So, You Think You Can't Dance:
NOTE: Some of the story is based on an episode from an unaired Nicktoon, 'Adventures in Wonder Land', with the same title.
At Royal Woods High School, the first class bell rang, and Luan and Benny stared up at a dance banner hanging above them...
Luan: (excited) Wow! We're having a school dance. I can see it now... the lights, the music, the dancing. I might even bust out my "party" socks. (to Benny) You need a pair? I got a sock guy... that guy is my dad.
Benny looked around and motioned for Luan to come closer...
Benny (whispering) The thing is, I'm not sure if I'm going to go.
Luan: What!? Why not?
Benny thought for a moment. He wanted to tell Luan that he couldn't dance well, but he wondered how he could say it to her? Before Benny can answer, the next bell rang...
Luan: Well, we better bust a move to class. (laughs) Get it?
Benny looked up nervously at the school dance banner. That afternoon, he was at the auditorium with members of the Java/Theater Club...
Benny: Alright squad. I need some serious advice.
Amy: Okay, what's up?
Benny: (sighs) So here's the thing. Luan asked me to be her dance partner at our upcoming school dance and-
Lyberti: Lemme stop ya right there, Benny. You're a great choice. What moves do you and Luan have planned?
Benny: It's just- (leaning into Lyberti) I can't dance! And if I go, I'm not only gonna embarrass myself, I'll embarrass Luan!
Parvana: Psh, this is an easy peasy, lemon squeezy fix. I'm one of the best dancers around.
Benny has a confused look...
Benny: Really, Parvana?
Parvana: Awwwww yeah! I'd be happy to show you. I can brake... (she break dances)
Snake... (she does the worm) And shake...
Parvana wiggles her shoulders backward and forward. June laughs.
Benny: Wow! That's pretty good.
Parvana: So, is that a yes?
Benny takes this in for a beat. A smile builds.
Parvana: Meet me back here after school, and I'm show you
Benny: Let's do it. I'm gonna learn how to dance!
After the last bell of the day, an excited Benny runs up his locker, where Luan was waiting for him...
Benny: Luan! Guess what?!
Luan: (Darth Vader voice) I am not Luan. I am the Locker-Ness Monster.
Benny is stunned, while Luan continues...
Luan: (cheerfully) Just kiddin', Benny. It was me the whole time!
Benny had to giggle at that.
Luan: Anyway, what is it? Are you going to the dance?!
Benny: So, I have some awesome news! I thought about your offer and... I'd love to be your dance partner!
Luan: (huge smile) Benny, I can't tell you how exciting this is! With my moves- and your moves- this dance is gonna be a move-fest!
Luan and Benny high-fived each other, and laughed. After school, Benny went to meet Parvana at a dance studio to begin his dance training. He enters to see not just Parvana,
but the rest of the Theater Club and Mrs. Bernardo there as well, wearing headbands in addition to dance outfits...
Benny: Whoa. What are you guys doing here? I thought I was only meeting Parvana here.
Ruby: We know how much you're stressin' about, like, not being able to dance. So
we figured we'd all, like, learn together.
Mrs. Bernardo: Yeah, we're throwin' a dance party... lesson.
Rex: I'm ready to get moving.
Leo: And I'm ready for a nap. Dancing
makes me tired.
Leo collapses face first.
Shannon: We haven't started dancing yet, Boomer.
Leo: Thinking about dancing makes me tired.
Spencer: Alright. Let's do this!
Bernardo: Parvana, are you ready?
Suddenly, rock music plays. Parvana steps up front of the Theater Club...
Parvana: Who's, ready, to, par-tay?!
Everyone nodded, including Benny.
Parvana: Everyone get those hands up!
Benny claps as the excited group follows. They're feeling it.
Parvana: Let's keep it tight and light. Dancing is about feeling the music and most importantly... having fun! Beat that beat up!
Parvana shuffles side to side alternating punching the air. Benny follows along.
Benny: (to himself) Hmm... dancing is easy!
Parvana: (continues) BEAT THAT BEAT UP! BEAT THAT BEAT UP!
Everyone in the Theater Club (and Benny) continued punching.
Parvana: Now chop the wood! Chop the wood and eat it... I said chop the wood and eat it.
Everyone does the dance motions like the swinging an axe in rhythm, then nibbling on an ear of corn. Benny begins to fall behind.
Benny combines all three moves in rapid succession. Benny is tying herself in knots!
Parvana: Now windmill, air flare, back flipper head spin, twist! That's a windmill air flare, back flipper head spin, twist...
Benny jumps flips, lands on his head and spins.
Benny: Parvana!
Parvana continues to spin on her head getting a word out each rotation.
Parvana: What... is... it... Benny?
She immediately stops spinning, and jumped up to her feet.
Benny: Can't you slow it down a little bit? We're all beginners here.
Parvana: But... everyone else is getting it.
Parvana motions. Benny's eyes dart around in the room: Spencer stands rigidly in the middle of the dance floor.
Spencer: Safety in the front... (turning and shaking his butt) ... Dance party in da back!
Ruby is still spinning on her head, and Shannon does a solo interpretive hippie dance and shimmies.
Benny: Um, no one is getting it.
Bernardo: They're all feeling the music in their own way, Benny. Dancing is about having fun, remember?
Parvana: Here, try this. The Wobble.
