Kolya (Mikhail Baryshnikov), a famous dancer who defected from the Soviet Union years ago, is on a plane that crash lands in the Soviet Union. The Soviet officials are hoping to keep Kolya from returning to America, so he is sent to live with Raymond (Gregory Hines), an American dancer who defected to the Soviet Union after his traumatic experiences in Vietnam. Kolya uses his former lover, Darya (Isabella Rossellini), to help him escape back to the West. In the meantime, Kolya and Raymond share some dance moves and discover they have more in common than they think. Eventually, Kolya persuades Raymond to help him return to the United States.