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REPORTER 1: The streets of Baltimore are tense tonight.
Violent protestors overran parts of the city
this afternoon,
attacking police, looting stores...
REPORTER 2: The charge of six officers
in the case of Freddie Gray,
who died after being in police custody,
and at the center of the story...
STEPHANIE RAWLINGS-BLAKE: This is one of
our darkest days as a city
and I know that we are much better than this.
COACH G: Attention! Attention!
(FEET STOMPING)
GIRLS: (CHANTING) You may think you may know,
but there's one thing that's for sure.
That the Lethal Ladies of BLSYW
are the ones you can't resist.
Sisterhood and integrity,
you mess with my sister and you mess with me.
We step with soul, we step with pride.
Lethal Ladies till the day we die.
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)
Come on, ladies.
(SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)
(OVERLAPPING CONVERSATIONS)
(BELL RINGING)
COACH G: All right. Okay.
-Hello, everyone. -GIRLS: Hi.
I'm Gari. I'm the new step coach.
Did you all hear you got a new step coach?
Y'all can call me Coach G. You good with that?
I'm a first-generation college student.
I'm the only person in my family who has a degree.
I live on Gilmor Street,
where Freddie Gray was murdered,
so I'm very well-rounded with
what goes on out in these streets.
I want everyone to introduce themselves to me.
Tell me why you like to step.
My name is Amanda Leonard.
I like to step because it's empowering.
It's a form of art that brings us all together.
I can express myself in different ways during step
and this is also my side hustle
because I don't do hair or makeup.
-(LAUGHING) -(SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)
I like to step because it's a passion of mine,
I'm good at it
and I like to see our ideas come to life.
Step is life.
-COACH G: Step is life. -Yes.
COACH G: Five, six, seven, eight.
BLESSIN: Sometimes I feel like I just go
somewhere else when I step.
It's like therapy a little bit.
Like you up there screaming and yelling
and faces and muggin'
and steppin' like you just stomping your life away.
Throwing your hair everywhere. You clappin'.
Got all your friends around, you know? Just like...
We makin' music with our bodies.
Like, that's some slick stuff.
That's slick though, ain't it? That's slick.
COACH G: One more time, ladies.
BLESSIN: Step is a complete getaway for me.
Like a complete erase from home.
My community is pretty poisonous,
I'm not even gonna lie.
It feels good to know that,
like, you and your teammates are all on the same page
and that you're just moving as one.
I started the step team in sixth grade
and over the years, we got good,
but last year, everything just fell apart.
I missed about 53 days of school
and my grades didn't meet the GPA requirement,
so I was kicked off the step team.
We lost every competition that year.
Ladies, that was good! That was on point.
But that was last year, right?
What's up this year?
We taking it to the next level, right?
Y'all ready?
I want them to understand
that this is way bigger than stepping.
It's about not making excuses
making sacrifices, having a positive attitude.
I know it gets tough. We're in Baltimore City.
They come home to no lights,
come home to violence in their neighborhood,
not having food in the refrigerator,
not having a refrigerator at all.
But when they come to step practice,
all those things are erased out of their mind.
So that is why they can succeed.
'Cause they can make it through step practice,
so they can make it through life.
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)
(SINGING INDISTINCTLY)
In exactly 274 days,
we will graduate our first twelfth-grade class.
We have an entire city
that's waiting for the power that we will unleash.
PAULA: My mission is to make sure
each and every one of you
from sixth grade through twelfth grade
is accepted to and graduates from college.
This is just the beginning
of a litany of success and greatness
that will be the grand history
of the Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women.
Ah! I was such a cute child. What happened?
I don't know why my mother made us pose like this
at every school picture.
Like, look at that gut!
I remember this year.
-Mmm-hmm. -(GENEVA SPEAKING)
That's Briona being baptized.
I loved that church. I loved that church so much.
Grace Bible Baptist on Rolling Road.
They taught...
(SINGING) Oh, down by the river
GENEVA: Down by the river
I took a little walk
I met up with the Devil
We had a little talk
I pushed him in the river
And I hung him on the line
I said, we can beat the Devil
We can beat the Devil
Any old time
That was like the best song ever.
Now you see how they had me steppin' on the church bus
before I was even steppin'.
I was like, you could count on me, like,
Brother Jerry's like, "Keep the beat, Blessin!"
"Keep the beat!" Like, I got that beat.
This is my father. He drew this of himself
when he had a lot of time to just draw.
GENEVA: I tried to do the best that I could
with raising my girls as basically a single parent,
because their father and I...
Well, their father and I do better
when we're not in the same household.
I'll put it like that. Yeah.
BLESSIN: Is this my handwriting?
(LAUGHS) Oh, I remember this. "The Frankenstein."
(READING) "This is a story by Blessin. 4-2-2003."
(READING) "One day, a spooky monster came into the night
"to kill the woman that break up with him.
"Her door bust open
"and Frankenstein bust in the house
"and made something go like boom!"
(GENEVA SPEAKING)
You know, a family coordinator asked me what was that about.
BLESSIN: What was going on in your house?
It's just that when you hear, "Boom!" you know to zoom!
-You know what I'm sayin'? -(FAMILY LAUGHING)
It go boom.
(GENEVA SPEAKING)
We would fight.
I'm a fighter, you know?
Once, I saw it was like a black-out.
And I just heard Brittany and Brooke behind me screaming,
"Mommy don't kill him".
Because I had him pinned down
and I was literally choking him out.
And then I said no. I'm not going to do it.
You know, somebody has to back down in order to keep the sanity about you, so I left.
And I stayed in transitional housing for 22 months. Me and my children.
Probably had depression since I was a teenager.
My children know.
They know when I'm depressed,
they know when I'm worried, you know.
And they'd be very concerned about me.
Mmm-hmm.
(COACH G SHOUTS)
(CHANTING) You know you like it.
CORI: I'm kind of an introvert.
I'm not very dramatic.
But all those parts come out of me when I step.
I'm just everything that step is not.
COACH G: Y'all take a ten-minute break.
5:40 come back.
(SQUEALING)
CORI: So, since sixth grade,
I've really been working super-hard
to graduate top of my class,
because my dream school is Johns Hopkins University.
Hopkins costs about $60,000 per year in tuition and
I don't have $60,000 per year for tuition
so I'm hoping to get a full ride.
Wait, did you all wash your hands first?
-Yes. -No.
TRIANA: I got half yeses and half nos.
CORI: I have six siblings, so,
my parents aren't gonna have enough money
to send me to school for four years,
especially not at Hopkins.
Taylor said the soup is delicious.
Who the bomb? Who's the woman?
Who makes great soup? Yeah, baby!
BROTHER: Cori, what's this?
CORI: It's called coding.
You make a secret code to make pictures.
BROTHER: Stay still, Taylor.
You want to make a bunny?
-TAYLOR: A bunny? -Hmm?
Wanna make a bunny?
Yes.
So if I make it 300, his ear will be gone.
(GIGGLES)
CORI: It's really important for my mom
to see her kids do well in life, in school.
