Foil

Character Role Analysis

Baby/Penny

Baby and Penny come from two sides of the proverbial tracks, but both of them like to dance. It's easy to imagine Baby becoming a dancer at a younger age if she had a different family situation, one that was significantly less cushier than it actually is. Baby never danced before because she hasn't had to. She hasn't had a drive to do much of anything.

Penny's crisis gives Baby the drive to dance. Baby sees what it's like to have a passion, and to need to dance for her life (well, Penny's life) as if she's about to be voted off So You Think You Can Dance. Baby's drive and good spirit also helps illuminate Penny's view of the upper class. The upper class has often looked down on her and Johnny, and they've looked back with contempt, too. But when they meet Baby, they see the other side a little differently.