Brothers Mac and Skinny Carter and their best friend Tyler Gage attend a party where they have a fight with their nemesis, PJ. He is involved in car thefts around the city, and Tyler, Mac, and Skinny have also gotten involved in the crimes. Following the party, the trio break into the Maryland School of the Arts and trash the theatre. When a security guard appears, Tyler accepts full responsibility for the vandalism himself, helping the two escape. Tyler is sentenced to 200 hours of community service at the school. He works as a custodian, doing everything from mopping to changing light bulbs. While putting in his hours, he watches Nora Clark's dance class preparing her "senior showcase", an audition performance which will determine if she receives a position with an attending professional dance company. When Mac and Skinny visit Tyler on the school's lot, Nora watches from a window as Tyler dances with his friends, mocking a mashup of
breakdance and the moves he recently observed. When her dance partner Andrew sprains an ankle, she finds herself short a partner for her routine. Auditioning sophomores to replace him, none meet her expectations. Tyler offers to help, but Nora initially refuses. After proving he can handle the routine, she reconsiders, convincing Director Gordon to let him rehearse with her. Initially they clash, but as rehearsals continue they grow closer and learn from each other. Tyler also befriends Miles, a music student with a crush on Nora's friend Lucy. Nora's bond with Tyler grows, and one day she takes him to a special spot on the waterfront where she first envisioned her routine. She had always imagined it as an ensemble dance, rather than a duet. Tyler is inspired to help her dream come true, recruiting younger dancers from the school to perform in her number. Brett signs a recording deal with a company, betraying Miles for the opportunity. Disgusted, Nora breaks up with him. Meanwhile, Tyler continues to try to balance his new goals and new friends, while nurturing a troubled relationship with his old ones. Tyler asks Director Gordon if she will admit him into the school, and is told he must prove he deserves a chance. Nora suggests using the showcase as his entrance audition. After dancing together at a club where Miles and Lucy perform, Tyler and Nora finally kiss. Rehearsals continue until Andrew returns, seemingly healed from his injury. Feeling unwanted, Tyler accuses Nora of using him like Brett treated Miles, and returns to his janitorial work. However, as the choreography is now much too difficult for Andrew, he falls, pulling himself from the routine. Again without a partner and crushed, Nora considers abandoning her dance career for college after all. Her mother's encouragement inspires her to rewrite the choreography without a partner. Later during a party night at Omar's, Skinny comes although his mother had insisted he stay at home and is kicked out by Mac and Tyler. Frustrated, Skinny walks back home in a huff before spotting PJ arriving at a store with his friend. Skinny steals PJ's unattended vehicle and foolishly drives back to Omar's, wanting to hang out with the girls. As Mac and Tyler are trying to get him to abandon the car, PJ and his friends arrive and fatally shoot Skinny. A few days after Skinny's funeral, Mac and Tyler both decide to start making better life decisions. Tyler shows up at the last minute on the evening of the showcase. He tries to persuade Nora to let him perform and forgive him. Initially declining, she suddenly changes her mind as Tyler wishes her luck and walks away. When the curtain opens, the whole ensemble performs the original choreography with Miles' latest musical score. The crowd is blown away. Backstage, a proud Director Gordon introduces Nora to a director of a professional dance company, who hopes to sign her. Meanwhile, Mac congratulates Tyler for his performance. Thereafter, Director Gordon introduces Tyler as a "transfer." Nora is elated and embraces him. Repeating her original advice that he'll need to get some tights, the movie ends with them sharing a kiss. ==Cast==