My mom didn't go to college
because she didn't really have anybody
who was there to support her through the process.
And she also had me when she was 16.
TRIANA: Isn't this crazy?
'Cause you have a Mickey Mouse blanket.
Yes. My room was Mickey Moused-out!
You were six months old with your mom
and her Mickey Moused-out room.
(LAUGHS) And this was my Junior Prom.
I was 15, I was in the 10th grade
and my stepfather asked me, he said,
"So what are you gonna do?"
And I said, "What do you mean, what am I gonna do?
"I'm keeping my baby."
It was easy because her father,
we worked together really well.
With both of us working
and both of us having our own cars
even though we were young,
it was just easy with her.
CORI: My mom is like... (CHUCKLES)
A magic wand in human form.
I never had to worry about
where my next meal would come from,
or where would we be staying.
At one point we were homeless
and I actually didn't even know it.
Hey, Shane, can I have a kiss?
Shelton and I, we have not been married a year yet.
And so, we are just kind of
getting into the flow and groove
of this whole blended family life
and wife and husband life.
We are still not in a place financially
where we can just pay our bills.
And when the money is not in place,
everything else is like downhill.
Five, six, five, six, seven, eight.
(RAPPING INDISTINCTLY)
Last year, we went to a lot of step competitions
and we didn't win first place in any of them.
And I feel like this year is our time for redemption.
And I feel like people are actually
gonna want to work hard
to get the rewards that we deserve.
Left, right, clap, here.
COACH G: We have a big year ahead of us,
the biggest competition is Bowie State.
Bowie is a competition for the DMV.
That's DC, Maryland and Virginia.
There's never been a team from Baltimore
who has came out there and won.
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)
(CHANTING)
BLESSIN: If we win Bowie, like...
Jesus!
If we win Bowie, like, we gonna let them know,
like, man, we from Baltimore,
like, whatcha all talking about up here in Bowie?
Oh!
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)
PAULA: We're gonna talk about what your options are.
So today is reality check.
These grades, this overall 1.1 GPA
from ninth through eleventh grade,
is not indicative of who you are.
So this is the time when you pass by my office
and I'm giving you the side-eye, this is why.
You hid from me last year.
It's okay, you can say you didn't but you did.
My absence was bad, so Blessin hid from herself.
"Blessin hid from herself."
Well, I'm glad, we're glad to see Blessin. Okay?
I'm aiming for all A's this quarter. All A's.
And we're here to help you and support you to do that.
Now, the biggest piece
is our parent night for seniors.
-My mom has to be here? -Yes.
We've had some situations in the past
getting in touch with mom, getting mom to come.
In fact, you know,
I've never met your mother in three years.
What can we do because
I need her as part of this process,
because the financial pieces, you cannot do.
Well...
You know, usually I... I don't know.
So I had my academic meeting
with Ms. Dofat today, our college advisor.
GENEVA: Mmm-hmm.
You really don't know her that much.
I've met her. You think I forget stuff,
but I remember Ms. Dofat.
I remember things you tell me.
BLESSIN: Okay. Well, she gave me my transcript
and some possible colleges I could be attending
if I get a certain GPA this year.
(GENEVA SPEAKS)
Which are?
Oh, Allegany, FIT and, um, it was one more.
I took notes on it, but here you go.
What's this about Allegany? Isn't that closer to us?
Yeah, it's not that far, you can drive there.
I know you want to go away for school,
but I don't want you too far from me, you know?
BLESSIN: I'll be a phone call away. I'm ready to go!
BRITTANY: Go, girlfriend!
Share your talents with the world.
You ready to eat anything yet?
GENEVA: I went to college for a while.
I didn't graduate. I stopped after two years
because I had problems with math
and I would always withdraw
just before the grades would come out
and I would always get the incomplete on my grades.
And eventually I stopped going
and then you look up 10 years later, you say,
"Wow, you should've stayed."
Mmm-hmm.
That's me.
So, yeah, on the 24th, Ms. Dofat said that
you need to come to the school for a meeting.
GENEVA: What's this meeting gonna be about?
BLESSIN: So I can get financial aid.
To see what kind of grants you'll qualify for?
I will be there and not be square.
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)
COACH G: Plie. However, it's like this.
Hold up. Coach.
Come on.
Hold your arms straight out.
Oh, my God. This is ridiculous.
(TAYLA SPEAKING)
I'm like a notch down from Beyoncé because I do still mess up.
Beyoncé don't mess up.
Well, even if she do, she, like, pull it off so good
and I just don't even notice it.
COACH G: All right, let's do it one more time
then we're gonna go on to something different.
-Five, six seven, eight. -GIRLS: (CHANTING)
We are the lovely ladies of LLOB.
Unlike these imitators, we are so unique.
We started our steppin' just seven years ago
and ever since then we've been rockin' the show.
MAISHA: It has become a daily routine.
It's in my schedule. Work, step, home.
I've watched all of these girls grow up
so I don't only go for her,
Tayla, I go for everybody.
I would love to have had
a big family and lots of children,
but that wasn't my calling.
My calling was to have one as I did.
Hello? Hello?
COACH G: Good!
The queen is waiting.
COACH G: Now look around. "Hello? Hello?"
NUSH: Hello? The queen is waiting.
(MAISHA SHOUTING)
(BLESSIN LAUGHING)
Hello? The queen is waiting.
There it is. One more time.
BOTH: Hello? Hello?
NUSH: The queen is waiting.
MAISHA: There it is.
That's what's gonna get.
Thank you.
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)
(SINGING) My daddy Alabama Momma Louisiana
You mix that negro with that Creole
make a Texas bama
TAYLA: My mother is annoying.
She can take it overboard
and have too much fun, like she's 17 or 18.
And I'm just like,
"Mom, you gotta chill sometimes."
She'll be like, "What? I'm just having fun!"
And I'm just, like,
"Okay, you're embarrassing me but whatever."
Oh, my gosh! Why would you ever do that?
REPORTER: (ON TV) In other news,
the trials for the six officers charged
in Freddie Gray's death are back on the docket.
And today, expect it to be finalized. Here's a look at the order now.
Officer Edward Nero's trial is scheduled
for May 10th, after that the driver.
When I was coming up,
the police were my biggest heroes.
I grew up in northwest Baltimore.
You had officer friendlies.
They would walk the beat,
they would come to school, talk to you.
And that's why I wanted my job as a correctional officer.
And I love my job. I love it.
Some deserve to be there and some don't.
A lot of our children are lost.
They have no one.
And I feel as though it's my obligation
and my civic duty to help them.
(SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)
We must remember that college is a business.
So where do I fit financially?
'Cause some of these colleges are outrageous.
I don't know anybody's financial situation,
but I seriously doubt
that the average American has $40,000 or $50,000
sitting around in their bank account,
waiting to be written to a college.
Yes?
TRIANA: The part that scares me
is me not being there enough for Cori.
(VOICE BREAKING) That's overwhelmingly scary for me.
I feel like I won't be enough support for her.
