A female choreographer must overcome a sexist dance world in order to be win the LA City Tap Competition all while fighting violent dance hallucinations.
Grungy CHARLIE (30s) is undoubtedly the standout tap choreographer at her LA company, infusing dark and emotional tones into her routine, all while juggling her waitressing job at the local strip club. But her undeniable abilities are ignored by the male-led team who whisper of a previous female choreographer who suffered from a mental breakdown mid-season. When Charlie is once again passed over for a statewide competition, she fights against her insecurities and quits the company, entering the competition herself. But as the pressure and financial requirements grow, Charlie’s dark tap sequences blend into her reality, blurring every line that she has left. Can she fight against her own demons in order to prove herself once and for all?
Nikki Groton is a Los Angeles queer writer/director telling surreal female-driven stories.
In 2015, she produced, directed, and edited the feature documentary "The Melting Family." Working on a bare bones budget with minimal crew, Groton spent over five years compiling archive footage and interviews. The film made its world premiere at DOC NYC, America’s largest documentary film festival.
In 2020, she released the feature film "Darkness in Tenement 45," a psychological thriller that she wrote, directed, and produced. Dread Central called it "a candidate for my favorite movie of the year." The film had screenings at Sarasota Film Festival, Heartland Film Festival, and Terror Molins Film Festival. It's now available across VOD platforms. Most recently, she produced, wrote, and directed her proof-of-concept short film “Shadow Dancer.” The film made its world premiere at the Oscar-qualifying LA Shorts International Film Festival in July 2024.
Groton has also been recognized for her screenwriting from organizations such as the Academy’s Nicholl Fellowship, Creative World Awards, Fresh Voices, Austin Film Festival’s script competition, PAGE, Holly Shorts, and Script Pipeline. She has been featured on Coverfly’s Red List and held the top 1% of screenplays on the platform.
Director of Photography - Carissa Dorson
