Dance academy owner and instructor Pierre Dulaine (Antonio Banderas) offers to help troubled detention students in a South Bronx high school. His formal ballroom style sharply differs from their hip-hop moves. After watching a hot tango sequence between Pierre and instructor Morgan (Katya Virshilas), the students begin to warm up to Pierre’s approach. His work with the students proves successful and they compete in the 25th Annual Grand Ballroom Competition.

Behavior Modification: Learning Ballroom Dancing

This film sequence has two parts with a title screen between them. The first part starts with Pierre saying, “So, as your principal has made me your executioner, you will report to me every morning here at 7:30 A.M.”  This part ends after Pierre sings, “You’re dancing, you’re dancing...”

The second part begins with Pierre saying “The waltz. It cannot be done without trust between partners.”  This sequence ends with Rock (Rob Brown) and LaRhette (Yaya DaCosta) continuing with their practice.

1.Rock and LaRhette are trying to learn the waltz. Which of the two approaches to learning described earlier in this chapter best apply to this film sequence? Do you see examples of classical conditioning or operant conditioning? Why?

2. This chapter discussed strategies of reinforcement, punishment, and extinction. Which of those strategies appear in the film sequence? Give examples from the film sequence to support your answer.

3. Apply the concepts described in the earlier section of this chapter, “Performance: A Key Construct,” to the film sequence. Which performance concepts do you see? Give specific examples of the concepts from the film sequences.