PAULA: And we're gonna make it through it, okay?
You're fabulous. Come here, mama. (LAUGHS)
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATION)
BLESSIN: When my mom didn't show up for parent night,
I'm not gonna say that I expected her to be there,
but when I actually seen her not show up,
I was just thinking, like,
"Okay, she promised me she'd be here.
"Where is she?"
PAULA: Once again, thank you so much.
If you have any questions, I'll be happy to answer them.
PAULA: What's going to happen now, you know the next step,
February 11th is your interview.
You're there to make sure
that Cori is a good fit for University of Maryland
and also that University of Maryland
is a good fit for Cori.
Barnard, I'm not concerned about you getting accepted.
They would be crazy if they didn't accept you.
And not because I like you so much,
but because of your credentials.
I think there's no reason
that you shouldn't be accepted.
The situation is gonna come in the money piece.
I'm pretty sure there are gonna be loans on there.
I don't like the L word.
-I know. I know. -(CHUCKLES)
If you ended up with a total $5,000
in loans per year for your four years,
I know that's $20,000,
but it's really not a lot of money
in the sense of what people come out owing.
Your face says no, I get that.
CORI: My stepdad just lost his job
and it's like bills and bills and bills and bills.
It's not the first time the power has been off.
It happens.
I don't know, like, for me, well, for my family, like,
the idea of comfortability has been like cyclical.
Like, it's on and off. It's on and off.
And it's really frustrating to live like that
because as soon as you get comfortable,
it seems like one thing goes bad.
Then when one thing goes bad,
everything else goes bad and like...
I don't know...
I don't want to have to live like this
and I don't want my family to have to live like this.
So I'm gonna work my hardest
to make it not happen in my life.
(SNIFFLING)
MS. THOMPSON: We are gonna do
one last presentation for today.
And that will be Blessin and Quanshe.
Once the Supreme Court brought attention
to the Fourteenth Amendment equal protection law,
public schools were forced to desegregate its facilities.
Next slide, please.
So, this is shown where
the desegregation was required.
As you can see, that's in a lot of the southern states.
Any questions?
GIRL: What's the difference between this and the KKK?
The KKK aligned and further pushed
that movement towards violence
because they actually went out at night in hooded cloaks
and actually abused and attacked African Americans
while they were already being suppressed, uh,
economically and socially.
Round of applause for the ladies.
(CLASS APPLAUDS)
(TEACHER SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)
BLESSIN: Oh, they sell cool strips of color in the front.
They have like little bundles of color.
See, but if I did go platinum blonde,
I'm gonna go all the way.
NAYSA: I thought you were going regular blonde.
BLESSIN: No, I'm gonna go platinum.
(HAIR BLOWER WHIRRING)
(BLESSIN SPEAKS)
You want your hair to look like Martin Luther King.
(CHUCKLES) Malcolm X.
(LAUGHS)
BLESSIN: Okay, if you all were alive back in the day,
would you be with Malcolm X or the MLK movement?
I'd probably be with Malcolm.
BLESSIN: I think I would be with Martin.
I mean, like, I would have some homeboys
that would be Black Panthers
so if anybody ever spit in my face,
I could call up my squad.
Hard work is what really makes you somebody that's great.
Somebody that should really go down.
DOMONIQUE: Kim Kardashian didn't do a damn thing.
Kim Kardashian isn't great.
Kim Kardashian is pretty.
You just gotta work twice as hard.
And I'm willing to work.
That's the way you have to get what you want in life.
BLESSIN: I have a lot of dreams.
Maybe I dream too much. (CHUCKLES)
I'm passionate about dancing and step
and choreographing everything.
I fell in love when I seen the movie Chicago.
Like, just the way they move.
I'm just, like, I can do that.
I can show people how to do that.
COACH G: I need y'all to really listen to this song
and really think of ways that y'all can make the beat.
All right, here we go. Listen.
(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)
BLESSIN: I'm good with rhythms, like...
I'm always the one like, boom, tap, tap, boom, tap, tap.
Like with my mouth, that's how I remember steps.
You need to have certain people on the floor
laid down in this position
and we need to have some people like this.
(VOCALIZING) Step.
Now we step. Now we step.
COACH G: Yes! Yes!
BLESSIN: Then the dance part.
-Like levels, right? -Yep.
BLESSIN: It's like a four-count...
COACH G: We're gonna do those two moves.
COACH G: She stands out.
She's the one who comes up with things,
like, out of nowhere.
Like, Blessin the visionary.
When you see her step, she's the one
who your eyes go directly to.
Because her heart is in it.
(CHANTING) Lethal!
COACH G: Wrong leg.
(CHANTING) Ladies!
ALL: (CHANTING) Come on, Freddie Gray,
I got the victory, the victory.
Because the devil is defeated and God be praised.
I got the victory, the victory.
(CHANTING CONTINUES)
COACH G: Attention, please!
This is a expo. We're here to learn,
enhance, grow, move forward.
I know you all want to take down the Lady Raiders.
Yes.
And this expo is the expo that the Lady Raiders
and the Boy Raiders go to to enhance their step show.
I need y'all to work on your facial expressions.
I want you to imagine yourself
the most elegant woman on earth.
But she steps hard and with confidence.
You gonna watch me step.
Actually, I'm gonna make you watch me step.
I'm gonna get my step, is gonna get up in your grill.
I'm gonna take you by your neck
and you gonna watch me do what I do.
That's what you're supposed to project
every time you get in front of somebody.
That's what you step on.
If you not steppin' on that, sit down, go home, good night.
So, stand at attention and give me that face.
Let's, let's, let's,
let's get this step off started right!
GIRLS: (CHANTING) Ay, ay, whoo!
'Cause you don't want it. Let's get it started!
'Cause you don't want it.
(LORA LAUGHS)
(ALL LAUGHING)
LORA: They on fire, aren't they?
They on fire! Come on!
PAULA: Today, college application day.
So we have a lot to do, a lot to accomplish.
Ladies, we are gonna get it done today.
Do you have an account already?
Account? No.
(SINGING) Baby, I'm worth it
Her GPA could be a little bit higher.
We just had this conversation.
Our first impression is very important.
And we only get how many chances
to make a first impression? One.
In the club with the lights off Whatchu acting shy for?
PAULA: Your degree can say NYU.
Your degree can say Spelman.
Your degree can say anything you want it to say.
CORI: I have an email about paying the enrollment fee.
Ooh, I don't like that number.
(CHANTING)
My college application just erased. It erased twice.
The entire thing.
Give it to me, I'm worth it
It's all on you it's all on you
And tell her to bring her taxes, bring the W-2's.
Did you work in 2015?
You have to find $40,000 for yourself.
I spoke with you about Blessin Giraldo.
We were waiting for her mid-year grades.
They're gonna be so much better
than what we sent to you already.
Make it happen tonight because
I don't put my name out there for no reason.
And I put my name out there. Don't make me look crazy.
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)
You made the honor roll?
I knew you could do it.
