The filmmakers were first introduced to the dance school while working on Tyne Lives, and this connection provided the foundation for the film’s development. Keeping Time captures the dedication of young dancers, the discipline required to succeed, and the relationships between students, parents, and teachers. The dance school emerges as both a place of escape and ambition, where girls find structure and encouragement amid the changing social landscape of the early 1980s. This film not only documents the culture of local dance schools but also reflects on the broader themes of growing up, resilience, and community support.

As part of Amber’s evolving use of the "photo film" format, Keeping Time sits alongside other works that developed out of Konttinen’s photography, including Byker (1983), The Writing in the Sand (1991), Letters to Katja (1994), Today I’m With You (2010), and Song for Billy (2016). The film was a significant step in Amber’s approach to storytelling, combining multiple forms of visual media to create a layered, immersive portrait of working-class life. It remains an important part of the collective’s body of work, highlighting the importance of everyday creativity and the spaces where young people carve out their futures.