Dance with Me

After his mother's death, Rafael comes from Cuba to Houston to find the man who runs a dance studio there. At the studio is Ruby, preparing for competition, technically flawless and never once listening to the music. What Rafael brings is not steps but a sense of rhythm. The best thing here is that the dancing is actually dancing. The choreography is not hidden by cutting, and bodies are seen full length. Chayanne and Vanessa Williams lead, with Kris Kristofferson as the studio owner. Randa Haines directed. The Cuban community and Latin music are used as the engine of the story rather than as decoration. Its flaw is that the script is entirely predictable, the competition formula is applied to the letter, and the emotional knots come undone easily. Outside the dancing, the film is ordinary in every respect. Who it is for: viewers who like dance films and Latin music. Who it is not for: anyone looking for an original story.