‘Save the Last Dance’ Turns 20 Today And I Still Love This Movie

Allow me to paint the picture. Think back 20 years ago before Kerry Washington became a household name as Olivia Pope, right after Julia Stiles turnt up on a table dancing to Biggie Smalls in “10 Things I Hate About You,” and Bianca Lawson took the potion to make her forever young; the Thomas Carter directed, Duane Adler/Cheryl Edwards screen written film “Save the Last Dance” hit theaters on January 12, 2001.

Stiles and Sean Patrick Thomas played Sara and Derek, two teens who went to an urban Chicago high school and fell in love from their common attraction to dance. While Sara dealt with the loss of a parent and being forced to move in with her estranged father, Derek dealt with peer pressure to remain “down” and pressures from his family to make something of himself; all while the two faced the harsh realities of being in an interracial relationship. Thinking back this may be the first interracial relationship I watched on screen and seeing the implications it had on people outside of the relationship, but since I was 12 when this movie came out I doubt I was looking that heavy into the subject matter.

Photo: Paramount

Photo: Paramount

“Save the Last Dance” was the first film of its kind combining hip-hop and ballet and spawned the many dance type movies that followed and even a crappy sequel, but STLD remained an all time classic in my eyes bringing some of the best film lines that I still use to this day in actual conversations. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the film’s release, here’s 20 things I’ll never forget about “Save the Last Dance.” (Adding to my 15th anniversary post).

1.Don’t put your shit on the floor, that’s how easy it is to give to charity.
2. The episode of One on One when Breanna was obsessed with this movie. (Same girl same)
3. Chenille’s ability to make a twin sweater into a bangin head wrap.
4. Nikki does not walk on egg shells because the Brady Bunch is at the negro club.
5. The way Chenille says “Hold up.”
6. The Truman Capote debate – “the come pote dude.”
7. Nikki “squashing” it on the dance floor. (I live for the Nikki dance)
8. “Stepps” ain’t no square dance.
9. Chenielle calling Sara out for calling her brother an “asshole.”
10. Momma Dean was the cutest grandmom ever.
11. Snookie’s other nickname.
12. The subway scene with Sara and Derek.
13. Sara’s first night at Stepps and Derek went OFF when his song came on.
14. The soundtrack still holds up. If you don’t do the choreography when you hear Ice Cube’s “You Can Do It” were you really watching the movie?
15. Literally doing any of the dance moves when I listen to songs from the soundtrack.
16. Attempting to do “Rond dejambe attitude” without a lick of ballet training.
17. Chenille breaking down the issue with Sara and Derek’s relationship.
18. Sara’s audition for Julliard and busting out the heel toe.
19. Live you dreams. It’s not as hard as it may seem.
20. Everything does work out in the end. “Are you ready now?” – Welcome to Julliard

I’m not the only one still loving “Save the Last Dance.” Watch Sydni Beaudoin recreate the final dance scene in the clip below. What were your favorite memories from “Save the Last Dance?” Share your thoughts in the comments.

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