10Dance

Love is two souls dwelling in one body…

And when two matching pieces meet, the audience dies. For dance you need the restraint of passion. Sugiki Shinya had restraint and control, Suzuki Shinya had passion and expression, together they completed each other.

Why did my 30+ years old self felt like a teenage girl when I was watching it? All these proper and perfectly delivered romance themes just melted my brain. The tension, the chemistry, the perfect pacing - what more could I ask for (maybe better editing for the opening and ending, but that’s later to complain about)? They gave me all and more.

First of all, I went into the movie with an idea of who the characters are and the movie slowly destroyed my misconception. What I thought I was getting is the free-spirited man slowly breaking the walls of the stoic and restrained one. Boy I was wrong. Who was breaking whom, when and why and to what extent is a whole big part of the storytelling that held my mind captive for two hours. The one broken by the end was me.

The dynamic between the leads was just enticing. The question of who was in control - be it of the external factors, the other person, or their own feelings. The tension was tensioning so hard I might have pulled a muscle or two. Suzuki Shinya was the unrestrained seduction that set the screen on fire, while Sugiki Shinya was the domineering force that grabbed all the attention.

With the limited screentime it’s an amazing romance with interesting internal dilemmas. I was so entertained and fascinated by Sugiki Shinya’s character that I could write a psychoanalysis of him. There was so much more depth in both lead characters - I went into it for well delivered cliches, but was surprised by some twists and turns on that insanely captivating journey.

For the acting - damn. For everyone who is traumatized by closing elevators after Cherry Magic!, fear not - we for sure do not face the same issue here. They both committed. Putting the romance aside, the thing that I appreciate the most was the depiction of hesitation and fear. In the context of the movie it had to be obvious for the audience, but clear to be something they wanted to hide and they both performed it perfectly.

I cannot speak on the actual dancing, because I know less about it than the actors themselves. All I can say is - I enjoyed watching the dancing scenes and for a clueless person like me, they were beautifully shot and delivered. For the music though - I wish they went less “cliche” with their choices. I am sorry, but River Flows in You should be banned from being used in any cinematic project till the end of the universe - it has Twilight copywritten in the brains of millions.

Visually speaking - they knew exactly what they were doing. This movie for sure does not give cheap vibes, even if they use “cheap” moves - I do appreciate the abs on the forefront with hips not lying. Somehow they still made it feel expensive and tasteful. Maybe because they truly did take their time to build that tension and they were not rushing any scenes.

For the complaints I think my biggest issues were the editing for the opening and ending scene - the clear cut to the title screen just punched me in the face for no reason. The hard cut did not really fit the pace of the overall story. And as I already mentioned - the music. Could have gone a little bit more creative.

Overall, I feel blessed. That was the holy experience I needed before Christmas. We truly do not get movies and dramas that are so unapologetically focused on the romance, tension and connection between the characters.

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Maybe it just wasn’t for me

So… Where to start…

I didn’t enjoy this movie. It’s not even strong enough to express what I feel about it. Part of it may be because the expectations given by the trailer were not met. But, I can also say that I still wouldn’t have enjoyed this movie even if the trailer had been honest about what this movie is about.

Before I start pointing out what I disliked about 10Dance, I just want to say that the fact that I didn’t liked it, doesn’t mean you won’t. If you want to watch it, give it a try. Also, English is not my first language so I apologise in advance for any mistakes you may find.

So, let’s start. First, with the positive, because yes, I did found some positive during the two hours I spent watching this or I wouldn’t have been able to finish it.
- The actors did a phenomenal job with the dancing. It was truly impressive. I have no idea how they managed to learn all this but really, they were extremely good.
- The two female characters were the best, I loved them. I wish we had seen them more and that they were the main characters. Justice for the girls!!!!
- I guess, the lights? The movie was pretty to look at, which is why everyone is praising the cinematography. But more on this in the negative points.
- They tried to make a good movie so I’ll give them that. One star for trying, I guess. But, for me, they failed. This was a bad movie.

