Bolero

In 1910 New York, Raoul De Baere works as a coal miner while nurturing a dream to become a dancer. He tries to persuade his brother Mike to manage his career and envisions moving to Europe to open a Paris nightclub. The start of his journey hinges on finding a way to turn his passion into a profession.

Raoul teams with Lucy and they become a successful dance duo at a beer garden in New Jersey. Lucy is attracted to Raoul, but he keeps business boundaries strict and avoids mixing romance with work. Their early triumph gives him hope for a bigger break in Europe.

Raoul travels to Paris and performs with various partners, eventually teaming with Leona, a new partner who becomes his onstage equal. They tour as a dancing act and gain attention in the Paris night scene. Leona hopes for romance as part of the partnership, testing Raoul's boundaries.

Leona pursues a romance, but Raoul remains focused on dance. Mike, Raoul's brother, begins a romantic relationship with Leona, though he dislikes her jealousy and wage demands. The dynamic complicates their working relationship and adds personal tension.

Former Ziegfeld chorus girl Helen Hathaway convinces Raoul to team with her, and he quits his Paris gig to go to England with her. He dumps Leona as part of the career switch, hoping for a more prestigious partnership. Their collaboration begins amid touring and ambition.

On the bill with fan dancer Annette, Raoul learns that Lord Coray is romantically interested in Helen. The backstage chatter foreshadows romantic rivalries as the troupe navigates professional duties. Annette's push adds another layer of tension to the group.

While holidaying in Belgium, Raoul and Helen begin an affair, complicating their working relationship. The liaison marks a personal cost that will influence later decisions and loyalties. They continue to perform together despite the growing tension.

Raoul opens a nightclub in Paris and devises an athletic Boléro routine with Helen. The piece showcases their physical prowess and the music of Ravel, signaling a peak in their collaboration. They aim to captivate audiences with a groundbreaking number.

News of World War I breaks out, distracting the audience during Raoul and Helen's debut. Raoul halts the performance and delivers a patriotic speech, promising not to dance until the war ends. The moment marks a turning point as his career shifts toward national service.

Helen learns that Raoul's patriotic speech was publicity, and she leaves him to work as a nurse and eventually marry Lord Coray. The rift ends their on-stage partnership as the war consumes their lives. Raoul's dream now faces a new course as personal loyalties fracture.

Raoul and Mike enlist and serve in the army, with Raoul sustaining a wound that suspends his dancing ambitions. On Armistice Day, a doctor warns that any further exertion could kill him. The war leaves him scarred and forces a rethinking of his future.

After the war, Raoul searches for Helen but cannot find her. He reconnects with Annette and the two reform a dance team, seeking to revive their careers in the postwar era. The detour with Helen leaves open questions about his romantic entanglements.

Raoul reopens his Paris nightclub and features the Boléro dance once again. The event signals a return to performance and a hope for renewed success in the postwar cultural scene. The audience anticipation is high as the routine re-enters the spotlight.

On opening night, Annette is too drunk to perform, and Helen steps in from the audience to take her place. The performance earns thunderous applause, but Raoul's body bears the strain of the routine. He collapses during the encore and dies, ending his turbulent life on stage.