This is a candid and interesting DVD about Jennifer Dell and her dance students. Jennifer is a dancer who opened a dance studio called “The Pulse” in 2004 in Bedford Hills, New York. She wanted more security as she found herself unemployed between dancing and acting jobs so she decided to become a teacher. Each year more than five hundred students sign up to take her classes. These are teen girls who have strong emotions and it shows in the performances and in their frustrations.
The behind-the-scenes pressures are caught on screen as Jennifer strives for artistic excellence and her husband, good with numbers, worries about their revenue goal and earning a living. The stress of the students is prominent in the DVD as we see them struggle with dances, cry, become angry, and sometimes blame their teacher, Jennifer, for their unhappiness. She challenges them to utilize these feelings in their dance numbers. We also see the improvements as one performance is pretty bad but by the film’s end they do an excellent job and stay in unison.
Parents should consult the content listings below. There are a few strong words uttered, several by the girls, who are caught in candid moments and many times they are displaying their bubbling emotions. Many of them say, “OMG” a lot and most often when they are either excited or amazed or frustrated. We see the stress of this program from the time of registration and throughout the months of September to the following May, and we see the bonding of many of the girls as well.
The behind-the-scenes focus is honest, a bit raw, but real. Dance students and teen girls will particularly enjoy this DVD. We are pleased to award “5,6,7,8” our Dove “Family-Approved” Seal for ages twelve plus. There are some great musical numbers included in this DVD and you just might find yourself tapping your toes as you watch!
