There's an unwritten rule in the world of dancing: don't bring your style in our house. Styles clash, and when those in question are ballet and street, this unwritten rule becomes truer than ever.
The film StreetDance 3D attempts to break free of these self-imposed rules. By mixing elements of classical ballet and modern street dance, the movie's makers aim to send a message beyond art.
'I came up with the story of two worlds - the traditional British world represented by the classical dancers and The Royal Ballet, and modern Britain, represented by the street dancers,' says producer James Richardson. 'It was what came out of that culture clash that I thought would be exciting.'
Shot entirely in 3-D, StreetDance makes use of the technology to enter a new chapter in dance movie history: it's the world's first 3-D dance film - first released in France on May 19, earlier than Step Up 3D reached audiences in any country.
The film stars real-life professional dancers, including Britain's Got Talent stars George Sampson and dance crews Diversity and Flawless. Rounding out the production team are directors Max Giwa and Dania Pasquini, both rookies in the feature film industry, but with a wealth of experience in making music videos.
The story is set in modern-day London. It focuses on Carly (Nichola Burley), a street dancer who faces difficult changes in her dancing career. She, her charismatic boyfriend Jay (Ukweli Roach) and their dance crew reach the finals of the UK Street Dance Championships. But suddenly and with no explanation, Jay ends his relationship with Carly and the crew. Heartbroken, Carly struggles to prove to everybody, including herself, that she can lead her team.