Which leads us to what I disliked about this two hours to the point that I wish I could erase it from my memory. To give you an idea, I took notes while watching. And when I take notes, it’s usually not good.
- The two main characters. I disliked them from the start, gave them the benefit of the doubt, and they didn’t change. Well… not exactly. The Latin dancer became less self centered, kind of obsessed with the other guy and got played so I kind of felt bad for him at the end. But the ballroom dancer! Please. What did anyone find charming about this guy? Please tell me, I’m curious. He was arrogant, a player and sexist!
- The blatant sexism in the entirety of this movie was the first thing that made it painful for me to watch. I couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was wrong until the twenty (?) minutes mark I think, when they start training all together. The Latin dancers arrive and the first thing the other guy say is: « Put your partner in a skirt. » Excuse me? He didn’t even look at her, didn’t say it to her, he just… ignored her. He also talks to his own partner twice in the two hours. Yes, I counted. The two times during a flashback. The first time, we don’t even see her, the second time he berates her while she’s going through a ptsd episode. A great guy as you can see. The rest of the movie, this poor woman is barely considered. He throws a glance at her a few times I think but yeah… He, obviously, never talks to the woman Latin dancer. It’s not only about how the male characters treat the female characters, it’s about how the movie treats them. 10Dance does not pass the Bechdel test (which is not an indicator about the feminist dimension of a movie but gives us an indication of the way they treated the female characters). All of the dialogue between the two women is about the guys, how much they actually admire each other, and apologising for the rude behaviour of their partner. Great character building! (This is sarcasm.) All of the time, the achievements during the dance competitions is the achievement of the guy. « I know you can go farther! » she says when she’s competing at such a high level and part of the winning couple of most competitions. I could go on and on about this but please, consider this while you watch (or rewatch) this movie. It’s bad.
- How they shot the movie. Most of the frames are boring, they always frame the characters and their surroundings in the same way. No experimentations, no trying to express what the characters are going through with the image, which is what a movie is supposed to do. But with a Netflix movie, why am I surprised? When they actually do something, like filming through curtains or with the reflections, it looks empty, like there’s no thought behind it whatsoever except making a pretty image.
- In the same category, the slow motion and freeze frames. That’s it. I hated it.
- Did you ever heard of the « show, don’t tell » rule? This movie does not follow it. There’s always someone here to explain what’s happening, how the character is feeling, why it’s so sad and tragic and you need to like this character because look what he went through. Yeah, no. That’s not how this works.
- The dramatic music. I don’t care how dramatic you make it sound, I already don’t like the characters. You can’t force me to feel sad.
- It comes a little late in all this but: we were kind of promised a romance movie? There’s no romance. I would even go farther and say there was no (romantic) chemistry. I apologise to anyone who disagrees but I felt nothing. No tension, no build up, no nothing except some hatred and jealousy at the beginning. And no, it’s not because two characters joke that one of the guys is in love with the other that it’s going to convince me he is. They kissed twice I think and it felt out of the blue. And the parallel between dancing and kissing each other was made so obvious it made me uncomfortable.
- Last but not least. When someone is cosplaying a dead fish on your bed, maybe it’s a sign to stop kissing them.

If you came this far, thank you. And sorry to those who really loved the movie, maybe it just wasn’t for me. In conclusion, if you want to see some good dancing, maybe you’ll like this. If you want a romance, you’ll be disappointed. But really, in 2025, almost 2026, women on screen should not be treated as props by the male characters and the movie. Please, be aware of what you watch.

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"Dance is neither about technique nor stamina. Love is what makes it whole."

Sugiki fell first, but Suzuki fell harder!

Sugiki is all about Standard Ballroom dancing, while Suzuki slays in Latin Dance. But when Sugiki proposed to Suzuki to train each other in their respective styles and then compete in 10DANCE, it dissolved all the barriers. As a strict, meticulous waltz dancer, Sugiki followed the lead of Suzuki but the competitive spirit in him held him back. Later, when they blended their passion into dancing, the harmonious movements brought them closer.



🔥Impressed with:

The actors did a great job portraying the characters beautifully on screen. They amazed me with their brilliant dancing skills. Their floating smooth body movements are the result of relentless practice, and it shows. Hats off to them.

From the perspective of a non-dancer, this was alluring from the beginning. The dance's flawless steps, determination and passion was oozing out of the characters the way they portrayed the dancer's stamina. The muscle strength, control in body movements, that on-screen tension swayed me with its grandeur appeal. Their sensuality in their glances and body language, had me weak.

Let's not forget about the elegant and supportive dance partners Tajima and Yagami. Without their constant support and understanding, our leads wouldn't be here together. Shout out to the gorgeous ladies!



🚧Room for improvement:

I do understand that it's mostly about dancing rather than romance, as it felt sudden, rushed, with incomprehensible unexplored motives and incomplete.

