White, Ne-Yo, Laz Alonzo, Oliver Ryan Best, Richmond Duain Martyn, Justin Hires, and many others. In addition to the gifted Columbus Short and Darrin Henson the cast includes such fine actor/dancers as Brian J. Director Sylvain White and his choreographers center their attention on the big sequences and the result is very fine entertainment. The real star of the film is the magnificently choreographed and executed dancing, performed by the actual cast members. The ending is predictable but sensitive and with a message. 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. One fraternity gains DJ's attention and he pledges. 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. 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. The story is minimal and hackneyed and serves basically as an outline for the dance performances. "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. I appreciate "Stomp the Yard" for trying to show a well-known culture in a respected community, but it might not go as deep as you might expect it to be other than that it's a good movie. It may not be representative of what happens on Black campuses or inside Black fraternities but it offers nuance about the campus stepping culture-new school versus old school, traditional versus styles influenced by hip hop and break dancing. Though the electric dance routines give this movie its vibrant energy. This scene really gave me a sense of pride when I saw it, and a respect for the leaders of the past. Some of the people shown? Esther Rolle, Rosa Parks, Coretta Scott King, and Martin Luther King, to name a few. What was also likable and quite inspiring, is a scene in which the main character visits an honorary hall, filled with various pictures of national African-American figures affiliated with many well-known fraternities. for young and old alike! There is so much talent in our young African Americans but at times directed in the wrong direction. Very entertaining, and the dancing was remarkable, but it had a deep inner message to go with it. They both provided some comical relief and some pretty good acting I thought that "Stomp the Yard" was a good movie. Against the odds, D.J.-young, talented and arrogant- is drawn into the competition of his life.Īfter watching this you will come to fine out that some musicians such as Ne-Yo and Chris Brown can be actors too. He soon finds a way to mesh his talents with his new environment, while also pursuing a new love interest, April (Meagan Goode). takes classes and works at Truth, he is drawn to the culture of stepping at Black fraternities. Eventually, he is sent by his mother to live in Atlanta with his uncle and aunt, who have helped him enroll in the historically Black Truth University. He plays the part of D.J., a teen-age dancer who battles competitively in Los Angeles until tragedy strikes. Short is an above-average talent who possesses the kind of charm and screen presence that could make him a leading man for his generation. Though he has many dancing and television credits on his resume, this film marks his first turn in a lead film role-and it is the perfect opportunity. The big standout in the film is of course Columbus Short as a lead actor. "The story might be predictable.but the stomping is amazing.
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