Genre: Drama
Director: Sylvain White
Cast: Columbus Short, Meagan Good, Ne-Yo (Shaffer Smith), Darrin Henson, Brian White, Laz Alonso, Valarie Pettiford, Harry Lennix, Chris Brown
RunTime: 1 hr 55 mins
Released By: Columbia TriStar
Rating: PG

Opening Day: 15 March 2007

Synopsis :

When DJ (Columbus Short), a troubled youth from Los Angeles, moves to Atlanta to attend Truth University, he discovers "stepping," the age-old style of dance traditionally done in African-American Fraternities, where teams demonstrate complex moves and create rhythmic sounds by using their bodies. DJ's raw talent and hip-hop inspired moves quickly place him at the center of a fierce rivalry between two fraternities, the winner of which will be determined in front of a sold-out arena at the annual stepping championships. But before he can help his teammates, he must battle his own demons and learn the true meaning of brotherhood.

Movie Review:

Hip Hop is cool.

But “Stomp the Yard” is not about hip hop. It’s about “stepping”.

But what in the world is “stepping”? Already losing interest? Don’t. Because “stepping” is way too cool to be ignored.

A form of dance that combines elements of military drill with contemporary jazz and hip hop moves, the dancers clap and slap on various parts of their body to produce a dance rhythm. Hyped up yet? There’s more to come.

Set in a black community, this film brings you more than the dance. You have the blossoming romance between the leads, the rivalry of an intruding third party, the betrayals, the guilt and you know, typical cinematic elements. Sounds boring? It’s not to be. Because there’s magic to be found in the typicalness, kudos to the cast.

Columbus Short shines as DJ, the schoolboy lost in life after a tragic accident before finding salvation in the form of April (Meagan Good) and not surprisingly, “stepping”. A gifted dancer (at least on-screen) and sporting a good physique, Columbus has the potential to break into the hip hop circuit. It is also highly probable that co-star Brian J. White will not be too far behind. Towering over Columbus, what he lacks in screen time when compared to Columbus, he makes it up in height and acting finesse. Other co-stars such as Allan Louis (as Dr Palmer, April’s father), Darrin Dewitt Henson (as Grant) and Laz Alonso (as Zeke) rounds up the supporting cast which gives this film a push beyond an average dance film.

Director Sylvain White makes a strong attempt to intersperse scenes of romance, rivalry and dance routines into the film, and it is a very good effort. In fact the film flows so smoothly that the tension for the competition never builds up, unfortunately. When the scene for the final competition arrives, the audience would probably be looking for a film closure than for the excitement. The crescendo never appear.

Nevertheless, the tracks that run through the film are fantastic. Topless, beefy hunks jogging up the mountain and viewing the imagery below will be way cool for some gals, while others will take delight in the final showdown when some audience might dance to the groove. The rest might relish in the visual feast of “stepping”, a dance that will take your breath away.

So move aside hip hop, “stepping” is the new dance. And unlike hip hop where percussions and attire compete for attention, it’s precision and team work here that are more crucial. Participants of “The Dance Floor” might probably be able to learn a thing or two from “stepping”.

And yes, let’s storm the yard!

Movie Rating:

(“Funky and hip, ‘Storm the Yard’ might just be the film that pushes ‘stepping’ to the fore of the hip hop circuit”)

Review by Patrick Tay