After seeing how Parvana did the Wobble dance, Benny was dejected, and took a seat in the front row...
Benny: (sigh) The dance is tomorrow and I got nothin'! (sigh) I didn't want to do this, but there's only one way to avoid embarrassing myself and Luan. I gotta back out of the dance... ya know?
Benny then got up, and walked out of the auditorium. The next day, at his locker in school, Benny saw a kneeling Luan waiting for him. She presented a box to him with a bow on it.
Luan: I come baring gifts, good sir.
June smiles and opens the box to...
Benny: Is this- (smelling) Clam chowder?... In a box?
Luan: Oh! Sorry, that's for someone else. This one is for you.
Luan pulls another box from her backpack. Benny opens it... to see a pair of orthotics. (leg braces)
Benny: Cool... orthotics.
Luan: You gotta stay geared up from the feet up!
Benny: This is so thoughtful. But I think we need to talk...
Luan: Oh no! They're not the right size?
Benny: Actually, these are a perfect fit. It's just... (pauses for a moment) ...oooh my ankle. Yep, I was practicing for the dance last night and I twisted it.
Benny reaches for her ankle, cringes, and rubs it.
Benny: (winced) Agh. I don't think I'll heal in time for tonight. Can't dance at all. Sorry!
Benny begins to faux hobble away, really selling it, leaving a confused Luan, who then puts her head down sadly...
Luan: If only I had given him the orthotics yesterday!
That night, Benny was sitting in the living room in his house, watching TV, thinking about the dance...
Benny: Dance must be in full swing by now.
Maybe I should make sure they're not having too much fun without me.
He gets out a tablet, mashes a few buttons, then...
Benny: Hey, Parvana! How's the dance going?
On the tablet, there's a video of Parvana at the dance with others.
Parvana: Woo! This is the best night of my life! Party time!
Woman: (off-screen) Welp. That answers that question.
Benny turns to see his mother looking over his shoulder.
Benny's Mom: (continues) Your friends aren't having fun at all, Benny.
Parvana (on phone) I'm having so much fun!
Benny hangs up the phone.
Benny: (sighs) Maybe I should give this dancing thing one last shot.
June cues up a dance song on her phone.
Benny: Here we go... the Wobble. Just lick it and...
Benny jumps and spins.
Benny: (continued) ... stick it.
Benny's Mom: Oh, Benny! Your friend is here.
Benny freezes. Luan was staring back at him through the window! Her face is pressed against the glass, devastated, fogging it up. As she slowly pulls away the window, it's left a perfectly round, emoji looking 'sad face'. Benny quickly ran outside...
Benny: Luan, wait! It's not what it looks like!
But Luan walks away. Benny anxiously watches him leave. Benny's Mom puts a hand on his shoulder...
Benny's Mom: Go to her.
Benny follows Luan, on his bike, to Owen Walter Park, where he saw her sitting on a park bench, with a tub of vanilla of ice cream melting next to her. Benny pulled up behind Luan...
Benny: This seat taken?
Benny took a seat next to Luan.
Benny: (continues) So... why aren't you at the dance?
Luan: I came by to bring you some ice cream. I also had a bag of ice... and cream. I wasn't sure which one would make you feel better.
Benny: That... is really sweet.
Luan: Actually, the ice cream is sugar free. My mom's a dental assistant.
Benny: Al, I owe you a BIG apology.
Luan: I think I get it, Benny. You didn't want to be my dance partner.
Benny: That's kinda true. But not for the reason you think. See, word on the street is that you're a good dancer and I'm- well... not.
Luan lightens up a bit.
Benny: (continues) I just didn't want to embarrass you in front of the whole school. And if I'm being totes honest, I didn't wanna embarrass myself. (then, sighs) Luan I blew it. But... there might be a way to turn this whole night around...
Luan: (lighting up) Chocolate cream pies?!
Benny: Even better...
Benny gets out the orthotics that Luan gifted her.
Benny (continues) There's still time to get to that dance... partner.
Benny and Luan head to Royal Woods High School, and go to the auditorium, where the dance is in full swing.
Luan: It's glorious!
Parvana: Benny! Luan! You made it.
Benny: Parvana! You're really energetic.
Parvana: I felt the music on the dance floor!
Parvana slides and spins around. Benny and Luan giggled.
Suddenly, a new song starts to play.
Luan: (High-pitched scream) This is a rock jam! Benny! May I have this dance?
Luan puts out her hand.
Benny: Of course. Just gimme one sec.
Benny turns to psych himself up, taking a deep breath.
Benny: You got this, Benny Stein. Just feel the music. (shakes out his arms) Okay Luan, I'm ready to-
He turned around to see that Luan is gone. He notices a dance circle has formed on the dance floor. Benny pushes his way through it, finding Luan in the center of it dancing. She blissfully danced around the circle. After seeing that, Benny himself dived into the center of the circle with Luan, doing the Wobble dance, and those other dance moves that Parvana taught him.
Luan: Benny! Your moves are sick!
Benny: Wow, thank you, Luan. I just needed to feel the music.
A clap starts. One by one, the kids clapped for the dance couple, then they danced when they start to feel the music as well.
Following Luan and Benny's lead, their classmates let loose, making it a full on dance party. It's a beautiful sight of everyone doing their own thing. As Benny looks out at everyone dancing and having fun, him and Luan are at the center of it all... dancing the night away.