10Dance

Memorable movie...even if the plot never fully reach destination

I truly loved this movie centred around 2 ballroom male dancers, one (Sugiki) being specialized in "standard dances" and the other (Suzuki) specialized in "latin dances", as their rivalry relationship evolved as they work teach each other. It is very much a characters-centric film with the main focus being on Suzuki and then Sugiki. I loved to see the ennemies-friends-to-lovers bond that formed in a very organic way, even if the reason for them to work together is a bit forced.

I loved the production value, there are some memorable and impactful scenes, with the chemistry being excellent between the two main actors. Overall, the cast did a great job at emoting and at dancing and showing proper dance stances and figures. The two secondary female roles were ultra interesting and it is a bit of a shame they are not put in a more central position in the movie.

My main regret regarding this movie that I truly enjoyed is that the main characters never reach the destination of their journey. The movie never got to the 10Dance event and the other competitions felt a bit like a letdown. I also had the feeling to always watch the same kind of dances rather than the full variety of each of the style. It is understandable as the cast are not professional dancers and might not have been able to carry more challenging moves or to cope with a lot of variety in addition of showing properly emotional luggage of their characters. Still, I would not have minded a bit more of variety in the dances themselves.

I would recommend this to people looking for a ennemies-to-lovers BL with a dance twist. Despite the fact I found some elements odd or contrived for scenario purposes, the payoff was worth it for the journey that the characters are going through... Even if the destination (with the goal of the story set up from the beginning) is never really reached.

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A Captivating Movie

Well, well, well... First of all, the two main actors were fantastic. I don't know their background but I fully believed they were professional dancers. Their emotional scenes were captivating. And the chemistry... Hard to make thing better. 10/10

The dance part. Like I said, I'm neophyte so I cannot say anything deep about it. But I can say it was a feast for the eyes. The choreography, the costume, the attitude of the actors themselves. I was rooting for them and was clapping like the audience in the movie. Again 10/10

The cinematography was beautiful & the music completely fit the theme. I was still hoping for something that would surprise me but it was somehow quite classic. 9/10

But something did bother me in the story itself. More specifically about the characters themselves. Sometime I really struggled to understand why they were reacting the way they did. Like I was missing a crucial piece. It could be the format or just me. 8/10

And then the ending... Imagine I was captivated & on cloud nine with their finale. 10 dance of pure happiness... And then they drop me with the end credit. I was literally stun for a minute. Was it been really already 2h ? I really didn't see the time passing... The drop was so sudden that I almost feel withdrawal syndrome. It was that violent. I cannot rate that ending. In one hand, I'm mad and in another, it was perfect. It's really hard to tell how I really feel about it. */10

Overall, I don't regret watching this as I completely enjoyed it. A must watch in my humble opinion. 9.5/10

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So you think you can just make a dance movie and call it BL?! HAH!

