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Hope Dances is a sweet family movie that celebrates the unabashed dreams of youth and the audacity to pursue them.

Young Hope wants one day to become a professional ballet dancer. On the way to that goal, she hopes to play the lead role in the yearly production of the Nutcracker. But Hope faces obstacles. Her father would rather she pour her physical energies into baseball, at which she also excels. Her mother Is adamant about Hope's prospects in ballet, pushing her to work harder and take her studies more seriously. The film also deals with friendship, jealousy, classroom rivalry and inspiration in the form of a real-life role model.

Almost incidentally, Hope Dances also celebrates the natural beauty of Santa Cruz, from the quaint streets to the boardwalk, from the coastal cliffs to the forest. The cinematography is wonderful; some of the studio scenes are almost magical.

The energetic cast is excellent. The young actors acquit themselves especially well. If you're looking for positive, uplifting family entertainment that is also a visual treat, Hope Dances fills the bill.

Hope Dances is a sweet and beautifully shot film about the emotions of an adolescent girl growing up with a dream and trying to navigate her way with many pressures. The movie has a big heart and lets us know that by going inside we can find the answers to our passions and purpose. We see that parents can have conflicts too and may confuse their own dreams with those of their children. Many of the scenes are breathtakingly beautiful as we get a glimpse into the scenic backdrop of the Santa Cruz, California area. It is refreshing to see movie for kids with a positive message.

All around great movie. I did not expect this fine of a production. No reservations on acting, all were great, you really get pulled into this movie and what Hope does for her Friend will bring you to tears.I recommend this feature to all as it will bring out the best in all of us. I his movie is a real eye opener. It will benefit the entire family, even tough ol dad.

I first watched Hope Dances with my 8 year old daughter, and then again with her 13 year old sister. They both loved it. This movie was a very pleasant surprise. It is beautifully filmed, with many gorgeous shots of coastal California woven into the story.

The story is about a young girl working to fulfill her dreams, and the conflict arises as her parents pull her in different directions, tragedy strikes someone dear to her, and she faces rejection along her path.

I really appreciated how the movie avoids stereotyping the characters. There is no bullying mean girl, oafish buddy, or evil adult authority figure. When things get difficult for Hope, she learns to seek advice and comfort from a range of trusted advisers including her parents, grandmother, teachers, a mentor, and friends. She needs different kinds of help at different times and wisely seeks a broad base of support to get her through. Characters are shown taking time and making compromises to work through disagreements.

The value of hard work is strongly emphasized here. Hope does not possess magical hidden talent (a tired trope in many movies meant to inspire), but puts in the work to distinguish herself from the many other talented girls she encounters. I would highly recommend this movie for children of any age, but especially for girls from 8-14.

This lovely film follows a girl through a challenging time in her life. It is a statement about dedication, commitment, loyalty and character. I especially enjoyed the relationships between the girls in ballet class and between Hope and her two very different parents. They all delivered stellar performances. Everyone in the family will get something out of this touching story. A real gem!