I expected it to delve deeper into the emotions of the characters, their journey and meeting with each other, but they strictly (for obvious reasons) focused on the dance part. While watching Suzuki & Sugiki, I realized how immersed Takeuchi Ryoma and Machida Keita were into their respective characters that the outburst and breakdown of their characters needed more time, realization and understanding. But it ended and faded into a strict timeline like it didn't happen. Rivals to Lovers, it happened so fast that as an audience I felt detached from their dynamic. There's so much yet to be told.

The ending leaves room for another sequel, but tell me honestly, do you really think that's going to happen? I don't think so. It's pretty much evident they achieved what they wanted, but as an audience it frustrates me to think about how restless I felt when they ended the movie just like that.
It should have been a series, not a movie.

Overall, the gorgeous setting, enticing, insane chemistry is swoon-worthy. It wasn't without flaws, but it's only there if you realize it. Otherwise, this is a perfect Christmas treat that you can give yourself. Go for it!

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mesmerizing, need a sequel movie and/or a full series

Overall: kudos to everyone involved in this because, wow, just wow. Aired on Netflix https://www.netflix.com/watch/81759550

Content Warnings: past PTSD, non/dub con kissing/touching, internalized homophobia

What I Liked
- tension, chemistry, kissing
- acting
- I can't even imagine how challenging the dance training was, they all looked great (not a pro, I had dance training)
- how supportive the women were (I'd love to see a future movie/series with the characters training and dancing m/m and f/f as well as m/f and m/f, it's my head cannon at least)

Room For Improvement
- started with the present then went to a one-year flashback
- the 2 guys that gave exposition dumps multiple times
- several scenes were too dark and more light was needed on faces
- the voice saying 10Dance at the beginning and end
- the ending was abrupt, definitely need a second movie or a series to flesh things out

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“i’ll see you at the 10dance.”

oh my gosh. the tension, the passion fro dance, the acting, the chemistry; all of it pulled together is what makes this movie so great. i was worried as the manga was so strong on the sport that it would get done wrong… but i felt that it was so good in my opinion.

i chose to rewatch it twice before reviewing so i got every detail and i want to rewatch it again just for them. the chemistry these to have is INSANE. every single scene felt so perfect.

ive seen so many movies and shows but i dont think ive seen one this good in a long long time, where everything is enjoyable, nothing makes you feel uncomfortable or awkward, its all just perfection squeezed into 2 hours which i feel was a bit rushed but they did what the could and i appreciate that.

anyways… wheres the ACTUAL 10dance?? movie pt.2 …?

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The movie that opened a new field of BL-science

Yes, we now have to study dance power-dynamics and dance-move innuendos to fully appreciate BL and that's fine.

BL has always been a field that thrives on hidden context (See: Untamed) and I think this movie has a lot to find in it for those willing to learn.
Where the story may sometimes skip some beats words-wise, the dance shown is basically its own language that that gives important clues on where the relationship is. In this movie, dance-language is stronger than words.

The actors are phenomenal and show off in ways rarely ever seen before in Japanese BL history. The sets and cinematography are gorgeous. Nobody could imagine this is where we would be at in 2025 when 2020 Machida Keita entered the JBL scene but here we are. I'd love to see a sequel of our grim reaper & angel dance duo.

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When marimbas start to play....

I never watch movies, but as soon I saw even the tiniest snippet of this, I knew I had to watch. This is sexy, dangerous, and full of yearning almost too much to bare. 10Dance, what a beautiful story you are.

Let's Dive In.

A stunningly produced movie. It was great to see Machida Keita on my screen again and the lovely Takeuchi Ryoma. These two together created absolute MAGIC on the screen. Through dance, they were about to breed sexual tension like none other. It's the biggest highlight of the movie.

Suzuki is an interesting character. A free-spirited dancer troubled with the idea of being compared to Sugiki. When approached by the latter with the invitation to learn 10 Dance, he is initially disinterested until pure anger and distaste leads him to agreeing. It's another hour thirty minutes of complete angst, yearning, tension, and suspense. The only part lacking is the romance.

This story is about two straight men opening up doors they have yet to explore. Sugiki does it out of his own greed of needing to be number one while Suzuki has harboring selfishness until it turns into something else completely. This movie is not romantic. It is lustful. And that's okay too. I don't believe the movie aims to show that these men have love for one another that is anything but dance. They are trapped by the desire to be like the other, and because of it, it turns libidinous. Even with the passion between them, it is dwindled by Sugiki and later completely eliminated until a time jump shows that in six months, that same sensual affection is there.

