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Tu, an ambitious young man from an underprivileged Auckland suburb, dreams of being a professional hip-hop dancer. When his father, a Sergeant in the New Zealand Army, issues an ultimatum - find a purpose in life by the end of the summer or enlist - Tu decides that dance is his way out. After being offered a chance to try out for K-Crew, a prestigious international dance group, Tu must juggle the pressures of his grueling job, his demanding father and turn his back on his South Auckland crew. Things become further complicated when he falls for Sasha, the girlfriend of K-Crew's malicious leader, Kane. Tu is devastated when he learns that the whole audition process has been a scam to steal the best moves from dancers across Auckland and create animosity within the other teams. In a final stance, Tu will unite his old crew and his new friends, to battle their way into nationals and face K-Crew in the finals.

Born to Dance

  • Official Selection BERLINALE - Generation 14Plus

  • Official Selection TIFF - Discovery

Production Status

Completed

Genre:

Dance


The Trailer:

Starring

  • Tia-Taharoa Maipi (Member of the 'Royal Family' World Hip Hop Champion)
  • Kherington Payne (Bravetown, Fame)
  • Stan Walker (the X-Factor New Zealand, Mt Zion)

Director

Tammy Davis (Ebony Society)

Producers

Daniel Story, Leanne Saunders and Jill Macnab

Choreographer: Parris Goebel (Step Up All In, Choreographer to Jennifer Lopez, 8-time Hip Hop World Champion)

  • "... special... electrifying... breathtaking... exhilarating... go and be blown away."
    - The NZ Herald
  • "... will leave you fizzing with unanticipated joy."
    - Metro Magazine
  • "...looks ready to resonate nearly anywhere..."
    - The Hollywood Reporter

Press

  • Film Review: ‘Born to Dance’
  • Berlin: Tammy Davis Talks Hip-Hop Dance Battles (Variety)
  • Kiwi BORN TO DANCE Steps Up (The Hollywood Reporter)
  • CMG Dances Worldwide (Screen Daily)
  • TIFF 2015: BORN TO DANCE review (Seventh Row)
  • BORN TO DANCE Review: Proof they know how to get down Down Under (Variety)
  • TIFF’15 Official Selection ‘Born to Dance’ Crushed ‘the Intern’ in New Zealand (Sydney’s Buzz)
  • BORN TO DANCE: TIFF Review (The Hollywood Reporter)
  • Born to Dance’s Stan Walker: International Star you need to know! (Variety)
  • TIFF Exclusive: Bust a Move with this clip from BORN TO DANCE (Indiewire)
  • Cinema Management Group launches European hub
  • L’Américain CMG ouvre une structure à Paris
  • CMG boards BORN TO DANCE
  • BORN TO DANCE begins Principal Photography
  • CMG prend les droits internationaux de BORN TO DANCE
  • BORN TO DANCE begins New Zealand shoot
  • Kherington Payne joins BORN TO DANCE cast

Official site

Official website

Australia/NZ Distribution

Vendetta Films

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