Bunheads is an American television comedy-drama series created by Amy Sherman-Palladino and Lamar Damon which revolves around Michelle Simms, a Las Vegas showgirl who gets married on a whim, moves to a sleepy coastal town and winds up teaching alongside her new mother-in-law at her ballet school.
The show's title is a slang term for ballerinas or dancers who put their hair up into a bun while dancing.
The series aired in the USA on ABC Family from 11 June, 2012 to 25 February, 2013. There are 18 hour-long episodes in one season.
Bunheads premiered in South Africa on DStv's M-Net Series channel on Friday 26 October 2012, at 19h30. It went on hiatus after Episode 10 (which aired on 28 December) to accommodate a similar hiatus in the USA.
Season 1 resumed on M-Net Series with Episode 11 on Friday 7 June 2013, at 19h30. After five episodes had aired the show moved to M-Net Series Showcase (simulcast in HD), when M-Net Series was discontinued.
Season 1 continued with Episode 16 on M-Net Series Showcase on Sunday 14 July 2013, at 18h30. New episodes broadcast weekly. There are 18 episodes in the first season.
Synopsis
Executive-produced by Amy Sherman-Palladino (Gilmore Girls) and headlined by Tony Award-winning actor Sutton Foster, Bunheads is the tale of a Las Vegas showgirl who impulsively marries a man, moves to his sleepy coastal town, and takes an uneasy role at her new mother-in-law's dance school.
Michelle Simms (Foster) had a promising career as a classically trained professional dancer, but was drawn to the lights of Las Vegas. Now, with a dead-end job as a 30-something showgirl, she's found the excitement of Sin City has lost its appeal, and her persistent suitor, Hubbell Flowers (Alan Ruck), is gaining it.
With promises of a cushy life in his coastal town of Paradise, California, Hubbell convinces Michelle to marry him and move away.
Once in Paradise, Michelle discovers that Hubbell forgot to mention that he lives with his mother, the strong-headed, imperious Fanny Flowers (Kelly Bishop), who is not pleased that Hubbell has run off and married a stranger.
A former dancer herself, Fanny runs the local dance studio, which Michelle comes upon and ends up bonding with some of Fanny's dance students - sweet Boo, who would give anything to be a bunhead but struggles against her body type; rebellious Sasha, who possesses the classic ballet dancer's body and talent but - distracted by family issues at home - doesn't seem to have her heart in dancing; shapely Ginny, who is not yet comfortable in her own skin; and fun-loving Melanie, who is ready for whatever life throws at her.
Michelle's budding relationship with these girls helps her adapt to small town living and her uneasy role as a new daughter-in-law.
The series stars Sutton Foster as Michelle Simms, Kaitlyn Jenkins as Bettina Boo Jordan, Julia Goldani Telles as Sasha Torres, Bailey Buntain as Ginny Thompson and Emma Dumont as Melanie Segal, with guest star Kelly Bishop as Fanny Flowers.