"KOREA 1988" "When I was a boy... my father told me stories... stories of dragons... rising up from the sea... how amazing it would be... if a dragon were to arise... from a shallow stream." "Thank you." "Every day, my father... worked hard for our family." "Father had great expectations for my future." "Father!" "Mother!" "You came home early." "I got it." "What is the most important foundation... to build your life on?" "Education." "One day my mother took me to the theatre." "Let's go." "Sit down here." "Wait here a minute, I will buy the tickets." "Alright?" "I saw a beautiful world i never knew existed." "I felt so small." "Tae-San!" "Let's go." "From that moment..." "I was a boy in love... with dancing, the music, everything." "I just got him an interview." "Where is it?" "The factory." "Tae-San." "Yes father." "Open the door." "I'm busy doing something." "I have good news for you." "It won't take long." "What's the news?" "You have a job interview at the factory." "I told you I'm going to university." "Of course... but... we still need more money." "Tae-San!" "Turn down the volume, right now!" "Do you hear me?" "Kwon Tae-San !" "You are useless." "Do you understand me?" "You'll never leave this place." "Never!" "For the first time in my life," "I realized only fools dare to dream." "For ten years I worked hard in the factory." "Building a future I never wanted." "Until one day... opportunity found me... and I dared to dream again." "I've got something to tell you father." "What is it?" "What is written in this letter?" "In Singapore..." "I have a dance audition." "You knew about this?" "It's a great chance for him." "What about your job at the factory?" "I'll quit." "The school has a very good teacher." "She's helped many students become great dancers." "Then what do they do?" "After they've left their jobs like you?" "No one cares about them anymore." "You want to be like that?" "How do they support a family?" "They find other jobs." "You already have a job." "Father... every morning I imagine... myself on a stage in front of an audience." "When I bow, people applaud." "The stage lights up and I hear music." "When I wake up from my dream..." "I realize I have to go to work in my factory uniform." "Do you think I like fixing old shoes?" "In life, we have to do things we don't like to do." "Father..." "I really don't want to work in the factory." "I keep thinking... this is my last chance." "Where are you going to sleep?" "You never thought about that, right?" "All you think about is dancing right?" "How are you going to earn a living?" "Are you going to sleep and dance on the street?" "Father..." "I am definitely going." "Have your meal." "Tae-San..." "I'm sorry father." "Take care of yourself." "SINGAPORE" "What are you doing?" "Get out." "I said get out!" "Please have some tea." "I cannot allow him to be a dancer." "It's just a hobby." "Hobbies are like seeds... they grow into hopes and dreams." "Children try a lot of things when they are growing up" "He doesn't need to waste time." "He should concentrate on his education." "Basic sparring!" "Nothing above the shoulders!" "Do you understand?" "Begin!" "Tae Kwon." "Tae Kwon ?" "Where are your shoes?" "I brought the wrong bag" "You've obviously underestimated the importance of auditions at this school" "He'll just have to dance barefoot" "We're judging his dancing, not his dress sense" "When you're ready" "You've just mixed three dances." "Do you have any idea what you're doing?" "Thank you" "Excuse me" "If you don't get into the school What will you do?" "I don't know" "Classes start on Monday - 9am" "Congratulations" "Thank you" "I want your best performances" "Relax" "Excuse me" "You here for the job?" "Yes" "You fast?" "Yes" "Ok - bucket and sponge, over there" "As you practice your routines today" "Think of your posture" "The competition is only a month away So walk tall" "That doesn't mean you walk on your toes Jun Did you hear that Tae?" "Everyone" " This is the very late Tae Kwon" "Class starts at 9. which means you begin warming up at 8:30" "Go and get ready" "Tae." "I hope you brought the right bag today" "Let's begin" "Straighten your back good" "Grace, you're next" "Head up nice" "Ok Tae" "Stop" "Start again" "Stop" "Have you ever been taught to walk?" "No" "How could your past instructor teach you to dance - but not teach you to walk?" "I asked you a question?" "I never had a teacher" "How did you learn to dance?" "Books" "Ballroom dancing books" "Have you ever danced with a partner?" "No" "All right - who hasn't walked?" "Jun." "yes, stretch through your spine, stand tall and proud" "Lynn you're next - stay straight and proud - yes, good" "It smells a bit Its been closed up for a while" "But - its close to your dance studio nice desk" "How much?" "only $800 a month." "Tae, I want you to hold her like she means something to you" "Let me show you" "You've never had a partner and it shows." "I want you to lead me." "I'm waiting" "You're giving me too much space Pull me closer" "Good" "You're coming along Really well Keep practicing" "Emi, I don't want you teaching anymore" "Why?" "After what I saw I think you should take a few months off" "A few months off?" " who's going to prepare them for the competition?" "Look I don't care about the competition, I care about you not breaking your ankle" "Its got nothing to do with my ankle" "I just don't want you to get hurt" "What are you doing?" "dancing" "You're strolling, and your partner would have been lost because you have no direction" "You arms are too weak" "You're new here right?" "My name is Tae Kwon" "I say this once:" "Keep your hands off Emi" "What?" "Leave her alone and everything will be fine" "Emi is my teacher" "And you're her student" "Don't touch her" "Got it?" "I remember the day the dressmaker measured you for that" "You may think I only care about stopping you from doing what you love" "The truth is I'm stopping you from