DANCE WITH ME

• Starring Vanessa L. Williams and Chayanne
• Directed by Randa Haines
• Rated PG with mild profanity.; 90 running time minutes
• With 10 as a must-see, Jack gives this film a 6

By Jack Garner
Democrat and Chronicle

(Aug. 21, 1998) -- The musical romance Dance With Me swirls and sambas around a very familiar dance floor. It's Strictly Ballroom, to a salsa beat.

Hot Latin singer-actor Chayanne makes an appealing English-language film debut as Rafael, a handsome Cuban immigrant handyman who becomes the star dancer at a Houston dance studio.

Rafael also woos Ruby, the studio's veteran dance professional, played by an effervescent Vanessa L. Williams.

Ruby is working hard to raise a young child alone while preparing for an upcoming dance competition. (The child's father -- her former partner -- also will compete.)

Rafael, meanwhile, has to deal with other issues. He's been brought to America by John (Kris Kristofferson), the middle-aged owner of the dance studio, who knew Rafael's mother years earlier.

We, however, know the whole truth: The cool and distant John is Rafael's long-absent father. Will John ever accept that role?

Fortunately, whenever the plot threatens to flood us in such suds, somebody dances. The many well-crafted Latin dance numbers -- and the zestful music that propels them -- are the true pleasures of Dance With Me.

Director Randa Haines is generous with the dance content -- and the choreography by Daryl Matthews and Liz Curtis is imaginative.

Mostly, though, Dance With Me is a terrific showcase for Williams, who's never had such a chance to demonstrate her range of talent, especially on the dance floor. She's graceful, athletic, sexy and fun.

Chayanne (pronounced Cheyenne, like the Native American tribe), is clearly a hunk, but shows charm and wit as an actor. He also has seemingly natural, easygoing skill as a dancer.

He and Williams make beautiful music together, on and off the dance floor. And when they join in a salsa groove, watch out.

Kristofferson, however, is a bizarre casting choice. He's got the good ol' boy Texas thing down pat, but isn't remotely believable as a dance studio operator and retiring dancer. Two carefully staged attempts to make him look like a dancer in the film are obvious and silly.