Even as a young girl, Julia (Margarita Simonova) harbors a great dream: she wants to dance on the big stage! Far from Moscow, that's easier said than done – after all, her impoverished family has other problems than the question of how to become a great ballerina. When Julia meets Vlady Pototsky (Aleksandr Domogarov) one day during one of her street performances, a door almost imperceptibly opens to the glittering world of ballet. The former solo dancer recognizes Julia's great talent and gets her into the legendary ballet school of the Bolshoi Theatre. But before the glamour and fame, there is now hard work. Envious competition with Karina (Anna Isaeva), a rival from a wealthy family, fuels her ambition to become even better. Julia wants to convince her strict teacher Galina (Alisa Freyndlikh) and the brilliant choreographer Antoin and thus fight for her place in the front row as prima ballerina.