This is left slightly ambiguous, but as the audience, it's our job to interpret that ending as we see fit. Personally, I think nothing comes out of it. They both know the kind of person they are and the kind of lives they live, and that's enough. They'll dance, they might kiss, and then move on until it recycles all over again.

Obsessed with the women in this series. While given the back burner, they outshine with their own conflict perfectly accomplished by the incredible acting of Doi Shiori and Ishii Anna. In some odd way, I felt their characters together had more underlying romance than the leads.

Ratings:

Story: 7.5/10 - It's less plot, more dance. Isn't a bad thing, but I wish they would sharpened some of the dialogue and story between the characters. A beautifully shot train kiss, probably one of the best climax kisses I've seen. Odd editing decisions that take you out of the story.

Acting: 9.5/10 - Incredible acting. Everyone is brilliant. My only gripe is that with most non-native english speakers, some of the english dialogue doesn't come off as poignant as it could've.

Music: 8.5/10 - Lots of great music. I forgot Sway by Michael Bublé existed, so thank you for that.

Recommendation Value: 9/10 - it's a great movie regardless of my critiques. Watch it! Plus, Ryoma is an ethereal being when shirtless, and I am hear to testify that his hips seriously don't lie.

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Hot but not that interesting

Fist of all I know a lot of people really love this movie , and while I do understand that there is a lot to love. I just could not fully get in to the story, I was neither touched nor did I love any of the characters in this movie enough to truly care about... Well anything in this movie.

that said the movie does indeed offer quite a few hot scens, explosive tension and chemistry that is out of this world. Hot, Shirtless, sweaty dance if the waltz is a courtship then the Salsa is hot n erotic (or something like that) and yes they truley delivered the dance and erotic courtship...

I may have missed something in the dance, maybe we were supposed to learn to know the characters thrugh the understanding of dance but since I lack that understanding it did not touch me enough to make it worth the hype.

P.s. I watched it before I realised there was hype...

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A shame

I saw the trailer for this movie and got so hyped. I literally couldn't wait for it, so I read the entire manga beforehand. I loved the manga and was excited to see it as a series....oh, wait, a movie? Ok movie it is then. In my opinion making a series out of the initial story would've been a better fit, but I digress.

There are both negative and positive points about this movie, which I will get into shortly. But if you'd like a short answer, if it's worth watching: It depends. I could see someone absolutely falling in love with this movie, so at least give it a shot. But, to be honest, it could also be a bit confusing.

As for what I disliked:
- Storytelling & Character depth: hhhh, not to be a hater, but I think with this movie adaption they kinda missed the whole point. What I especially liked about the manga was, ofc, the dynamic between the two leads. Both, respectively, have some fierceness to them. They are both used to being a leader. What happens when two people in charge clash? Conflicting feelings, passion and lot's of emotion. I just didn't see that in this movie from a story telling perspective. (The actors themselves were actually great, more later). That's actually why I was so confused to see this as a movie instead of a series. The lead's feelings built up over a long time and many dance parctises, time you don't have in a movie. I get if they wanted to put the focus more on the dancing itself, but for me it is so closely tied to all of their complicated feelings. They said it themselves in the movie: Only love makes the dance complete. But imo there was no time for love.

HOWEVER, there were some absolute beautiful things about this movie. Namely, cinematography and acting.
- Cinematography: Istg just visually, the whole movie was absolutely stunning. The locations, the costumes, the camera work, the coloring - chef's kiss.
- Dancing: Again, visually, so nicely done. There's always a chance of movies coming of as pretentious when depicting difficult technical skills like dancing, but it was so beautifully done. I believed that they were dance champions.
- Acting: Probably my favorite part. The acting was beyond everything else!! Both of the ML's were amazing portraying the characters, but especially the guy playing Suzuki had me on the floor. I loved everything from his facial to his body expression. Small but: This at the same time saddens me. Because you have actors who deliver, yet because of the story telling, pacing, directing or idk what the issue was, I just didn't feel it. Their chemistry could've been deadly, but somehow it wasn't.

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Engaging production of love and dance

This lived up to the expectation of two polar opposites falling in love in the world of dance. One fiery, bold and full of passion on and off the dance floor. The other elegant, polished and a perfectionist. Visually and tempermentally contrasting, they fought to find the balance. What one lacked the other supplied in movement style and execution. They sharpened each other whilst falling in love. Sugiki and Suzuki were well matched but never equals.

