Watch STEP

The movie STEP, released in 2017, is a documentary film about a team of young girls from an all-girls high school in Baltimore, Maryland who are part of a step dance team. The team, called the Lethal Ladies of the Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women, is composed of Blessin Giraldo, Tayla Solomon, Cori Grainger, Gari McIntyre, and their captain, Shakira "Sherrie" Smith.

The documentary follows the girls during their senior year of high school as they strive to win a step dance championship and pursue their dreams of attending college. The film begins with the girls starting their senior year and introducing themselves, discussing their dreams and aspirations. The audience is quickly introduced to their passion for step dancing, from its roots in African American culture to how it has shaped their lives.

Throughout the film, the audience watches as the girls balance the demands of schoolwork, SAT prep, college applications, and step practice. The girls face a multitude of challenges, including poverty, family issues, and social injustices. Despite these obstacles, the girls work together to achieve their goals and support one another emotionally.

We witness the ups and downs of their intense practice schedule and the many competitions they attend. The team's coach, Gari McIntyre, plays a critical role in their success, not only as a step coach but also as a mentor and role model. She is a calming presence who keeps the team focused and inspires them to strive for excellence.

One of the main protagonists of the documentary is Blessin Giraldo. Her journey is shown, one of a girl who struggles with low self-esteem and conflicts at home with her mother's drug addiction. Her desire to attend college drives her to work hard and commit to her team's goals. Her college aspirations lead her to participate in a summer program that offers full scholarship opportunities, and eventually, the audience witnesses great triumph for Giraldo paralleled with loss.

The film also explores the importance of sisterhood and support among the girls. The audience witnesses the way that they encourage and uplift one another, but also the way that they push each other to be better dancers and individuals. These young women share more than just their dancing passion, and this is what makes the audience root for them and their ambitions.

Overall, the movie STEP offers a candid, intimate look into the lives of young women of color as they strive to succeed and carve their path in life through step dancing. The documentary offers a glimpse into a world unfamiliar to many of us, one of intersectional identity and passion. This film is not just about step dancing but offers insights on the challenges and joys of adolescence while giving a voice to the unheard.

STEP is a 2017 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 23 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.0 and a MetaScore of 81.