Love at First Dance

"Love, their surrounded by it, their in it. Once we focus on true love then everything falls into place."-Hope.

Hope is a dance instructor struggling with the decision to apply for an assistant choreographer position in London or get a loan and buy the dance studio she teaches at. In walks wealthy investment advisor, Eric Gunderson...only they have already met. They got off to a bad start, or had a meet cute depending on your perspective, in which Mr. Gunderson was throwing his name recognition around in order to get backstage at a play. As it turns out Eric is also in a quandary trying to choose between finance and theatre (he has a dual major from college...one for him and one for his dad).

"Are you trying to Mr. Miyagi me?"-Eric

As it turns out, Eric is marrying his business partner and can't dance. Hope, the couple's dance instructor, is having to do some special lessons with a Eric alone and is being pushed to do some out of the box lessons.

"How we are perceived is how the business is perceived."-Adrianna

Through the wedding planning it becomes more and more obvious that Eric and his fiancé Adrianna like and want different things for their future.

I love the romantic piece that Hope choreographs for her audition, it was a beautiful touch.

"I wish I could take the time to do this every day. Walk the Brooklyn bridge."-Eric

Sweet romantic love story...set in New York City. Great chemistry between our leads makes this a must watch in the Hallmark catalog.

Love and dancing...what more do you need?

While Becca Tobin never jumps off the screen, there is still chemistry between her and Niall Matter. I haven't paid enough attention to Matter in the past, but I realized he is a solid half of the ... Father Christmas set of movies. And he does a great job in this one. You could see Eric grow in confidence as the story goes on, and underneath it he's falling in love.

Tobin is a steady presence throughout. I couldn't decide if she was a little too reserved, or just right, but you can understand easily how Eric could fall in love with Hope.

The third part of the triangle, Adriana, is no villain and compared to her Hope is downright giddy, but Adriana is supposed to be an unemotional rock.

Supporting characters are adequate if not great

I think the outline of the story could have been written by the viewer as soon as the background was established. These movies don't necessarily need surprises. But that means that one of the things this one had to do right was put the leads together as much as possible, and it did.

I usually don't like musical interludes that are often just there to avoid writing more plot, but in this case it was a nice dance interlude.

Because Tobin did well in this movie especially the other lead their chemistry was magical with the added hallmark cliches

Hallmark movies tend to be formulaic. Blonde heroine, looking for love, smiling frantically at strong, handsome hero..She flutters her eyelashes just often enough, he remains appealing, but unattainable, she giggles and smiles frantically, he softens, and in the end, all is resolved with a kiss and a staged, contrived, silly-looking Hallmark wedding.

This movie defies all those cliches. .and therein lies its appeal. Both the heroine and the male lead have their own internal conflicts..each one has an ethic about their work and commitments, yet each one with dream that needs manifesting and deserves fulfilling. The conflict in both characters draws them to one another, ..yet there is nothing syrupy or typical in their attraction.

Of course, it's a Hallmark movie..so we know they will end up in each others arms..but the road they take to arrive there is so much more serious and mature than almost any Hallmark movie has dared to present. This film actually defies the typical route Hallmark movies take. For one, each of the leads is a fully mature, successful adult with a responsible work identity and obligations. Each has a personal goal, but obstacles that prevent an easy solution. In their relationship with one another, they find encouragement, and support for those dreams and goals..and this growing support between two people is portrayed in a mature and serious manner. There is no flirting, no silliness, no manipulation of one another.

The additional appeal in this film is the third lead, the 'other woman', who is portrayed as a serious, thoughtful, mature character. Her beauty and her deep, comforting voice make her all the more a realistic character and give her a sympathetic appeal.

This is a movie worth watching twice..There is much to enjoy (including some beautiful professional ballet segments) and, more importantly, much to learn about how to move through a life struggle and find ones dream and passion manifested.

When I read the title, I expected something more cheesy but this is pretty Gouda!

This movie takes place in an actualcity where city life isn't as demonized. I appreciate that since I live in a big city and it's nice to know there might still be Hallmark magic left here.

The characters feel more like real people, both at a career fork in the road, her finding out whether she should do or teach, him following in his family foot steps or an artistic pursuit. So many people can relate to that.

The dancing is so fun to watch, it's like Dirty Dancing: Hallmark Nights. And the music is from artists I've heard of, shocking I know!

Overall, I'd totally watch this again.