10Dance

Two Opposites, One Unforgettable Spark

They did an excellent job casting the actors. They played so believably. The chemistry and tension were on fire. I couldn’t stop swooning over their looks — the style, the hair, the movements, and the difference between them were so great and convincing. Two opposites, but incredibly compatible.

It was genuinely endearing to watch Shinya Suzuki slowly fall in love, and it was even more touching to see how he tried to deny it. Even as he found himself drawn to him more and more, he insisted it wasn’t what it seemed and tried to laugh it off. He tried to deny his feelings, even though it was clear he was falling for him.

At the same time, you could really feel the inspiration and admiration that Shinya Sugiki had for him. Sugiki was sincerely impressed by his dancing and by who he was. And on top of that, Sugiki was also clearly attracted to him because of his alluring, sexy presence and character. His confident attitude, the way he carried himself, and his personality all pulled Sugiki in, even as he tried to keep it to himself and push it away.

They were not just simple rivals; rather, they were competitive lovers — both incredible dancers driven by strong ambitions.

Almost perfect. With fewer stereotypes, more dancing, and a little more depth, it would be top-notch.

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Love and passion through dance and music

I will share this review from the perspective of a former professional dancer and dance instructor, with no spoilers included.

With a 40-year dance career behind me, I have experienced many things, gone through numerous challenges, and sought to understand a completely different world. Being part of the dance community and growing up in that environment requires immense dedication. Excelling as a dancer isn’t solely about technique. When I was competing, all dance instructors emphasized proper form if you wanted to be number one. However, from a young age, I realized that only about 10% of success is talent—the remaining 90% is pure passion. Watching this film took me back to those times when I was searching for myself on the dance floor. I always felt something was missing—a small spark that would give meaning to the dance and make the purpose of being there truly special.

It’s an incredible movie, and my kudos go to the choreographer. A special applause also to the cast, who learned very challenging routines and performed with the professionalism of seasoned dancers. I’m especially pleased to see a Japanese production, knowing how many talented Japanese dancers are out there but often lack opportunities to showcase their abilities on the international stage.

Additionally, same-sex dancing is very popular in Europe, with many competitions featuring "regular" categories. I’ve tried it myself, and it was an amazing experience. As part of the LGBTQ+ community, I can say that men understand what pleases men—and that authenticity truly shines through.

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Dance Is Love

“Dance is love”. That pretty much sums up this movie. The dancing and the palpable chemistry between the two male leads take center stage, and their story is told through the waltz, the cha cha, and the tango as they lead each other on a journey of self-discovery, strife, and love. Yes, there is love, though not the tangible kind that some people might expect from a BL movie such as this. This is a tale about two rivals that despise and obsess about each other for years until the moment they hold hands and decide to dance together. These same two men who have never really opened their hearts to another nor probably even considered being with another man, suddenly find themselves gravitating towards each other in a maddening and feverish attraction they cannot explain, but only becomes fathomable when they dance together. It's like poetry, there are underlying meanings to every word spoken, every gesture, every glance.

I didn't read the manga so I had no pre-existing expectations or biases going into this. I just knew that this was adapted by Yoshida Tomoko (My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday) from a popular BL manga, directed by Otomo Keishi (Rurouni Kenshin), and led by two of the brightest stars in Japan right now, so I kinda knew that this was going to be a poignant tale of love and woe as Yoshida is known for that type of writing. While I agree that the writing could've used a bit more work, especially that ambiguous ending, I think this was the best they could do within the limitations of a two-hour run time. This would've worked better as a mini series, to be honest. It would've afforded them more time to flesh out these characters more and give certain plot points room to breathe. An extra 30 minutes could've given the narrative a better flow with more scenes to iron out the kinks in the script. I don't think this was lazy writing, though. I believe the writers were just hindered by the time constraints. If only there was director cut somewhere and that they'd be willing to release it.

But everything else from the production value to the acting was marvelous. Machida Keita and Takeuchi Ryoma certainly delivered and are even dead ringers for their manga counterparts. They slaved for months to perfect their dancing skills for this, and for that, I thank them. I truly enjoyed the dancing parts in this. Their chemistry is undeniable that I could practically taste the sexual tension in the air between them. Their titillating scenes, though few and far between, are executed well. Suffice to say, I bought their growing attraction and fondness for each other. I felt their longing and pain. Sugiki tearing up as he watched Suzuki dance, proud and happy for the latter's accomplishments and also realizing they cannot be together encapsulates his complicated feelings for him.

