Dance Academy

An unlikely hero tries to save a jazz dance company from destruction in this energetic, song-filled movie. Vince (Steve LaChance) works in construction. Unfulfilled, he wanders around town and finds a small dance studio. To his surprise, he can't help but dance. He realizes that dancing gives him a joy that he's never felt before. The hard-nosed director of the academy (Miss McKenzie, played by Julie Newmar) doesn't take kindly to his intrusion. She's about to kick him out when one of the studio's best instructors (Moon, played by Tony Dean Fields) sees potential in the blue-collar stranger.

Reluctantly, Miss McKenzie yields to Moon, who it turns out is the new director of the burgeoning jazz dance program. Her submission is only temporary, though, as she's secretly plotting against the jazz portion of the company. In her mind, it clashes with the old-fashioned styles that she prefers. We learn that her history with the academy goes beyond its just being a job; she's a former owner who was forced to sell.

Now a rising star in the world of dance, Vince forms a relationship with Jana (Galyn Gorg), who brings a sexy approach to dance. He stumbles in his naive attempts to win her heart, but she finds his goofiness to be charming. Her roommate is Paula (Paula Nichols), whose musical composition is what catches Vince's ear in the beginning. Paula is the resident songwriter, and her secret relationship with Moon adds even more tension to the movie. Such student/instructor pairings are strictly forbidden, and Miss McKenzie has her henchman spying on them for any sign of illicit activity.

At the story's climax, a major dance-off pits Vince and the rest of the jazz gang against Miss McKenzie's stuffy conservatism. The ensemble performs a risqué number complete with outrageous sets and costumes, and they hope it's enough to impress a skeptical group of judges.