-NAYSA: Yeah, Blessin! -(APPLAUDING)
BLESSIN: Anatomy and physiology, 83.
Foundations of Technology, a 95. (CHUCKLES)
In English, I have a 72,
but, like, I worked very hard for that 72.
No assignments late, no assignments missing.
So, you know, just gonna try new tactics
and aim better for quarter two.
This is the lady that is getting me into college.
BLESSIN: Seeing my mom at school was...
It was a big deal for me, you know.
I don't know what she went through
that morning to get up,
or what she was even thinking entering the building.
She's trying. She is and I can see it.
(PAULA SPEAKING)
I'm so pleased to meet you. I'm going to tell you, I love this girl.
She works my last nerve but I love this girl.
She's gonna be amazing. We just gotta wrangle her.
So anything you and I can do
to partner on that, I would appreciate it.
-And Michelle. -PAULA: No, all of us.
Because it's gonna take a team, village, a country,
whatever it's gonna take, we gonna do that.
MICHELLE: We've been working on it.
All right. Okay, thank you, it was really nice to meet you.
I appreciate it.
NAJIA: (CHANTING) Hands up!
GIRLS: Don't shoot!
NAJIA: Hands up!
GIRLS: Don't shoot!
NAJIA: Hands up!
GIRLS: Don't shoot!
NAJIA: Say it loud!
ALL: I'm black and I'm proud.
COACH G: The Bowie competition is at the end of the year
and we're working towards that.
But in the meantime, we got invited
to the Baltimore High School Step Show.
This is the first time that
the girls have stepped with other girls from Baltimore.
We can pick whatever theme that we want to do.
So my theme is going to be Black Lives Matter.
(CHANTING) You need to stop, look and listen.
COACH G: They start with "Stop, Look and Listen" chant.
(CHANTING) 'Cause you're about to witness...
COACH G: ...something that is stupendous.
And then, let's tell them who we are.
So we are the showstoppers,
(CONTINUES CHANTING) ...trailblazers, hit makers.
We are the show takers, hip poppers, floor rockers.
COACH G: All right. Last pose!
And then they're doing this pose
where it's so powerful,
with their right fists up
showing that black lives matter.
(COACH G COUNTING)
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)
COACH G: All right, so listen, guys.
First of all, I wanted to show you guys
the importance of these images back here
that symbolizes how 40, 50, 60 years later,
we still have to protest
for our rights as African Americans.
As women, you guys are considered,
as women, we, not you guys...
We are considered the bottom of the barrel
as African-American women.
So when you all heard about Freddie Gray, where were you?
GIRL: We were at school.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Did you all get a text that you all were supposed to riot?
NAJIA: It was on Twitter.
GIRL: There was a lot of stuff on social media.
I didn't like how they tried to portray Baltimore, like,
it was like a lot of bad stuff going on,
but when you'd put on local news like WJZ,
people was cleaning up, but CNN didn't showcase that.
They only showcased us
fighting and throwing everything.
GIRL: CNN portrays us as being bad.
Yeah, we're not like that.
COACH G: These are little black girls
who are going to be going to college
and they have been at this small all-girls school
and they don't understand that
it's some people who won't care about your life,
or some people who don't understand
that you are valuable.
So you have to understand, as young black women,
it could've been us,
it really could have been you and it still can be.
(SIRENS BLARING IN DISTANCE)
(SINGING) Ain't got no troubles in my life
No foolish dreams to make me cry
I'm never frightened or worried
I know I always get by
I heat up
I cool down
When something gets in my way I go around it
I've got the music in me
Yes, I do down in my bones
I've got the music in me
Sure no better than me
I've got the music
Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty music
I've got the music in me
Yeah
Everybody's up for BLYS.
(AUDIENCE CHEERING)
(CHANTING) You need to stop, look, and listen.
'Cause you're about to witness
(AUDIENCE CHEERING)
something that is stupendous.
Let's tell them who we are.
We are the trailblazers, hit makers.
We are the show takers, hip poppers, floor rockers.
We are the showstoppers.
Wanted all over the city, and still sitting pretty.
(AUDIENCE CHEERING)
Let's go!
(AUDIENCE CHEERING)
(CHEERING CONTINUES)
Due to the deaths of several unarmed
African-American men and women,
it would be remiss of us not to mention...
ALL: ...it could've been us.
(AUDIENCE CHEERING)
NAJIA: Hands up!
Don't shoot!
NAJIA: Hands up!
Don't shoot!
NAJIA: Say it loud!
I'm black and I'm proud.
(AUDIENCE CHEERING)
What are you doing?
Working on my application for Barnard.
Oh.
Looks like I have everything in.
CORI: I feel like anybody else in this school
is just as capable of being valedictorian as I am,
but I'm a very competitive person.
Once I got the taste of, like, being at the top,
I was like, "Oh, I like this."
It's definitely my motivation to keep my grades high.
CORI: You remember what my EFC was from the FAFSA?
Your Expected Family Contribution?
TRIANA: Oh, no, I don't remember.
We can log on and see.
Most schools like Barnard don't give out lots of money.
They're like need-based aid.
And according to this FAFSA we have a lot of need,
so they probably would give a lot of money.
But you still have to pay some money.
I just don't think that's something
you should be sweatin', period.
Don't worry about it. If that's where you want to go,
we gonna make it happen like we always do.
TRIANA: If you can look us in the eyes
and tell us that we don't come through
on the stuff that's important,
then you have a reason to be worried,
but you can't do that, so you should have no worries.
Mmm-hmm.
Yeah. Mama hitting on something now, huh? Yeah. (CHUCKLES)
Salt is more valuable to some people than gold.
So a lot of the study of economics is why do things have value?
(BELL RINGING)
I went to Allegany. I like Allegany.
I know you do.
-I really like Allegany. -I understand that,
but with Allegany, when we did the calculation,
you're gonna be somewhere around $20,000 a year.
That is, for me, a two-year school, I think that's crazy.
If you can afford it, that's one thing,
but I don't think that's a great option.
It's a lot of money.
I mean, I do hair and makeup and stuff,
you don't think I can, like...
Okay, Blessin, we will get full information
like every other student,
see what financial aid packages look like
and then we will make the decision.
Unfortunately, it's not my first choice.
BLESSIN: Uh-huh. Uh-huh.
Uh-huh. Uh-huh.
What you doing?
(TIYON GRUNTING)
-(TIYON EXCLAIMING) -(BLESSIN MIMICKING TIYON)
BLESSIN: What you want, a facial?
That's what I'm about to do.
(LAUGHING) No.
(TIYON SPEAKING)
Ow, ow, ow. Stepped on glass.
(BLESSIN SPEAKING)
Let me see it.
Hold it.
(SINGING) N-E-P with a little bit of H-N-E
W that spells my, my nephew my nephew, my nephew
N-E-P
You ain't gonna sing it with me?
Mmm-mmm.
(CHUCKLES)
BLESSIN: Tiyon, did you eat anything yet?
I know when the food gets here
I'm gonna start eating like a gorilla like I always do.
