Feel the Beat (film)

April Dibrina is a young dancer trying to make success in Broadway theatre. On her way to an important audition, she steals a cab from an old lady during a rain storm. April performs well during the auditions, and the sponsor, Ruth Zimmer, shows up to meet the potential dancers. Ruth Zimmer is the lady from the stolen cab incident, so she recognizes April and subsequently states that she will ensure that no one on Broadway will hire the young dancer. While trying to explain her motives, April accidentally makes Ruth fall off the stage, inflicting serious injury. One of the other dancers had filmed the incident and posted to social media, publicly embarrassing April. With no other possible opportunities, April decides to return to her hometown of New Hope, Wisconsin. April goes to the supermarket and bumps into the New Hope teacher Miss Barb, who invites her to come to the dance studio.

She encounters her ex-boyfriend Nick, whom she left to pursue a career in New York City; as well as her old dance teacher Barb. After visiting the old dance studio, April visits the class of dancers: Lucia, a forgetful girl who’s glasses always fall off; Oona, an awkward, nervous girl; Kari, who works to earn her own classes because her mom refuses to pay for them; Ruby, who believes she’s not good at anything; Zuzu, a deaf girl who uses ASL with the other members to communicate; Sarah, Nick’s little sister; and June and Michelle, the two youngest. Zuzu’s young brother, Dicky, also attends as a form of daycare while his sister is in class. Barb offers an opportunity to coach the town's dance team for a competition. Jaded by her experience in New York, April declines the offer, but later discovers that the competition can give her a chance to perform in front of Welly Wong, who could save her career. April reluctantly accepts Barb's offer, and begins a harsh training regimen that alienates the young dancers in Barb's class, including causing Ruby to quit.

The New Hope dance team advances through several rounds of the competition; their dance moves improve as April bonds with the girls and becomes a better teacher, including learning some sign language to communicate with Zuzu. One day, the ceiling of the dance studio collapses after April tells the dancers they "don't suck," signaling to the dancers that they are improving. With the dance team unable to afford repairs to the studio, the team moves practice to the football field before eventually moving to April's father's barn, which Nick has helped her repair. April and Nick begin to rekindle their relationship as the dance team advances to state, where other dancers taunt April about her failure in New York, reminding her that she is ultimately using the New Hope dancers to revive her career.

In the mini’s 6-and-under category, the two youngest dancers, June and Michelle, are struck with stage fright. Dicky, who by this time has memorized all the girls choreography, runs out and starts to dance. June and Michelle recover and they all dance together. Dicky now dances along with all the girls at the studio.

After passing state finals, New Hope begins practicing their new routines in the barn, and April calls her New York friend Deco to help make costumes. One day, in the barn, as small dancers are rehearsing a lift, April calls on Sarah and R.J., the football player whom Sarah has a crush on, to demonstrate the lift. When R.J. lifts Sarah, her bra cup falls out of her shirt, and she runs off, embarrassed and crying. April finds her in the field and comforts her.

The dancers' families manage to raise enough money to send the team to Atlantic City for the final round. April is finally able to reconnect with Nick's younger sister Sarah, who felt abandoned when her mother died and April moved to New York. Once in Atlantic City, the team prepares for their final performances. After a performance, Welly Wong is so impressed with April that he offers her a role in his new show on the spot. April and Welly leave the competition immediately for rehearsal in New York, which devastates the team's morale. The next day, April realizes her mistake and abandons the rehearsal, proclaiming to Welly that she wants to honor her commitment to New Hope. She calls Deco again to drive her back to the competition just in time to encourage the team before performance. After reconciling with her dancers, April and Nick kisses passionately, and Welly lets her retain her role in spite of leaving rehearsal. April performs in Welly Wong's show in New York, and continues teaching her dance class in Wisconsin via video chat. After the show's opening night, Welly surprises April by bringing the New Hope team over to New York for a dance party.

Feel the Beat was released on June 19, 2020.[1]

Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 47 % based on 15 reviews, with an average rating of 5.33/10.[3]

1. "Let's Do It" - All Talk
2. "Work Dat (So Dat)" - Kylie Diehl
3. "Hand of Man" - Country Joe & The Fish
4. "Round and Round" - Jack Hawitt
5. "Brand New Day" - Kari Kimmel
6. "Never Forgive You" - Brooke Villanyi
7. "Wish You Was Me" - Lauren Evans
8. "Glitter Shoes" - Blaire Reinhard
9. "Confident" - Demi Lovato
10. "Us" - Regina Spektor
11. "Deal With It" - Girli
12. "Pumpin Blood" - NoNoNo
13. "Yes or Yes" - Tricia Battani
14. "I'm Gonna Do My Thing (Hey Hey)" - Mozella
15. "Like That" - Fleur East
16. "Colors" - Wayfarers
17. "Follow the Leader" - Wayfarers
18. "Winner Won't Stop" - Neara Russell
19. "Always" (Acoustic) - Francois Klara
20. "A Little More" - Alessia Cara
21. "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)" - C+C Music Factory
22. "All I Wanna Do Is Dance" - Mozella
23. "Always" - Sofia Carson[4]

• List of films featuring the deaf and hard of hearing

• Feel the Beat at IMDb
• Feel the Beat on Netflix