Dance Macabre

A stern Madame Gordenko, wheelchair-bound, welcomes a new group of students to the secluded dance academy near Saint Petersburg. Anthony, the American dance instructor, and Olga, another teacher, establish the formal, exacting tone of the place. Jessica Anderson, a young American dancer, arrives and instantly senses Svetlana's memory looming over the halls.

Jessica struggles in her first ballet class, unable to match the traditional rhythms. Claudine offers to help but, after a quick spa trip, mysteriously disappears, deepening the sense that something is wrong. The mystery of Claudine's fate lingers as days pass inside the academy.

In the corridors, Jessica meets Alex, a photographer secretly sneaking into the academy to photograph Anthony and Gordenko. They share a spark, and later she joins him for a ride on his motorbike. The encounter plants a tentative connection amid the growing tension.

Olga informs Jessica that Claudine has left the academy, though Jessica remains unconvinced. Rumors of disappearances spread, making everyone wary. The atmosphere grows more claustrophobic as secrets begin to surface.

During a later lesson, Madame Gordenko pairs Jessica with a dancer named Angela, hoping to coax her into traditional ballet. Jessica still struggles with the classic style, but Gordenko sees potential in her intense energy. The pairing sows behind-the-scenes tension among the students.

Jessica discovers Ingrid dancing alone in the academy's attic, where Ingrid reveals she struggles with addiction. The attic becomes a quiet, ominous space that hints at the skeletons hiding in the school's walls. The moment deepens the sense that not all is as it seems.

Anthony offers Jessica a private lesson to help her improve, signaling that he recognizes a potential star in her. The one-on-one session promises focused attention away from the group. The intimate setting foreshadows a line between mentorship and danger.

At a recital featuring male dancers, Angela creates a disruption and is sent offstage by Olga. Later, Angela is discovered murdered—hung from a rafter by an unseen assailant—leaving a chilling clue in the wake of the performance. The academy reels as the deaths begin to mount.

Meanwhile, Natasha walks her boyfriend Ivan to the station. After his train departs, a mysterious killer pushes her onto the tracks. The brutal act confirms that danger has infiltrated the school’s world and threatens everyone left behind.

That night, Anthony and Olga take the girls to a nightclub, where Jessica reconnects with Alex and they share a kiss. Anthony watches the pair with a troubled gaze, his memories of Svetlana complicating his judgment. Afterward, Jessica and Alex sleep together, binding their fates more tightly.

The following morning, Anthony announces Natasha's death to the remaining students, underscoring the threat that hangs over the academy. Fear and paranoia spread as more disappearances and suspicious events occur. The school’s once-polished veneer continues to crack.

Ingrid returns to the attic but is killed by the attacker, who is soon revealed to be Gordenko herself. The revelation ties the violence directly to the academy’s founder and exposes the depth of the danger. Jessica senses the noose tightening around everyone she’s come to know.

Jessica follows Alex to Anthony's quarters, where she and Olga discover Claudine and Angela's bodies hidden in a cupboard. Gordenko appears and fatally stabs Alex, while Olga accidentally stabs herself in the ensuing struggle. Anthony enters as Olga dies, whispering that their secret is safe.

With everyone else gone, Jessica remains and is trained for the upcoming audition by Anthony, who dresses her in a Svetlana-like wig to honor Svetlana's memory. The environment has grown eerie, yet he insists on shaping her into a final revelation for the school. The pressure to perform becomes almost unbearable.

On the eve of the performance, Gordenko attacks Jessica and speaks in Anthony's voice, revealing a split personality designed to keep Svetlana's memory alive. He tries to drug her, and Jessica blacks out, waking in her room to a bouquet of roses signed Svetlana. Anthony arrives with a gun and forces her to perform at the audition, but she dances in her own style as Gordenko resurfaces to shoot from the balcony. In a final act of clarity, Anthony overcomes the persona and hurls himself from the balcony to save her, dying in her arms as he whispers, 'You danced for me.'