The Red Shoes: Next Step - Rotten Tomatoes

May 14,2024

Samantha Cavanaugh is about to dance the lead role in the Red Shoes when she takes a congratulatory Facetime call from her sister, Annie, who has been picked up by the New York City Ballet. What should be a moment of mutual celebration turns into a shared nightmare when Annie is struck by a car. Traumatized and stricken with guilt, Sam quits dancing, leaves Harlow’s Academy, and returns to her local High School where she renews her friendship with Eve, an alternative indie-punk chick. A blur of grief-stricken partying and misbehavior spins Sam’s life further out of control and a shoplifting spree lands the girls with two-hundred hours of community service each. Sam’s mother, Jennifer, concerned that Eve is largely responsible for the extremes of her daughter’s current behavior, is desperate for Sam to find her ‘normal’ again, and Sam is sent back to the Academy to serve her two- hundred hours there - cleaning the studios and facilities and attending regular study sessions - but not dancing. Sam’s return is difficult. There are constant reminders of her sister - trophies, images, inescapable memories that make Annie a living presence for Sam - an accusatory reminder of the tragedy. What’s more, the students are rehearsing The Red Shoes again, this time with Ben Shelby, an old friend of Annie’s and Sam’s, in the lead male role. Ben is on loan from NYC Ballet. He’s partnering Gracie, the Academy’s new star pupil and Sam’s old rival.