Historically, Street Dance films haven’t been viewed in the best light, particularly in comparison to contemporary dance films of the 80s onwards. Most see a combination of ballet and street when a street dancer is forced to study ballet in order to make their way in life... Then becomes romantically linked to their teacher. So, with the basis of StreetDance 3D being, well, pretty much that, how is it going to change the film world’s opinion of street dance? And, more importantly perhaps, how is it going to fare up to the already established ‘Step Up’’s next instalment, coming to screens in August.
StreetDance 3D is the first British film of its kind and, what’s more, is “the first British movie to be shot in 3D”. Being a British based movie instantly sets StreetDance apart from its American counterparts. Street dance has been far further below the surface in the UK than in the United States but, as we all know, has experienced a surge in popularity over the last 12 months. The reason? Diversity’s shock win on last year’s ‘Britain’s Got Talent’.
Milking what they can from pop culture’s interest in street dance, the makers of StreetDance 3D have hired the cream of the crop to cameo in the movie. Diversity top off the list, followed closely by their fellow BGT competitors Flawless and previous winner, George Sampson, who stars as Eddie. “I think we [all] have already helped to make street dance more widely acceptable,” says Diversity’s Ashley Banjo, “but I’m hoping the film with further enhance the standing of street dance in the UK and globally.” Combining the existing equation for street dance films with established dance personalities will, in Diversity’s opinion, make the film more appealing to the UK audience.
Step Up, on the other hand, isn’t using any established names to rake in the cash, except their own. Since the release of Step Up in 2006, American street dance film makers have upped their game, taking the premise of laughable films such as Save The Last Dance and You Got Served and bringing something worth watching to the table. So successful was the first film (and Channing Tatum) that Step Up 2: The Streets was released two years later. The second instalment was more globally successful than its predecessor due to a better plot and a stunning group routine in the rain. The Step Up franchise has now found itself at the forefront of Street Dance in film being the first film most people think of in the genre. So does StreetDance 3D stand a chance at getting ahead of this established saga? “I don't think it's a case of competing with the US counterparts,” continues Ashley, “The Americans have been doing it for years, and it's great that Britain is now getting involved.”
Step Up 3D, released on August 6th, is clearly going to be even bigger than the Step Up film. The two minute trailer for the film showcases a bigger competition, bigger dance routines and better crews. And, in true Step Up style, brings a friendly face back from the past. Step Up 2: The Streets’ shock star, Moose (Adam Sevani), a young, curly haired weed with some serious moves, returns for the latest in the series. Unfortunately, though, the trailer looks to be a little too similar to that of its UK counterpart.
As far as soundtracks are concerned, Step Up has always been ahead of the game. Take Flo Rida’s ‘Low’ for example, pretty much made famous by Step Up 2. This time around, artists such as Trey Songz, Sean Paul and Flo Rida once more appear on the Atlantic released soundtrack. Universal, on the other hand, seem to have missed the point for out British soundtrack, using tracks from artists such as Pixie Lott and Cheryl Cole. Not that that’s to say great dancers can’t dance to anything, of course.
StreetDance 3D may be getting the head start in the battle, with its release date more than two months before that of Step Up, but it’s currently looking like it’s going to fall behind. With Street Dance films being based in the States before now, the well-spoken British (and, even, northern) accents in StreetDance 3D are a little hard to swallow, even for the two minute trailer. Routine’s by our famed acts such as Diversity and Flawess are challenged and improved upon for Step Up 3, using light effects (and more water) to really make the most of the 3D effect.
Though it will be interesting to see whether we have actually managed to pull it out of the bag in the end, it looks as though, come August, the British effort will have been long forgotten in favour of Step Up 3D.
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