The life of a pre-champ collegiate ballroom dancer is not a simple one.

Old tensions rise at the last competition of the year. For some, this day marks the last time they’ll dance under the lights before falling from their college years into the world of adult life. For some, it’s their chance to get ahead on the rankings before summer sweeps progress under the rug. And for some, it’s the perfect opportunity to show their teammates exactly where they belong: behind them on the podium.

With rhinestones, fake tans, and the pending approval of older men on their shoulders, young women find that the best competitions can bring out the worst in themselves— even if they don’t know it yet.