hurting yourself" "You still have a pin in your ankle" "It feels fine" "So does my knee but I can't compete anymore" "It has nothing to do with my ankle" "What do you mean?" "It's the spotlight" "It always has to be on you" "Is that what you think?" "How many times have you watched me dance?" "That's right" "You were never there Not even once" "You were a champion" "And now you have students who will pay for your instruction" "Do you think they'll pay if you return to the floor and come in second?" "Or fifth?" "Or if you fall again?" "It's over" "What does it mean?" "Our lives... are filled with journeys." "During these journeys... we are faced with challenges and opportunities." "When we face these challenges and opportunities... the outcome will always... reflect your preparation." "Do you understand?" "Yes father." "My son..." "I just wish you to be successful." "Do you understand?" "Yes father." "Easy To Learn" " DANCING" "Waltz" "Sometimes I come here" "Find a nice place on the grass..." "...and listen to the music" "You know I used to do ballet" "When I was 9 years old I saw a group of Ballroom dancers" "So I asked my mom if I could try it and I fell in love with it" "Whenever I was down..." "...dancing lifted me back up" "It must be great to win a competition" "Its not about winning Tae" "Its about who you become..." "...when you try" "Close your eyes imagine the music is inside you" "Its going through every part of your body" "Can you feel it?" "Lead me" "But..." "I have to go" "See you on Monday" "Bye" "You've not eaten much" "I'm not so hungry" "How were your classes today?" "They were fine." "Yours?" "No" "Fine" "I think I will have a drink" "Do you ever think about..." "A true champion retires once" "Why do you ask?" "No reason" "I didn't come here for that" "A list of every other dance school in the country" "I don't have money to go to another school" "How much do you need?" "1,000 ?" "2,000 ?" "Take it" "Find another school" "Ok" "Let's begin" "I don't want your money." "And I'm not changing my school" "You sure about that?" "If you're still here in seven days" "We'll meet..." "...on that floor" "You and me" "Or I'll find you in the street and there'll be no rules" "But I..." "If you beat me you can stay" "If you lose you go back to where you came from" "But I'm I'm a dancer" "That's your problem" "Did you study those dance books..." "...in your bedroom Tae?" "I want you to imagine..." "...that you have red paint on the bottom of your shoes" "After you dance..." "...I expect the entire floor to be red not just the corner of it" "Applications for the competition close soon" "If you can't get things right you'll be watching with me" "Go on" "Hello?" "Father it's me." "Have you eaten yet?" "Did you get a job?" "Yes." "I work in a kitchen everyday." "Where are you staying?" "I got an apartment." "It's very spacious." "So everything is fine?" "Yes father, everything's fine." "This must be expensive." "You had better go." "I will send your regards to your mother." "Please tell her..." "Please tell her not to worry about me." "SHAOLIN PATTERNS Southern Style Techniques and Patterns" "hi May, it's Emi" "I was just wondering, do you have any dancers looking for a partner?" "Great!" "No its for me" "Really?" "Can you let me know if you hear of anyone?" "Ok, thanks May" "20,000." "But I need you to do something for me first" "What?" "You know what I'm talking about" "I already told you I don't do that kind of thing" "That's right." "You don't do that kind of thing anymore" "What do you want me to do?" "There's a man in a blue suit at the back of the restaurant" "He owes me a lot of money" "Remind him of his debt" "Take the class" "If you came back for the money it's no longer an offer" " I can not beat you in a fight." " Then leave the school." "But I can beat you at this" "SHAOLIN PATTERNS Southern Style Techniques and Patterns" "You're going to learn that in a week?" "And if you lose?" "I will leave" "Do you know who that is?" "He came second in five national championships doing that exact routine" "He came second - to me" "Save yourself a lot of wasted energy and leave now, or" "You can embarrass yourself in front of everybody" "Your choice" "See you next week" "Emi doesn't have to know about this" "Gentleman:" "Tae-San Kwon" "Lady:" "Emi Lim" "You took the money and you never touched the guy" "Pick up the phone" "Don't say you weren't warned" "Bye Tae" "See you" "Singapore Ballroom Dance Championships" "Thank you" "Are you Tae Kwon?" "Yes" "Put This on" "Locker room is over there." "Be on the floor at 9 o'clock." "Does anybody know where Tae is?" "He said he might have to..." "What?" "Give it to me" "Tae-San, please try this." "It's a beautiful day outside." "Why don't you go out?" "Tae-San... cheer up." "Today... you look very beautiful." "Whatever you do..." "I will always be proud of you." "I have always taught you... that education would lead you to a successful life... but there are some things that books can never teach you." "I've lived my life... now it's time to live yours." "Emi..." "I just came to see you..." "I just came to see you dance" "Why now?" "I just want to see you happy" "All I ever wanted was to dance again" "...and you took that away from me" "It's too late" "I'm sorry Emi" "I'm sorry" "I want to live... the dream I have dreamt about everyday... the music, the beautiful lights... the dance... the audience holding their breath... and... a beautiful woman... waiting for me..." "I walk... towards my dream..." "Emi." "Get up" "Emi, It's not about winning" "This is our moment" "Let's paint the floor red" "This is my dream... and I want it to last forever..." "When I was a boy... my father... told me stories... stories of dragons... rising up... from the sea... how amazing it would be... if a dragon... were to arise... from a shallow stream... and if this dragon were to grow... and fly away... and fly... fly... fly fly free."