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Sara's difference in society is portrayed through the regular zooming out in scenes to highlight Sara's white Anglo-Saxon attributes amidst a crowd of black Americans. Such cases are seen at school, at the dance club, and in the clinic where a close-up is shown of the uncomfortable reactions two children towards Sara's presence, which slowly zooms out creating a segregated attitude towards Sara. .
Sara's changing self to accept her past and integrate into the new society is symbolized through learning to dance hip hop such as the montage of images of her dancing and practising in front of large windows to create her silhouette and emphasize this change. There is a strong reaction of grief from Sara towards her changed self and life shown in the mise-en-scene of the city night, where the camera closes up on her tearful eyes against the shimmering waters in the background creating a pathetic fallacy effect of her depressed self. .
The employment of the recurring motif of the train further symbolizes the changing character of Sara in a new society. The train takes Sara into the black community but also presents her opportunities to watch, perform and relive her dream of ballet. In the train Sara also experiences negative reactions towards her befriending of Derek, of black American descent, shown strongly by the close-up shots of disgust by an elderly white lady. Sara's audition at the end of the film shows her dancing a mixture of classical ballet and hip hop to portray her changing self and integration into society. The scene portrays Sara's new and happy self and a montage created by various camera shots and angles highlight her complete and changed character. .
The cinematographer has utilized a selection of visual techniques including various styles camera shots, recurring motifs and use of flashback to capture and present the changing character of Sara in the film "Save the Last dance".