In a nutshell, this was a great watch. I loved every minute of it and this will probably be even better on a second watch. Is it perfect? No, of course not. It needs a sequel and that is the only reason why I won't give it a rating higher than 9. I hope this does well enough to warrant a sequel.

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Emotion expressed through dancing

The movie was so beautifully shot, each scene was carefully thought out. I went into it for the romance, and let's get this clear: There's lots of romance. Whenever the leads dance, it's romance. But I think many went into this expecting it to be a BL. It's not. It's a mature film about two people competing in similar but almost parallel worlds. One is austere and aloof, the other is judged more on passion and feeling. Don't expect any graphic NC scenes. However, if you really watch them dance, you can see them connecting on a deeper level. That's how I felt while watching, at least.

The ending... I've had time to sit with it for a few days, and it's okay. Not perfect, but I don't hate it. We knew from the beginning that it wouldn't be a happily ever after show, right? Anyway, I really liked it. It wasn't super dark (as some Japanese gay/BL content can be) and it wasn't silly either. It was moody and passionate and understated.

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He was the reason

It's been a day since I finished this movie, and I am not over it, so yeah, this review is a necessity. I still have this physical ache in my chest—that specific "book hangover" feeling, but for film. There are some movies you watch to pass the time, and then there are movies like *10DANCE* that you carry around in your head for days. You can’t just watch this and forget it. The way the cameras capture the sweat, the friction, and the sheer desperation between Suzuki and Sugiki… it just stays with you.

The part that hurts the most—the part I can't stop thinking about is everything that was left unsaid. My heart literally broke for Suzuki. I spent the whole movie wishing, just worshipping the idea that Suzuki could finally understand his own impact.

I wanted Suzuki to know that when Sugiki was at his lowest, when he was ready to give up dancing entirely after the breakup with his girlfriend, it was Suzuki who saved him. Suzuki thinks he’s just a messy Latin dancer trying to keep up, but he doesn't realise that his small, raw performance was the exact moment of enlightenment for Sugiki.

Suzuki is the only reason this man kept trying. He is the only reason Sugiki didn't walk away from the floor forever. Knowing that Sugiki carries that realisation alone while they leave separately at the end. It’s a beautiful, quiet tragedy.

The ending feels like a beginning and an ending all at once. "See you in the 10-Dance final" isn't just a promise of a competition; it’s a lifeline. But god, I need more. I need the closure of them standing on that same floor, not as rivals, but as two halves of one soul.

Please, Netflix, we need a sequel. We need Suzuki to finally see himself through Sugiki’s eyes. Until then, I’ll just be here, living with this ache.

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Bom, o que posso falar sobre 10Dance é que foi uma obra na qual coloquei muita expectativa.

Mesmo já a conhecendo na adolescência, eu não me lembrava de quase nada. Os atores são maravilhosos, não poderia escolher outros, mas algo acabou pecando para mim. Talvez pela falta de diálogo entre os personagens. Mesmo tendo muita química, acredito que deveriam existir mais cenas focadas no desenvolvimento desses relacionamentos.
A obra deu bastante destaque à dança, o que achei lindo. Mesmo sem ter conhecimento nessa área, achei tudo maravilhoso e fiquei impressionada.
Enfim, o romance acabou ficando um pouco cru, mas não dá para negar que fizeram um bom trabalho ao desenvolver o drama em diversos cenários, mostrando culturas e estilos de dança diferentes. Amei ver o povo latino sendo representado.

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I love dancing, so I knew I’d fall for this movie, I just didn’t realize how much. To me, you listen to music with your soul and dance with your heart. A great dancer doesn’t just move to the beat, they feel the music, as if every cell in their body is a note being played through the dance. And that’s exactly what the movie is about: love, but in a broader sense. Not just romantic love between two people, but also the act of feeling, of surrendering to emotions you can’t control.

I don’t see Shinya Sugiki and Shinya Suzuki as opposites. In fact, they’re more alike than they realize. Both are professional dancers who’ve dedicated their lives to the dance, which is at the core of their identities. And while they emphasize different sides of dance, Sugiki prioritizing strict technique over emotion, and Suzuki prioritizing desire and emotion over rigid technique, they’re still two sides of the same coin. That similarity is what makes their relationship so magnetic and what kept me glued to the screen. Each sees in the other both a reflection and a contrast.

