Step

"We make music with our bodies. That's some sick stuff." Blessin Giraldo

As an early member/founder of the Step program at The Baltimore Leadership for Young Women charter school, and at an early time in the program, Blessin can be forgiven for not yet understanding the profound effect step dancing will have on her life and those who touch it. Step is a classic example of an inspirational documentary that stays within good taste and history.

Although the rise of the impoverished but fortunate young girls is the stuff of stories told many times, this doc seems to be as fresh as the dancing that serves as the girls' catalyst for achievement in school and in applying for college. Paula Dofat, the school's academic adviser, becomes the real hero as she fights for the young black women's right to enter the college race with even odds.

Some dramatic contribution is provided by the girls' mothers, who often are fighting their own demons like unhelpful loves or deep suspicion about the whole affair, since more than one mom has never gone to an academic high school, much less applied to college. Tayla Solomon, a blunt achiever, successfully maneuvers her overbearing but loving corrections officer mother, who eventually has a salutary effect on all the girls.

The chief girl for the camera and the story, Blessin, is well chosen: Her good looks might remind you of Beyonce, her talent for step dancing is divine-given, and her struggle with mother and academics make her relatable to teens in need of her inspiration.

Director Amanda Lipitz, whose mother founded the school, uses the camera to tell the story in front and behind the dance. She never overdoes the cinematic eye candy of the dance; in fact she makes you want more as the girls show how dynamic and involving the beat and the movement are.

For sure, you will believe that education like this is the salvation of underprivileged kids, and it is. But funding it, that's another story, at least until we adults grow up from fantasies such as Mexican walls and tax cuts for the rich. In the meantime, see one of the best documentaries in the last few years and be guiltlessly inspired.

Greetings again from the darkness. Director Amanda Lipitz proves that a documentary can be both inspiring and a bit sad. She takes us inside the Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women and introduces us to the senior girls on the Step dance squad known as the "Lethal Ladies". The school was founded in 2009 with the goal of sending every student to college, in spite of the challenges and barriers faced in this inner city community. This is the school's first senior class, and everyone – students, teachers, parents, administration – is on edge.

Emotions overflow throughout the film. The normal roller coaster ride that accompanies high school girls is somehow magnified when the pressures of becoming the first one in the family to attend college collide with such harsh realities as poor grades, no food in the fridge, no power in the home, and inconsistent support from parental units. There is also the goal of winning the year-end Step competition against schools that have a more successful track record, and who likely don't face the extremes of Baltimore street violence and poverty that is normal for these girls each day.

Ms. Lipitz' film, a Sundance award winner, never backs away from the emotion of the moment and yet still manages to maintain the long-game perspective of trying to get each of these students graduated and accepted into college. She dives into the home lives of a few of these girls and though all of the parents want the best for the kids, it's quite obvious that the type of home support and structure varies widely even amongst these few we follow.

The real beauty of this environment is that the school provides structure, guidance and support all along the way. The Step coach pushes them hard daily towards being the best they can be going into the competition. The girls also push themselves and each other, and overcome some personality conflicts, all for the sake of a stronger team. The school principal has one-on-one meetings to light a fire when necessary, and you've likely never seen a more dedicated high school college counselor who doles out hugs and motivation in whatever dosage is necessary.

The key message here is that it takes a combination of inner-strength and drive, and a support system of family, teachers, coaches, administrators and friends, for kids to have a chance at finding a way to succeed at life … whether that's at Johns Hopkins or a local community college program. This is a special film with a real-world case study of students looking for a way up, and of those looking to provide the necessary boost.

It would be wonderful if every Black Female teen and tween could see Step (2017) because it shows how belief in yourself, diligence, and determination really helps you realize your dreams. Go ahead and envision going to University because there are people out there, including your Stepping Team Sisters that want you to succeed. The young Black Women in this movie are battling and winning their own private wars against poverty, early pregnancy, self-doubt, and substance abuse, by using Sisterhood, Belief in God, and Hard Work – it was a Joy to watch Young Women Win in Life!

I was part of a group that was invited to a free screening of this movie today. To be honest, I was expecting a film that focused more on their dance skills and performances. However--but certainly not disappointingly so--the movie primarily explored the lives of the young members of the dance team as they fought to make it out of Baltimore.

The audience definitely felt a connection with each of the girls, and when we had a chance to meet the girls afterwards and talk to a few of them about their plans for the future, we were even more impressed by the dreams they're currently pursuing.

As a former university instructor, I wish that all of my freshman students were as motivated as these young ladies. Hopefully, their stories will continue to inspire other young people. Keep on keeping on, ladies!

Not a bad film at all.

It's called Step. I assumed that I would get more of a sport competition story. The movie is about an specialized all girls school in Baltimore, with the goal to get these girls into college, which the documentary proved they succeeded at. Step mostly focus on three girls in the high school who are also on the step team, and what their lives are about. Interestingly enough, I'm convince that only one of the girls truly needed the step team for the focus to get a good education and moved on to college, while the other two could put it on their college application so it looked better.

Either way, the documentary did do it's purpose. It inspirational and uplifting how these young woman have put such a positive spin of what could have been a negative spiral. It's a good ad for the great this High School is doing, and because of that it is a great sports story about the underdog done good.

Watch it and it will put you in a positive mood.