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This drama about an underdog-understudy forced to clean studios has real ballet dancers but the story is less realistic than Angelina Ballerina

This saccharine drama pivots around aspiring ballerina Sam (Juliet Doherty), who we meet as she is about to go on stage to dance in a production of The Red Shoes (presumably a version of the Matthew Bourne ballet-drama). But in one of those dramatic twists of fate that would set even the Brothers Grimm’s eyes rolling, her sister Annie calls to wish her good luck seconds before she takes the stage – and then promptly gets hit and killed by a passing car.

Obviously, this rather ruins Sam’s big night, and she gives up on dancing altogether. She subsequently falls in with a teenage tearaway named Eve (Lauren Esposito) who, like Sam, is a young American living in Australia for reasons left inexplicably vague. A sequence of...

"You have suffered a great loss... that's not the only story you have to tell." Screen has unveiled the official trailer for a dance movie titled The Red Shoes: Next Step, arriving in Australian cinemas this April. The title seems to be a reference to Powell & Pressburger's classic ballet film The Red Shoes (from 1948), though that seems to be an unofficial relation – it's not a real sequel. When Sam's world begins to spiral following an unexpected life-changing event, she must confront her emotions and her fears to reignite her deep love for dance. From the creators of the family fantasy adventure The Legend of the Five, The Red Shoes: Next Step stars dual gold dance medallist, American-Australian dancer Juliet Doherty in the lead role of Sam Cavanaugh, and The Conjuring 2's Lauren Esposito as her rebellious best friend Eve. Doherty danced in the hugely successful B.I.G. Ballet Galas recently.

Directors Joanne Samuel and Jesse A’hern have commenced production in Sydney on a coming-of-age dance feature starring Juliet Doherty and Lauren Esposito.

The Red Shoes: Next Step follows dancer Sam Cavanaugh (Doherty), who is about to dance the lead in ‘The Red Shoes’ ballet when her older sister Annie, a brilliant dancer, is struck by a car while on Facetime with her.

Guilt-ridden, Sam quits the academy, returns to high school, runs wild with Eve (Esposito), and lands herself in community service, which requires her to clean studios at the academy, providing a constant reminder of the tragedy.

When Gracie, ‘The Red Shoes’ principal, is injured, Sam is pressed by her ballet teacher Ms Harlow to take over the role and dance with Ben, an old friend, long-time crush, and renowned dancer.

Supporting cast include professional ballet dancer Joel Burke, Carolyn Bock, Paris Opera Ballet dancer Primrose Kern, Meitta White,...