They also recognize in each other a silent pain they both carry. I wish we knew more about their backstories, what shaped them into who they are. Suzuki says he can’t stand lies or betrayal. Who lied to him? Who betrayed him? Could that explain his arrogance and disdain for elegance, finesse, competitions, and audiences? At one point, Fusako says Sugiki believes he has to suffer to grow stronger. What happened to make him become the “grim reaper,” killing off all his feelings just to be stronger and successful? I don’t think it’s simply because of his failed relationship with Liana.

As for the romance, I’ve always seen Sugiki and Suzuki’s relationship like a moth drawn to a flame. They’ve always felt this magnetic, irresistible pull toward each other, an admiration that was almost impossible to control. And working together turned that admiration into something deeper: love. When Sugiki danced with Liana, it was forced by the competition committee. But when he invited Suzuki to dance, that was a true declaration of love. He chose Suzuki, and in a way, crossed that line and lost himself. It was also a declaration of love for dance itself, where both of them allowed themselves to feel everything, together with the audience.

At first, the audience’s applause was hesitant and confused, but as they kept dancing, Sugiki overwhelmed by emotion, Suzuki more restrained and technical, the applause grew louder and louder. With each performance, they showed what they could achieve if they let go of their fears and insecurities, the things holding them back from what they truly wanted. That’s my favorite scene in the whole movie.

Takeuchi Ryoma and Machida Keita’s performances were absolutely phenomenal. The two-hour film flies by thanks to them. Not to take away from the rest of the cast, who were flawless, but honestly, the movie could’ve been just Ryoma and Keita and it still would’ve been amazing. Their chemistry is out of this world. If Ryoma’s hips had me hypnotized, Keita’s eyes had me completely captivated. He conveyed everything: admiration, love, pain, doubt... all hidden beneath Sugiki’s rigid, cold exterior. Netflix nailed the production, and the soundtrack was fantastic.
I desperately need a sequel, a mini-series, a special episode, anything. I’m not picky. The story of Shinya Sugiki and Shinya Suzuki cannot end here.

I know this isn’t a film for everyone, but if you allow yourself to feel the passion, you’ll be swept away by this beautiful story. Highly recommended!!

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Needs a sequel immediately.

If you're a chronic BL watcher for NC alone, this is not for you.

Holy shit?
I had high hopes because of the tiktok edits, and guess what? IT DIDN'T DISAPPOINT AT ALL!!!!!!!

The acting was exceptional—nothing was cringey or unbelievable.
The dancing? Amazing+++++
The romance? No words.

This was honestly the first movie I've enjoyed to the point of rating it 10/10 in YEARS. In fact, i'd rate it 100/10, if I could.

The script writers, production team, and producers have shown me two things with this film.
1) They love dance.
2) They love GAY. ~And what I mean by that is, the care, respect, and detail put into this movie, the scenes, the acting, the dialogue—I couldn't have asked for a more perfect end product.

And with that semi-open ending, GIVE ME THE SECOND MOVIE, IMMEDIATELY.

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10 Dance needed to be 11

10 Dance is a fantastic movie about dance with a side dish of erotic tension between our two male leads -- but lets be fair if this movie wasn't featuring Takeuchi Ryoma as the Latin Dance Pro & Machida Keita as the Ballroom Dance Pro the story wouldn't have been very impactful. Two Japanese men Tantalizingly Beautiful seemingly madly intoxicated with each other They teach the other in terms of dance 1st then life 2nd how to be different & maybe better -- There are a couple of scenes where they put their attraction into action but mostly it is Machida playing the aloof perfectionist and Takeuchi playing the uncontrolled bad boy -- I have no idea whether the movie is true to the Manga it is based upon or not. If it is there is a clear lacking in the unimaginative ending. You don't feel these characters will ride off into the sunset together but the fact that the Machida character sees having a romantic relationship with Takeuchi as life ending is worrysome -- as a bl watcher having them dance in front of their dance community isn't that a coming out of sorts and if it is why the ambigious ending They walk away it leaves you deflated and kind of misused. I mean all that sexual attraction for naught I will watch it again because the acting is superb the scenes the filming all fantastic It needs to be 11 because they need a sequel to finish the unfinished story

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