Get a Kleenex out and clear some space to bust a move. A trailer has been released for Amanda Lipitz’s “Step,” and it’s equally likely to bring you to tears as it is to inspire some dancing in your living room.
The doc, which made its world premiere at Sundance in January, follows three senior girls — Blessin Giraldo, Cori Grainger, and Tayla Solomon — and the rest of their dance team as they make their way through the overwhelming, complicated, and emotional college application process. Founded by Lipitz’s mother, Brenda Brown Rever, The Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women opened in 2009 with the goal of sending every one of its students to college.
“We’re in Baltimore city. They come home to no lights, not having food in the refrigerator, not having a refrigerator at all. But when they come to step practice all of those things are erased out of their minds so they can make it through life,” one of the characters says in the trailer. These girls are fighting against all the odds to get a postsecondary education. While they may struggle in other areas of life, the girls soar in step. “We’re making music with our bodies,” Blessin explains.
Fox Searchlight doesn’t distribute many docs, but they reportedly shelled out more than $4 million dollars for “Step,” a strong indication that they see great potential in the film. They also secured the remake rights to “Step,” so a narrative version of the doc may be on the way.
Lipitz is a Broadway producer whose credits include “The Humans” and the “Legally Blonde” musical. “Step” marks her directorial debut. She took home the Special Jury Award for Inspirational Filmmaking at Sundance, where she brought along 19 members of the step team. “I couldn’t ever go without them,” Lipitz told the Baltimore Sun. “It was their movie.”
The trailer makes it clear just how much step means to the girls. “I’m kind an introvert. I’m just everything that step is not. I’m not very dramatic. But all those parts come out of me when I step,” says Cori.
“Step” opens in theaters August 4. Check out the inspiring trailer to meet these incredible girls and watch them make music with their bodies.