They commanded the screen. Every frame held my attention from the moment it began to the end. The storyline was as expected and then it wasn't. They both admired each other for their technique and style. Being drawn to one another reached a head on the train. That scene was artistically and beautifully done. Previous hesitations, gave way to honesty. It is within this honesty, that Suzuki pushes and prods to get more of him. Sugiki opens the doors for him to reach to greater heights. Their love is apparent in every action. Their love language - dance. The final scene was as I hoped it would be. Previously, Sugiki rejected a night with Suzuki acknowledging they could never be one. In the final scene, in front of the entire Japanese Dance competition, Sugiki proved his love. He chose Suzuki as his dance partner. Unwilling to face the hurt of seeing Sugiki dance with his partner, Suzuki's back was turned. Then he heard him. Shocked, hesitating for a brief moment, he reaches for the outstretched hand and follows. At the end, uncontrolled, Suzuki kisses him. He responds. His parting words give Suzuki the clarity he needs. He smiles.

I loved the entire production. Machida and Takeuchi filled it admirably. My only drawbacks were that even in the heated part of their relationship, it still felt a bit clinical. Reserved. The kiss on the train did not up the pace in their interractions at it still felt restrained. There was no hunger from Sugiki. If this was a parallel love, where was Suzuki's voice? I'm hoping there is another part that would place them head to head and equals. Also, the backdrop for the Cuban style community was admirably done but it lacked a bit of credibility.

Final take, this was worth the wait and the watch.

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Could've been perfect, but Machida & Takeuchi is worth watching just for them.

Machida and Takeuchi performed beautifully in this movie. One specializing in ballroom and the other in Latin American dance. As someone who knows little about either, it was interesting to see their perspective on their craft. One scene in particular stood out to me where Machida's character places Takeuchi's in a stance showing the perspective of a women's position in ballroom dance. The endurance, pain, and strength that is hidden away behind a seemingly effortless performance where Machida exposes the audacity of Takeuchi's attitude without considering their partner's perspective. It was so intriguing to see the way they approach their art in different ways while challenging each other.

Both actors embodied their characters well and the tension and emotion between them is so visible. You dont need them to speak to see meaning behind their silence. But, they leave you on edge, then pull back, then they step closer, only to leave you behind wanting more. It's a back and forth pull that for me didn’t quite satisfy me at the end. But if we were to continue this metaphor, they are quite literally dancing back and forth around their feelings. While i wanted them to cross the line a bit more with each other, it's not enough to completely deter my enjoyment of the movie. I accept the tease. But understand that I didn't necessarily needed anything physical from them. They maintain an emotional distance between each other. Sometimes it cracks, but it left me wanting them to cross the emotional threshold a bit more.

What bothered me is actually the little things that, when stacked together, really annoyed me. It's the unnatural acting of the background characters. The onlookers gossiping very loudly almost as if they are twirling their mustache and cartoonishly giving a play by play of "did you hear about what happened to his ex-girlfriend" or "it's ashame he lost by a small margin" or "this is no competition....it's a brawl!!!" harrumph. Who says that? The reading-from-a-script-like commentary in the background to rile the lead characters to overhear the chatter.

Another example of this is Martha (a mother figure and mentor to Machida's character) who you have no emotional connection to and gets a brief introduction into the story. Yet she delivers a significant message of the movie. Her voice repeatedly echoed at various points throughout the movie reminding us that "Dance is neither about technique or stamina, Love is what makes it whole." I feel myself cringing again.

These actors are more than capable of communicating this message without having it spelled out and overtly lectured by a character that shows up for mere seconds. It felt cheesy and unnecessary against the very raw emotions the actors themselves were delvering. Also, the music choices didn't quite do it for me at times. Like the very overplayed music of Korean pianist Yiruma's River Flows in You when they turn on the music for the first time when practicing ballroom dancing. A significant milestone in their sessions together and all I could think about is wishing they played music that isnt so recognizable at times. I realize this might just be my association in this particular case. Dont get me wrong, the music is beautiful and beloved. But there was a time in Korea that it got so overplayed that they used it in gag concerts or shows for comedic effect that in a significant scene like this i got distracted.

But, I'll end with a good note. That first snow scene was so beautifully done and so iconic to me. I loved everything about it and I played it back an unhealthy amount of times. It will stick with me for a while❄️. Overall not a perfect movie for me, but well worth seeing these actors perform.

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