity's effort to win a step dancing competition.

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Plot Keywords:

death | dancer | competition | fraternity | atlanta georgia | 

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Taglines:

A kid from the streets. A team with some heat.

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Genres:

Drama | Music | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for a scene of violence, some sexual material and language

Details

Official Sites:

Gaumont Columbia Tristar [France] Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 January 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Steppin'

Filming Locations:

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$14,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$25,876,318, 14 January 2007, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$61,356,221

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$75,511,123

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rainforest Films

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

During filming and practices they actually kept both "fraternities" (Mu Gamma and Theta Nu) apart at all times so the routines would be a secret and so the actors could develop a strong sense of competition.

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Goofs

When DJ nearly runs April over with the lawnmower she removes an ear-bud from her right ear to hear him over her iPod. Depending on the angle she'll either have both, one, or none of the ear-buds in.

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Quotes

Rich Brown: Man, give me my damn hat.

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Connections

Referenced in Daddy's Home (2015)

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Soundtracks

Storm
Written by Cut Chemist (as L. McFadden), Edan (as E. Portnoy), Mr. Lif (as J. Hayes),
Eric B. (as Eric Barrier), 'Rakim (I)' (as William Griffin)
Performed by Cut Chemist (as Cut Chemist) featuring Edan & Mr. Lif
Published by Upper Cut Music (ASCAP)/Big Nose Productions (SESAC)/Virtua Stab (SESAC)/Universal Songs of Polygram Inc. (BMI)
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records
By Arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing
Contains a sample of "Paid In Full"
Written by Eric B. (as Eric Barrier) & 'Rakim (I)' (as William Griffin)
Performed by Eric B. & Rakim (as Eric B. and Rakim)
Published by Universal Songs of Polygram International Inc./Robert Hill Music (BMI)
Courtesy of The Island Def Jam Music Group
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

Dance 10, Story 4

STOMP THE YARD comes as a pleasant surprise to those of us who have yet to be introduced to 'stepping' - a sport/dance form that is not break dancing, not hip-hop, not modern dance, not clogging, not ballet, but instead is an exhilarating display of rhythm, physical dexterity, and creative choreography that makes this little film well worth watching.

The story is minimal and hackneyed and serves basically as an outline for the dance performances. DJ (the enormously talented dancer/actor Columbus Short) is sent from Los Angeles to Atlanta's Truth University after his conviction for street brawling, a fight in which his brother (Chris Brown) was killed. Once on campus DJ is works for his uncle as a gardener and is soon courted for his step dance skills by two rival fraternities. One fraternity gains DJ's attention and he pledges. Of course there is the requisite love conflict (the beautiful Meagan Good as April), who just happens to be the girlfriend of the rival fraternity step leader (Darrin Henson), and the usual undercurrent of familial dichotomies between DJ's humble background and April's influential father bring the tension to the front: the result is DJ's triumphant performance in the annual stepping competition between the two fraternities. The ending is predictable but sensitive and with a message.

The real star of the film is the magnificently choreographed and executed dancing, performed by the actual cast members. Director Sylvain White and his choreographers center their attention on the big sequences and the result is very fine entertainment. In addition to the gifted Columbus Short and Darrin Henson the cast includes such fine actor/dancers as Brian J. White, Ne-Yo, Laz Alonzo, Oliver Ryan Best, Richmond Duain Martyn, Justin Hires, and many others. It is difficult to resist the excitement of the commitment of this fine cast to the introduction of step dancing to the public at large. So much talent! Grady Harp