BLESSIN: Well, we get some food stamps
on the sixteenth, so we be all right.
Tiyon!
What?
One minute your foot broken, next minute you playin'.
As of right now, it's no food in the 'frigerator.
I mean, I'm not eating, that's fine as of right now,
like, I'm just waiting for
my sister to come home
so she can order something, but he's six.
I mean, it's okay, though.
Just gotta make the best out of what you have.
'Cause if I didn't, I would be angry,
upset and a bitter person,
and I don't want to be that type of person.
I just think of what I go through, I just hold it there.
(VOICE BREAKING) I'm sorry. Sorry.
(SNIFFLES) And I just keep me going,
keep me going, make me work harder and harder,
and put my all into everything I'm doing,
because this is not it for me.
(SNIFFLES)
(MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO)
COACH G: Why are you late?
You forgot your shirt.
You practice in the Uggs? You practice in the Uggs?
You forgot your shirt.
All right, so, let's just say this.
If you forget your shirt, your shoes, whatever, just don't even come.
'Cause I could surely replace y'all.
Are we ready to start?
No.
GIRL: God! Christ!
COACH G: Do we need to sit the wall?
I think we should. That's a good way.
-(GIRLS DISAGREEING) -Come on. Let's go!
One, two, three, down.
Up.
BLESSIN: Ah! Whoa. Wait a minute!
One two, three, down.
(CHUCKLING)
-Everybody up. -(SIGHS)
One, two, three, down.
Arms out.
Every time somebody goes down, you all gonna stay longer.
Why you go down, Nush?
(ALL ARGUING)
COACH G: Excuse me, is that how we encourage our teammates?
That's not teamwork. That's not cool.
That's not sisterhood. That's not integrity.
Yelling at Nush, yelling at each other. That's not what winners do.
You gotta have the mindset. The mindset of a winner.
Not being disrespectful to each other, to yourselves.
This is step. Handle your business.
And that's how you all gonna handle it on this wall.
One, two, three, down.
They love step, but their focus isn't winning.
I hope everyone gets home safely.
You all have a blessed night.
We have a competition coming up at Bowie.
They've been twice already and have not placed or won.
For the seniors, this is it.
And if they don't straighten up and fly right,
it could fall apart. Completely fall apart.
COACH G: See, if you all wasn't talking, you all would've been ready.
You all need to practice proper habits.
You all got lazy. Do it again.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Coach!
Her report card looks like shit.
Oh, that's why.
Are you kidding me?
-Ooh, that's not good. -Wait, wait. You mean, like...
-Come here, Tayla. -Like C's?
I don't play 60s,
I don't play 70s and I don't play 80s,
because that's not the child that she is.
Absolutely, I agree.
Show your coach what your grades look like.
(ASSISTANT COACH SPEAKING)
It's a sixty-six!
What was it again?
-What you say? -Sixty-seven?
A what?
My daughter has never, for as long as she's been going to school,
bring me no damn 60.
I don't tolerate that in my house.
COACH G: It's something that you're doing.
Is there something that's distracting you?
I think it's the little friend that she has now.
You don't need to be distracted by anybody.
ASSISTANT COACH: 'Cause all it takes is that one time.
COACH G: Friends, men, that's all it takes.
You cannot let nobody stop you.
They not really rockin' with you
if they stopping you
-from getting what you need to get. -(MAISHA SPEAKING)
And if you are still a virgin, that's the way the hell you stay.
Because it's going to be a problem.
-(ASSISTANT COACH CHUCKLING) -(COACH G SPEAKING)
I'm going to let you go ahead and let me talk to your mom for a second.
(MAISHA SPEAKING)
I really think it's this little boy.
ASSISTANT COACH: And it probably is! It probably is.
MAISHA: But she knows her morals and values,
but sometimes she gets sidetracked.
I said don't have no children out of wedlock like me.
Because this is what you're going to go through.
(COACH G SPEAKING)
Keep communicating. Keep communicating.
(RHYTHMIC CLAPPING AND STOMPING)
MAISHA: If you don't keep up your grades, it's gonna be a problem.
Your goal is 4.0. Nothing less.
So you don't let anyone stop you from striving to get what you need to get.
Boys have cooties. Stay away!
Oh, I left my spray in the car.
BRIONA: I don't want my hair to be sticky, you know?
See, now I'm stressing 'cause it's raining outside.
(BRIONA SPEAKING)
What's wrong with rain?
-How my hair gonna stay down? -(MICHELLE SPEAKING)
Well, how about you all cancel this date
since it's a school night and do it another night?
(BLESSIN SPEAKING, LAUGHING)
No, let's do it.
(MICHELLE SPEAKING)
Is that paper done?
(BLESSIN SPEAKING)
No, not yet.
Oh, here you go, my station, right here.
Lo mein, baby.
I want to start off
probably, like, in Baltimore
and eventually make my way up to New York.
New York?
New York is the place to be. Choreography, Broadway.
What? Everybody wants to move to New York.
Everybody wants to do that.
I'm not saying you not one in a million.
I'm not saying that.
So what are you saying?
If I couldn't get, in case of an emergency, that, you know...
That's what I'm saying! Like, I wouldn't be that far.
Obviously we have two different views on it.
Our views on what?
Me going to college.
It's not about you going to college.
You're saying you basically want me to stay in the city
without just saying that exact thing.
That's what you want to do, go ahead.
Go ahead. That's what you want to do.
Everything that I'm saying, you're just, like, "But this, but that." "Location."
"You don't have money for this.
"You don't have money for that."
If I don't have it, I'm gonna find a way,
I've been doing it my whole life.
Well, do it then.
(MILD MUSIC PLAYING ON SPEAKER)
I will.
All right.
(INDISTINCT SHOUTING IN HALLWAY)
PAULA: This year, Blessin was doing really well,
and then she started slipping.
I'm not exactly sure why or what happened
and, I don't know, maybe it's that...
Maybe it's that she thinks she can't get into college,
so what's the point of even doing well?
Things happen at home. Things happen outside.
Girlfriends, boyfriends, all kinds of things and then
we're right back where we started.
Hello!
Hello! So, I spoke to your teachers.
-Mmm-hmm. -Here's what we have.
When we pull up your progress report,
you have, as of the day
that Mr. Cournoyer had to submit his grades,
you had a 38.
Are these grades your best?
Does this show as good as you are?
No.
Why does the step team get your best and I don't,
in this building in a classroom?
I'm trying. And it's a learning process.
I was where you were.
School is what got me out of Brooklyn.
College is what's gonna get you out of Baltimore.
I need to make sure that you are right when you leave this building.
So understand, am I always gonna be on your case
until June third? Yes.
Because I expect more from you. We clear?
All right.
Now I need to go find somebody to put my makeup on.
I love you dearly and I'll see you later.
(EXCLAIMS IN FRUSTRATION)
BLESSIN: I have, like, two people inside of me
that I struggle with every day.
One Blessin is the Blessin that is unstoppable,
the Blessin that can do anything when she put her mind to it.
