Dance with Me

After burying his mother in Santiago, Rafael Infante travels to Houston to work as a handyman for John Burnett at his dance studio. He soon learns that Burnett is the father he never knew, which opens up a new chapter in his life. The move marks the beginning of his entry into the world of dancing and competition.

Rafael arrives at Burnett's dance studio in Houston and begins to settle in. He quickly earns the friendship of Bea Johnson and Lovejoy, the studio receptionist, even as Burnett grows uneasy about the disruption. The dynamic shifts the studio's routine as the new arrival becomes a focal point.

Rafael forms a close bond with Ruby Sinclair, a dancer and instructor in the studio. Their growing attraction unfolds against the pressure of preparing for a Las Vegas competition. Ruby remains professionally focused, complicating Rafael's feelings.

Rafael's arrival earns him friendship from Bea Johnson and the studio receptionist Lovejoy. Burnett withdraws emotionally, worrying about how the new dynamics affect the planned routine. Patricia Black notices the shifting mood and starts feeling the strain on choreography.

Rafael and Ruby head downtown to fetch parts to repair Burnett's truck and are invited to a Cuban engagement party. The event allows them to open up about their pasts and futures. Rafael shares that his mother had died and that he never knew his father.

At the engagement party, Rafael reveals that his mother died and that he never knew his father, and Ruby reveals her own complicated past. The exchange deepens their connection, though it also foreshadows the personal obstacles ahead. They leave with a stronger—but still unresolved—knott of emotion.

Before the next weekend, Rafael invites Ruby to a dance party at a city club, and he helps Patricia with a dance lift, mentioning his mother's ballet influence. The shift in responsibilities foreshadows how their relationships will intersect in the upcoming performances. The trio's interactions add tension to their routine.

The group performs a Latin Salsa routine at a club, and afterward Rafael accompanies Ruby home. He discovers that Ruby has a seven-year-old son named Peter, fathered by her former partner Julian, a revelation that unsettles him. They share a passionate kiss, but Ruby breaks it off.

Rafael returns to Burnett's home to show off the refurbished truck, which delights Burnett. Patricia asks questions about John's recent lack of interest in choreography, and John tells her she can dance with Rafael, shifting the studio's rehearsal structure. The other dancers respond with surprise and curiosity.

Rafael overhears John and Lovejoy discussing that Ruby will be in Las Vegas without them and that names might be swapped for Patricia's routine. The possibility of manipulation unsettles Rafael, sowing doubt about his place in the lineup. The tension escalates as preparations for Vegas continue.

Rafael goes to see Ruby, who explains that she wanted Peter to know his father, but she does not want to be in love. The conversation reinforces the conflict between career goals and personal relationships. Rafael decides to return to Cuba rather than pursue a fragile romance.

During a fishing trip with Burnett, Rafael is stunned when Burnett asserts he should go back to Cuba after the competition and reveals there is no son. The brutal rejection devastates Rafael and cements his plan to return home. He resolves to perform his best at the competition before leaving.

In Las Vegas, Rafael informs Ruby that he plans to return to Cuba after the competition. Burnett, who had not attended, arrives to apologize and to persuade him to stay. They manage to continue the partnership for the sake of the performance.

The main dances unfold, with Ruby and her partner Julian competing while Ruby watches Rafael in the audience with longing. Beatrice Johnson unexpectedly joins Rafael for a humorous dance, delighting the crowd. The emotional tension peaks as Ruby's jealousy surfaces.

Ruby and Rafael's saga culminates in a final duet and a sense of reconciliation as the crowd cheers. The film ends with the studio members dancing together to You Are My Home, celebrating belonging and homecoming. Burnett's final gesture and the studio's closing performance seal the movie's hopeful tone.