Consider how dancing is used to show fear of change
Strictly Ballroom displays that people naturally have a fear of change and the unknown. This is done through the characters of Yaya, Barry Fife and Doug Haystings.
Doug Haystings throughout the movie is shown as a cowardly man who does nothing more than run around trying to make himself look busy to those around him. He does not seem to fit in nor belong to the community around him. In the flashback this is shown not to be the case. He instead was turned into this cowardly ‘small’ man because in his past he tried to challenge the dancing community. In the final scenes Doug says to his son Scott ‘We had the chance but we were scared. We walked away. WE LIVED OUR LIVES IN FEAR!’ this shows the fear that they had of being different and simply complying with the rules and regulations set in place by those around him.
Barry Fife is the main character opposed to change during the movie. He puts down those around him who try and be different and break out of the status-quo and when people attempt to rise up he simply resorts to his own ‘devil like’ methods to make sure things go his way. Barry rules those around him by making them feel out of place and different if they oppose what has always been set in place. He is afraid of losing his power and does not like the unknown factor in change. In the movie Barry says ‘There are no new steps!’ displaying his direct and angry reaction to people wanting and thinking that change may occur.
Yaya (Fran’s grandmother) inspires and pushes Fran and Scott to break out of the old traditions and to be lights who will guide a new breed of ballroom dancing. She does this by believing in them and supporting Scott as he learns the ‘El Pasco’. She inspires them with the quote ‘A life lived in fear is a life half-lived’, this line is a main theme and tagline of the movie showing that if you simply go along with everybody else you are not achieving anything. You must not expect...