And the other Blessin is, she feels lost a lot
and she feels stuck.
COACH G: You want to just do that one move or you want to do it with her?
-I got it. -COACH G: Let's see.
Five, six, just you two, five, six, seven, eight.
You didn't even do that. Hold on, you ain't do that right.
I know! It's just this...
Blessin! You gotta not have a bad attitude,
because things are gonna change.
Hers has changed three times and look at her. She doesn't look sad.
-Be a leader. -(BLESSIN SPEAKING)
Okay, Coach, I got it.
COACH G: Let's see. Five, six...
I'm so disappointed in Blessin.
Everyone's complaining about her.
She has a really bad attitude a lot of the times.
And now it's gotten to the point where
-she's threatening someone. -(COACH G SPEAKING)
Excuse me! Excuse me!
She was talking about it like I have no talent.
The end. It's over.
I said I'm going to break her and that was rude. How is it over?
She needs to apologize.
Apologize! For what?
You know what, Blessin? You can actually step outside because you're not listening.
And I will. I will step outside.
Thank you. Appreciate it.
COACH G: I think that she realizes Naysa, Tayla
and a lot of the other girls are going off to college,
and she has been screwing around all this time
and now she's seeing,
"Dang, I should've been doing what I was supposed to be doing.
"I should have been doing
"what Tayla and Naysa were doing."
(ANSWERING MACHINE BEEPS)
(ON PHONE) Hi, this is Mrs. Bond calling from the Baltimore Leadership School
for Young Women.
Blessin did not attend school today.
Please call me back to let me know that everything is okay.
She said she basically needed a break,
because she felt like she would have been too confrontational
if she had gone to school,
and she don't want to mess up,
uh, the work that she has achieved so far.
When I look at her, I see myself so much.
But she's doing a wonderful, wonderful job
at handling it, because, physically,
I would have beat the shit out of them two girls by now and anybody else.
That's the only thing Blessin don't take after me.
And trying to get her to restrain that is a big part for me.
And that's the truth.
(HUMMING)
GENEVA: So where you been? What's going on?
You already know what happened.
GENEVA: Well, I just need to hear it from your mouth.
I need to hear it from your mouth.
I told you yesterday, like,
I see myself beating them up. Like I told you.
(GENEVA SPEAKING)
But I don't want you to go there physically.
Yeah! Like, I was really ready to fight.
Both of them.
Tayla first, then Naysa.
They text, they hang with each other outside of school.
I'm just irritated as hell, who am I gonna talk to on the team?
GENEVA: Mmm-hmm.
Which one of them am I gonna talk to? None of them.
It's annoying,
but it's life.
-I'm fine, Mom. -I know you are.
-I just hate talking about it, like... -GENEVA: I know you do.
GIRLS: (SINGING) Happy birthday, dear Tayla
Happy birthday to you
(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)
It's your birthday.
-"Your." -(MAISHA SPEAKING)
What was going on yesterday?
Ain't my child, ain't my problem.
This is my birthday. Let's talk about me.
MAISHA: But it becomes all of y'all problem, because like I said before,
there's no "I" in "team". Y'all are a team.
There's definitely an "I" in Blessin. In Blessin. Never mind.
MAISHA: It saddens me for you all to be thinking like that.
Us?
MAISHA: Yes.
The people that come to practice,
and we don't bring our problems into practice
and we talk to each other about our problems.
MAISHA: Everybody is different.
You never know what a person is going through.
(NAYSA SPEAKING)
So we're supposed to figure it out?
I'm not saying figure it out.
What I'm saying is, have a little bit more
consideration than what you all do.
Just be there as a friend.
(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)
COACH G: I don't know what more I can say.
I've been pleading with you all.
'Cause I don't want you all to go and lose.
We have the material. Y'all can step!
You want to know what's stopping y'all if y'all do lose? You!
Next week, like literally one, two, three, four, five practices, that's it!
That's all you have!
You have an hour and five practices.
And you can either walk away with your head down crying,
because y'all came all the way to Bowie
for the how many other times and lost.
(GENEVA SPEAKING)
You got some mail in there from...
BLESSIN: From where?
One of the colleges. I don't know which one.
(SCOFFS)
Came today.
-For real? -Mmm-hmm.
I'm scared.
Go open them.
They're right there on the table.
BLESSIN: Michelle! GENEVA: Oh.
Potomac just sent me some mail.
-Potomac University, West Virginia. -(MICHELLE SPEAKING)
What it say?
I don't know. I don't want to open it.
Open it.
(MICHELLE ENCOURAGING BLESSIN)
(SIGHS)
(READING) "Thank you for applying to Potomac State University, West Virginia.
"I regret to inform you that you,
"that you are unable to...
"That we are unable to admit you for Fall 2016."
MICHELLE: What school was that?
GENEVA: Potomac in West Virginia.
ANDRE: It's not the end of the world.
BLESSIN: Man, if I could've went and did that interview, I'd have got in there.
I'm telling you, man, my people skills are serious.
It's cool though. 'Cause in a few years, they gonna know
that they should have let me in that university,
'cause I'm gonna make the whole world know.
(SINGING) Tell 'em I'm your man
You're my girl
(SONG PLAYING ON SPEAKERS)
(EXHALES)
PAULA: So, Miss Blessin, always a pleasure.
Thank you for sharing, you know, your Potomac decision with me.
I had already spoken with Admissions
and asked them if I could send them your mid-year grades and move you
from that decision to waitlist. Okay?
(BLESSIN SPEAKING)
Miss Dofat, I don't want to stay at my mother's house.
I don't... I can't. I want to go. (CHUCKLES)
It's that time. I don't want to be home.
Okay. All right. So, I'll tell you what.
We'll put a couple of plans in place, and all of those plans
will have you outside of your home.
So, you're at a 2.67 for the semester.
You should be proud of yourself.
So you got to stay focused, stay on this track.
I'm trying.
You're not trying, you're doing it.
All right, thank you, Miss Dofat.
-Can I have a hug? -Yes! All the time.
(INDISTINCT)
(TRIANA SPEAKING)
Seriously, don't overthink.
Just go with the flow of things. You know, that's my motto.
(CORI SPEAKING)
That was the plan.
-(BOTH LAUGH) -(TRIANA SPEAKING)
You are my child.
PAULA: So, Johns Hopkins, we've been waiting since tenth grade,
so let's pull it up and let's see what we have.
-Oh, my God. Mom, you good? -TRIANA: No, are you?
-Yeah, yeah. I'm gonna hope I'm good. -TRIANA: I'm good.
PAULA: Oh, now available.
(GASPS)
I got in!
(WOMEN SHRIEK AND LAUGH)
-Congratulations! -CORI: I really was not expecting to get in.
Read this out loud. What does that say?
CORI: (READING) "As a Baltimore Scholar,
"you'll receive a full tuition award
"for all four years of your undergrad study at Hopkins."
TRIANA: Full tuition!
(ALL CHEERING AND LAUGHING)
PAULA: You are so welcome!
