Storm The Yard is mistaken by many as a hip hop movie. But, the truth is, this movie is more about “stepping”.

But what in the world is “stepping”? Already losing interest? Don’t. Because “stepping” is way too cool to be ignored. Most gym nowadays have “stepping” as a form of exercise. These bunch of dudes in “Storm The Yard” will show you how cool “stepping” is.

DJ (Columbus Short) who strut his stuff in an intense dance-off with a rival gang in Los Angeles. When DJ’s team battles them and win their rivals at their rivals’ own yard, their rivals takes revenge by assaulting DJ’s troupe. The fight ends in the death of DJ’s brother Duron. As a result, DJ gets transferred to Georgia in order to protect him from further violence. Once there, he attends Truth University, vowing to put his social life behind him while working and studying at the same time.

During the first day of registration, DJ falls in love at first sight when he sees April (Meagan Good). As predicted, April has a boyfriend, Grant (Darrin Henson), who hates DJ’s guts at first sight. Grant is the co-captain of a winning step team that called themselves “Mu Gamma” that has been winning the annual step championship seven years in a row. DJ is introduced to the world of stepping. A form of dance that combines elements of line dancing, military drill with infused with contemporary jazz and hip hop moves, the dancers clap and slap on various parts of their body to produce a dance rhythm.

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 and not surprisingly, “stepping”. Other co-stars such as Allan Louis (as Dr Palmer, April’s father), Darrin Dewitt Henson (as Grant), Laz Alonso (as Zeke) and, of course, Chris Brown (Duron) rounds up the supporting cast which gives this film a push beyond another average dance film.

The soundtracks are fantastic and are contiguous. Now, start getting a pair of “stepping” shoes and let’s storm the yard, um, gym.

Popularity: 2% [?]