Save the Last Dance (2001)

Save the Last Dance is a 2001 romantic drama dance film produced by MTV Films, directed by Thomas Carter and released by Paramount Pictures on January 12, 2001. The film stars Julia Stiles and Sean Patrick Thomas as a teenage interracial couple in Chicago who work together to help the main character, played by Stiles, train for a dance audition. A direct-to-video sequel, Save the Last Dance 2, was released in 2006.

As a promising dancer in high school, Sara Johnson (Julia Stiles) hoped to be admitted to study at Juilliard and invited her mother to attend the audition. Sara failed in this first attempt, then was horrified to discover that her mother had been involved in a fatal car crash in her haste to arrive at the tryout. Wracked with guilt, Sara gives up on ballet entirely. After her mother's death, Sara moves in with her estranged father.At her new high school,Sara is one of only a handful of white girls, but is befriended quickly by Chenille a single teen mother who is having relationship problems. Chenille invites Sara to a dance club called STEPPS, where she has her first experience dancing to hip hop rhythms. Derek, Chenille's brother- a promising student with dreams of going to Georgetown Medical School-dedicates himself to helping her develop her talent. As they become closer, Derek takes a reluctant Sara to the Joffrey Ballet and afterwards, Sara confides in him all about her mother and her dreams. Later, they return to the club and amaze others with their dancing. Having already achieved his dream of being accepted at Georgetown, Derek convinces her that she needs to do what she wants, and to follow her dreams, but she needs to get back into dance shape. At school, Nikki, Derek´s ex-girlfriend picks a fight with Sara. Chenille tells Sara that she didn't approve of the fight but can understand the bitterness since Sara, a white girl, is seen as stealing one of the few good black men in the school. Because of this, Sara breaks up with Derek. Scenes of Sara's audition for Juilliard, in which Derek arrives at a crucial moment to offer encouragement.The film closes as Derek, Sara, Chenille and their friends join at STEPPS to celebrate Sara's successful audition.