TRIANA: See this pat on my back?
PAULA: Oh, my... Yes! (LAUGHS)
(CORI SPEAKING)
I'm surprised I got in.
Why, though?
Your scores were high enough to get into the school.
You know, Hopkins looks for a certain type of people.
And you're one of them. And I didn't know I was one of them.
-Changing the game, Cori. -(CHUCKLES)
Changing the game, shortie! (LAUGHS)
I don't know if the words that I know
are adequate enough to describe how I feel.
(WOMAN AND CHOIR SINGING GOSPEL MUSIC)
There is always light at the end of the tunnel.
We are all human, we all go through things.
The common denominator between every human is we have problems
and they will keep coming
and so you get up from that place.
You can't stay there.
God has blessed me.
A lot of parents who had children my age,
they don't have this story. (CHUCKLES)
WOMAN: (SINGING) How great
Is our God?
WOMAN: (THOUGH SPEAKERS) Come on, just sing, people of God, "How great".
How great is our God.
CHOIR: (SINGING) Is our God?
WOMAN: Sing, sing with me
How great...
Hey!
-TAYLA: This is so nice. -I'm so proud of you!
I have some fantastic news.
Your niece got accepted into Alabama A&M.
Ah!
Yeah!
I'm excited. I'm about to do cartwheels.
No, I need you alive for when I go.
Um...
You know the thing hang low. You know it does.
Ah. (SHRIEKS)
TAYLA: She's so excited.
(STOMPING RHYTHMICALLY)
Mom, look.
GRANDMA: (ON PHONE) You're a smart cookie!
Must take after your grandma.
I take after my mom.
MAISHA: Hey!
Proud Mommy.
GRANDMA: Aren't we all.
Our children did good.
Yeah.
My mommy do good.
Proud daughter.
GRANDMA: Let me call Marla and see if she's home.
MAISHA: All right.
GIRL: (SINGING) Goin' on a journey
ALL: (SINGING) We're goin' on a journey
We're on our way to college We're on our way to college
And we gonna get there
Hello!
Hey, Miss Blessin.
How are you?
(INDISTINCT INTRODUCTIONS)
PAULA: So the program that we're talking about is BridgeEdU.
It's a first-year college program,
and it combines academics, real-world internships,
and you have coaches through your academic time there.
-I have a question. -BLESSIN: Mmm-hmm.
If you could start your high school over,
what would you do differently?
First, I would come every day. Um...
And not only come physically,
but just be in class mentally,
and just know what's going on, be engaged.
Lot of the times when I didn't understand exactly what was going on,
I would just shut down or I just wouldn't be there.
And then once I got my first report card back that I actually tried on,
it just gave me a good feeling, and I don't want to let it go.
I want to keep persevering. I want to keep seeing what I can offer,
what I can do. What can I learn?
We're gonna see where this goes. We don't know, but, um,
we're gonna put it in and we're gonna go for it.
Thank you so much. Nice meeting you.
JUANITA S. BELLAMY: You're welcome. Nice meeting you.
BLESSIN: Have a great day.
I'm gonna say this to you in all honesty,
and understand, I'm not trying to put pressure on you,
but this program is truly what she needs.
If this girl doesn't get in this program...
JUANITA: We understand.
I don't know...
We understand.
She's made her mistakes, she's done her stuff, but...
I'm just saying, if we don't come together for this,
this girl is not gonna make it.
Thank you.
So, I'm just asking, please, to really, really consider...
This is so unprofessional. I'm so sorry.
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)
COACH G: What are you doing?
I'm filling out... Okay, so,
I got into this program, well... Mmm...
God willing, I got into the program,
but yesterday, I had an interview...
You're applying for a program?
BLESSIN: Yes. BridgeEdU.
I was thinking, like, okay, so what if I really gotta stay at my mother's house?
-What's gonna be that change for me? -That's the struggle!
High school, I completely messed up.
-I wasn't even in school. -You dropped out?
I dropped out. Yes.
And when I got my head on my shoulders, like, dang!
I really shouldn't have messed up.
I really should've been buckled down.
That's where I'm at right now. I'm at that point right now.
I can tell. I can tell it's hard,
but you have to know it's not too late.
I genuinely did not know, like,
that you stopped school and then...
Mmm-hmm.
You did all of that. Like, I want to do that.
Like, I really do want to do exactly what you did.
Do better. Do better.
BLESSIN: "It is never too late to make a turnaround.
"I have made contributions to my school environment,
"including being a founder, the founder,
"of the step team at BLSYW.
"I will be the first person in my family to go to college
"and I will be more than honored
"to join the BridgeEdU...
-Family. -"...family."
This is good.
COACH G: Listen up!
I need everybody over here around this mat.
The only way this is gonna make it in the show is if we work together
and you all be safe and practice technique.
Our arms are tight, right?
Whose hand is in my spine? Move it now!
ADAJAH: I'm slipping.
(ALL CONVERSING INDISTINCTLY)
(SHRIEKS)
ALL: Ten, 11!
COACH G: Breathe!
Let's go, ladies, let's go!
(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)
(GROANS)
COACH G: Good. Good!
Yes, ladies.
BLESSIN: If you feel comfortable you can scoot
it over a little bit, but just not in the back.
COACH G: So where do the knees need to go for it to feel comfortable?
Mine's right here.
Being with them, little did they know it or not,
it really was just something that I needed.
Okay, this is a lot better.
They never let me forget, like, Blessin,
you know, it's not too late to fix that
and, you know, start over.
COACH G: Good job, Blessin.
Naysa, yes!
Go ahead, Amanda!
Okay, Najia!
That's what I'm talking about.
Oh, my God, I can't concentrate, you all look so good!
Give me life!
Good job!
Yes!
Good!
Great job!
Guys, let's go!
I need y'all to gather around for one second.
All right, I need to get one more run-through.
This is the last time you all stepping.
The literally last time you stepping for Bowie
before you hit the stage.
From Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women,
(GIRL WHOOPING)
the Lethal Ladies of BLSYW Step Team!
ALL: I bet you remember. I bet you remember.
COACH G: That's what I'm talking about!
Go Kiante! Go Kiante! Go Kiante!
ALL: Do you remember the time?
We're gonna win.
So let's talk about what we're gonna wear tomorrow walking in.
'Cause what did you all, like...
Like a lot of the girls' teams, they always coordinated like the whole thing.
They come in with their leggings on,
their representative shirts, like their heels on.
All together in a straight line, look like a parade.
I think that we got something that will work for everyone.
And that will be what Ms. Hamilton is wearing.
(ALL CLAMORING AND SHOUTING)
You get a tracksuit! You get a tracksuit!
(ALL CHATTERING EXCITEDLY)
Let's practice walking in.
-Five, six... -AMANDA: What we doin'?
We walkin'. Five, six... Play the music.
(RAP MUSIC STARTS PLAYING)
COACH G: All right, walk like this.
And point like, "You all know us."
You all know us! You all gotta point like,
"You all know us! You all know us!"
