Dance With Me MPAA Rating: PG Entertainment: +3 1/2 Content: +2

DANCE WITH ME may inspire even couch potatos to dust off their dancin' shoes. Current Latino heart-throb Chayanne plays Rafael, a handsome Cuban who comes to Houston, Texas, to work for his deceased mother's former lover, John Burnett (Kris Kristofferson). John runs a dance studio in Houston and offers Rafael a job as a handy man. Right away, Rafael decides the object of his affections will be the lovely Ruby (Vanessa Williams), a professional ballroom dancer who specializes in Latin music. Rafael's dazzling smile and good looks are not enough, however, for him to be readily accepted by the closely knit studio "family.". Even middle-aged John is suspicious that his hard-working new employee may have ulterior motives. As the professional dance instructors prepare for the national ballroom competition in Las Vegas, Rafael finally persuades Ruby to let the music guide her dancing instead of memorized intricate movements. Joan Plowright as a delightful, but clumsy dance instructor steals the show at the Las Vegas exhibition when she and Rafael perform together. The fun, light-hearted story will put a smile on your face and the lively Latin music will put a spring in your walk.

There is not a mean-spirited instant in the entire movie. Even when Rafael begins rehearsing dance routines with someone other than Ruby, it creates no jealous outbursts between the women. The dance studio "family" members are supportive of each other even as they compete in Las Vegas. Ruby has a son by her former dance partner, who abandoned her when he found out she was pregnant. John makes some hurtful remarks to Rafael, but later apologizes. There is no sex or nudity, although Ruby and Rafael have a steamy kissing scene which could have led to sex, but she refuses to give in to heat of the moment. Some of the dance costumes are tight fitting and revealing and the Latin dances sensuous, but no more so than the dance competition numbers shown at the real ballroom dancing contests televised on PBS every year. But the dance numbers and foul language that includes one regular profanity and one s-word earn the film its PG rating. Sony Pictures should be commended for DANCE WITH ME , and we hope Preview readers who agree will take advantage of the address below and write a note of appreciation.

Preview Reviewer: Mary Draughon
Distributor: Sony Pictures Entertainment, 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232