(Rated PG-13) Can you say “Fame! I wanna live forever”, in the year 2000? Instead of modern dance, this time a story about the competition among dancers to earn spots in the American Ballet Company. The words devotion, sacrifice, and Olympic training come to mind. So does the word insanity, as we watch these body conscious people over exert themselves to do the ultimate, in this ultra-selective dance company. The desire is so high it pits some against others but mainly the struggles are internal with love, trauma, friendship and well, you get the gist. The actors were chosen for their dance ability so you guessed it — they are better on their toes than with their dialog, although Ethan Steifel plays the lead dancer Cooper Neilson with passion. Besides, you gotta love a Harley Davidson riding dancer. Tony Winner Nicholas Hytner (“The Madness of King Goerge” and “The Crucible”) directs this story with a group of pirouetting actors Amanda Schull, Zoe Saldana, Susan May Pratt, and of all people, Peter Gallagher as Jonathan Reeves the artistic director of the ensemble. If you are a dancer it’s a must see since you can relate. If you aren’t a dancer, the moves are fabulous and painstakingly performed, but if you want to see a story in a movie, fuggedaboutit!