Throw these up. We back! We back!
We got a new coach! We back!
(RAP MUSIC CONTINUES PLAYING)
MAN: (SINGING) Yeah, yeah
I'm from Baltimore, you say you was, I never seen you
What part you on? I got some family on The Alameda
I love my city, ask about me and I bet they know me
My name good in any hood I hung around Tivoly
I got a... that live on Appleton she love them killers
When I re-up I hit my partner...
BLESSIN: Real dramatic stage makeup.
My uncle Jimmy 'round the corner on the avenue
You baller blocking that's the type of shit I never do
BLESSIN: All right, next person!
...you know what kind of shit I'm on
But I be everywhere I sold drugs in Woodlawn
I know some...down the hill that got it for the low
I live in Bird City... You already know
(AUDIENCE CHEERING)
(MAN TALKING INDISTINCTLY OVER SPEAKERS)
(AUDIENCE CHEERING)
(MEN CHANTING ON TV)
(APPLAUDING AND CHEERING)
All right, let's go, ladies. Let's go!
NAJIA: Lethal... ALL: ...Ladies!
ALL: LLOB!
(ALL WHOOPING)
(MAN TALKING INDISTINCTLY ON SPEAKERS)
(COACH G SPEAKING)
You all got this. Don't forget your marks.
Don't forget your marks. Let's take this W.
Ladies and gentlemen, would you please welcome LLOB!
(ALL CHEERING)
We are...
ALL: BLSYW step team, all right, all right, all right.
BLSYW step team,
all right, all right, all right.
Lethal Ladies!
(AUDIENCE CHEERING)
Lethal Ladies!
(AUDIENCE CHEERING)
COACH G: Go, ladies!
(AUDIENCE CHEERING)
STEP TEAM: (CHANTING) That's for sure.
That the Lethal Ladies of BLSYW
are the ones you can't resist.
Sisterhood and integrity,
you mess with my sister and you mess with me.
We step with soul, we step with pride.
Lethal Ladies till the day we die.
(AUDIENCE CHEERING AND APPLAUDING)
COACH G: Y'all killed it!
Y'all killed it. Y'all killed it.
(YELLS)
Y'all did good.
WOMAN: (THROUGH SPEAKERS) There's a lot of girl power on this stage tonight.
Our third-place team with a high score of 760 points,
Charles Herbert Flowers High School.
(ALL CHEERING)
Our second-place winners, who get a check for $500, is
Paint Branch High School!
(ALL CHEERING)
And our first-place winner with a high score of 803
and the winner of $1,000,
the Lethal Ladies BLSYW step team!
(ALL CHEERING)
(RAP MUSIC PLAYING)
(SINGING) I'm from Baltimore, you say you was, I never seen you
What part you on? I got some family on The Alameda
I love my city, ask about me and I bet they know me
My name good in any hood I hung around Tivoly
I got a... that live on Appleton she love them killers
When I re-up I hit my partner them in Garden Village
My uncle Jimmy 'round the corner on the avenue
You baller blocking that's the type of shit I never do
I'm from the east side you know what kind of...I'm on
But I be everywhere I sold drugs in Woodlawn
I know some... down the hill that got it for the low
I live in Bird City... You already know
And I don't go nowhere unless a...strapped up
And if you...a Morgan... You better strap up
It's been a long road.
Long road from stomping in the kitchen
to bringing home the bacon!
Right! We showed them!
(ALL CONVERSING EXCITEDLY)
BLESSIN: Step is definitely something that can help you, because it helped me.
Step taught me discipline. Step taught me to be courageous.
Make people smile, make people laugh, make people want to dance.
Step gave me a mission, that if you come together
with a group of powerful women,
the impact will be immense.
And I'm very happy to be a part of that.
(HORNS HONKING)
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)
MAISHA: Oh, my gosh, Tayla. You ready?
This is it.
We thank You, Father God, that Cori is strong
in her mind, in her spirit, in her body.
It's all because of Your grace,
it's all because of Your glory.
(INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC PLAYING)
(SINGING) Feel the sound
(AUDIENCE CHEERING)
Of your heartbeat
Daring love
CHEVONNE HALL: To the class of 2016, I say congratulations.
100% of you were accepted into college, and let's be clear,
that does not happen in all schools in the United States.
(ALL CHEERING)
CORI: Good evening, everyone.
We stand here today on the precipice of the future.
It's not a distant reality anymore.
We began high school as children,
but we're leaving here as adults,
or at least something pretty close to it.
The future is truly in our hands, so let's make the most of it.
-Thank you. -(ALL CHEERING)
Cori Danielle Grainger.
Naysa Priscilla Reames.
Domonique Imani Hall.
Kiante Corone Moore.
Najia Quonya Johnson.
Amanda Gabrielle Leonard.
Yakema Chantelle Rosland Barkley.
Diamond Monique Cache Hill. Tyrina Teresa Sneed.
Tamar Denae Dennis.
Tayla Denise Solomon.
That's my baby!
WOMAN: Blessin Sierria Giraldo.
It is my pleasure to congratulate the founding class
of the Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women.
The class of 2016.
(ALL CHEERING)
Mama! I graduated!
-GENEVA: I love you so much. -I love you, too.
So happy!
You're so dramatic. Are you crying?
-Give me my baby! -Okay.
To know how it feels to fly
Together we can go high
Stronger, deeper Light my fire
Even though the world is cold
Even when the world is cold
You can stand on my shoulder
Can't keep sitting down
Get up, spread your magic all around
It's not brave if you're not afraid
Trust the light, it'll lead the way
You gotta fight if you wanna win
If you fall, get up and start again
To make it to the other side
It's not brave if you're not afraid
To get to the other side, jump
Ooh
(BOTH LAUGHING)
(CHANTING INDISTINCTLY)
P-R-E-C...
(VOCALIZING)
(INSPIRATIONAL SONG PLAYING)
(SINGING) Don't look down
Feel the sound
Of your heartbeat
Daring love
It's not brave
If you're not afraid
To set darkness ablaze
And light up like faith
You got to jump
Go jump
'Cause the whole world's waiting
No more hesitating, jump
Oh, jump
We want to be
As born in belief, jump
Oh, jump
To get to the other side, jump
To know how it feels to fly, jump
Together we can go high
Stronger, deeper, light my fire
Even though the world is cold
You can stand on my shoulder
Can't keep sitting down
Get up, spread your magic all around
Ooh
Jump
'Cause the whole world's waiting, jump
No more hesitating
Jump
Oh, jump
Who you wanna be
Jump
When your knees are shaking
When your heart is racing Jump
Oh, jump
Jump
There's no guarantees
That you'll land on your feet Just jump
Oh, jump
To get to the other side
Get to the other side
To know how it feels to fly, jump
Together we can go high
Stronger, deeper, light my fire
Even though the world is cold
The world is colder
You can stand on my shoulder
On my shoulder
Can't keep sitting down
Get up, spread your magic all around
What do you got to know?
What have you got to lose?
Jump It's your move
Ooh