Merab has been training for years for a place in the Georgian National Dance Ensemble (and opportunity to travel worldwide). His brother  is also training but dropping out. He lives with brother mother and grandmother in small appartment struggling for money to live and works nights waiting in a restaurant. A new dancer joins the trainee ensemble just as a vacancy is announced in the main ensemble and 5 will be selected to audition. The vacancy is due to a senior dancer male being caught having sex with another man - totally unacceptable in the homophobic culture of Georgia.

Merab and the new guy are both selected for audition and their rivalry soon turns to (forbidden) love. Mareb sprains an ankle just before the auditions and the new guy disappears, reappearing apologetic and announcing he has to return to his family and will not be auditioning.

Mareb auditions with his sprained ankle and causes outrage by dancing not in the approved style, (slightly camp routine) and looses his chance.