The new teen coming-of-age dance drama THE RED SHOES : NEXT STEP will debut in cinemas around Australia during the April 2023 school holidays, the film’s Australian distributor Screen Inc. has confirmed.

From the creators of the family fantasy adventure box-office hit The Legend of the Five, THE RED SHOES : NEXT STEP stars dual gold medallist, American-Australian dancer Juliet Doherty (High Strung: Free Dance and Driven to Dance) in the lead role of Sam Cavanaugh, and The Conjuring 2’s Lauren Esposito as her rebellious best friend Eve. 

Juliet Doherty danced in the hugely successful recent B.I.G. Ballet International Galas directed by B.I.G. co-founder, 23-year-old professional ballet dancer Joel Burke, who is her co-star.  

The film also features actress and former dancer Carolyn Bock (Neighbours, Never Tear Us Apart: The Untold Story of INXS and Green Room Award nominee 2022); Australian professional ballerina Primrose Kern, who is a dancer with the Paris Opera Ballet and Boston Ballet; dancer, actor, model, and influencer Ashleigh Ross (Dance Academy, Mary Poppins); Mietta White, who is currently playing the role of Meg Giry in The Phantom of the Opera in Melbourne; and Nicholas Andrianakos (The Legend of the Five). 

THE RED SHOES : NEXT STEP follows Sam, a gifted young dancer whose world spirals after an unexpected, life-changing event. ​Sam walks away from dancing and ballet, ​but the art form is in her blood, and she can’t resist the temptation to return. ​Life eventually leads Sam back to her old dance school – but not as a dancer. An​ old rival, a long-time crush, and her former dance teacher guide Sam back to​ what she loves most, but ultimately, it’s her own emotions and fears that she must confront to reignite her deep passion for dance. 

THE RED SHOES : NEXT STEP is directed by Jesse A’hern (produced The Legend of the Five) and Joanne Samuel (directed The Legend of the Five). The screenplay was written by Zachary Layner, the award-winning writer John Banas (Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries) and Peter McLeod (The Legend of the Five). Producers are Tanya Esposito (also Executive Producer) and Jesse A’hern; Kent Marcus is the Director of Photography, and Daniel Gaudiello is the Choreographer behind all the film’s extraordinary dance sequences. 

Maari Music (Sydney-based Dominic Cabusi and Bronte Maree O’Neill) created the electro-acoustic style score and soundtrack, with 11 songs featuring Australian vocalists of various genres. 

The film has been shot in and around Sydney’s west and inner west, 

Screen Inc. founder and Managing Director, Dov Kornits said: “Some of my earliest memories are of seeing Australian family films. I am very excited to bring the film to cinemas during the school holidays so that the broadest audience possible can enjoy this beautiful film.”

Find cinemas screening The Red Shoes: Next Step, at https://screeninc.com.au/red-shoes/. The film is rated PG.

Sydney Arts Guide has 3 in season family (four tickets) passes to give away. Be one of the first to email editor.sydneyartsguide@gmail.com with RED SHOWS PROMOTION in the subject heading and your postal address in the body of your email. Winners will be advised by email.