Before this came out, people were hopeful that a prestige BL movie had finally been made. Hoping that this could give the genre a boost in the market and provide better quality BL with better investment and high-profile actors attached to them. This is not a prestige BL movie, I'm sorry. This is a prestige dance movie, which is great, but it was not gay enough for that label to be its selling point. There are two steamy scenes and very little active romance in between, and all that was already spoiled in the trailer. Yeah, what you already saw was literally it.
They just wasted all that passion, desire, and built-up tension and it all went nowhere. Or it went somewhere but it was like a volcano erupted into a teacup! The potential was forced into a form that was smaller than its force...you know?!
I was expecting them to really dig their nails into the flesh of this and give us something raw, hot, and passionate. Don't get me wrong, there is sexual tension. There is chemistry, there is romance...but they didn't commit to the bit. They chickened out, I feel. Or maybe not chickened out per se, they just put most of their attention on a different part of the plot, instead.
If we talk about the dance, though, they committed 150%. The actors did such a great job with the dance; they all worked so hard, and the main plot does the dance justice. My knowledge of dance is limited to SYTYCD, okay? So I'm not an expert but to my unprofessional eyes, they looked good! They even pulled faces like real ballroom dancers do and there was so much detail to the dance parts that were executed so well. There is even a blink and you'll miss it nod to the racism that Asian dancers have to bear and I loved that they acknowledged it, although subtly.
But for the romance part...
So this movie is mainly dedicated to the dichotomy of these two dancers who do not simply dance different dance styles but also live by completely contrasting philosophies. It's like a clash of class, culture, philosophy, body, and mind. And yes, the passion and push and pull they maintain throughout their interactions is all there, both in the dance and as a catalyst for the romance. However, I feel like there was a bit of a disconnect between the establishment of these differences (and conveying the seduction that exists by playing with these dichotomies) and actually textualising that with a romantic or sexual relationship coming to fruition. It's two hours of slowly shoving you to the edge and then no payoff. It was like the notes of a chord left unfinished. And I'm not referring to the "open" ending. What I mean is that as they give in to the temptations of each other, the plot pulls all the way back, and the final third of the film just doesn't deliver the sort of conclusion that was set up in the beginning.
Overall, it was a nice movie to watch but I had expected a lot more romance and passion and I felt like this was more a technical dance movie and less about using the dance as a way to show these characters interact and fall for each other. It was like the means became the end. I had expected the dance to be a tool for the romance but it seems like this was "a dance for dance and romance for dance too", sort of stroy.
I also felt some elements, like the journalists and other dancers to be a bit awkwardly developed.
I did, however, love the female partners. They were so sweet and I was rooting for the girls.
Takeuchi Ryoma's acting was a standout, too. He embodies this free-spirited, violently passionate dancer so well. I didn't hate Machida Keita's acting either but it was slightly stiff. He had amazing moments of micro-acting but some moments felt too dettached. And I thought the two had such a sizzling chemistry; they did so much with just their eyes. The film sort of wasted their potential. The actors gave them so much ammunition but the movie itself didn't kindle the fire.
Still, this is a stylized movie with great acting and an engaging plot so I think it's definitely worth a watch.

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Hot Hot hot....but missing proper storytelling

​10Dance is a movie that looks absolutely stunning on screen, but unfortunately, it doesn't quite reach the emotional heights of the source material. It feels like a beautiful shell that’s missing a bit of the soul that makes a great BL story.
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​If you’re here for the visuals, you won’t be disappointed. The dance sequences are incredible—stylish, high-energy, and shot with a lot of flair. You can tell the actors put in massive work to make those ballroom and Latin moves look authentic.

​Also, can we talk about the Male Lead? (Whether you’re team Suzuki/Ryoma Takeuchi or Sugiki/Keita Machida). The "hot" factor is definitely there. The physical tension during the practice scenes is the strongest part of the film; that "silent" chemistry while they are dancing is way more powerful than the actual dialogue.
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​The biggest issue is the storyline. Because it’s a movie and not a series, the plot feels rushed and, at times, totally flat. We see them dance, and we see them "being hot," but we don't get enough of those quiet, intimate moments that make you actually care about them as a couple.
​In other BLs, you're rooting for the leads to be together because you feel their struggle. Here, it feels like the movie relies too much on the fact that they are attractive and good at dancing, rather than building a proper emotional bridge. By the end, I wasn't as invested in their relationship as I wanted to be.
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​Watch it if you want a stylish, "sexy" movie with great choreography and handsome leads. But if you’re looking for a deep, emotional story that will stay with you, 10Dance might feel a little bit empty.

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Fantastic Dance Movie with BL flavor

This reviews contains major SPOILERS!

Before I begin, I should preface this by saying I love dance movies! Strictly Ballroom (1992) is one of my favorite movies ever, and I’ve watched it more times than I can count. After realizing the director of 10Dance made some references to it, I talked to someone about 10Dance and Strictly Ballroom. She reminded me of Shall We Dance? (1996), the iconic Japanese movie about falling in love with ballroom dance. So I bought it and rewatched it just now. Definite references to it as well, namely the dancing solo in the open square in the snow, as well as dancing on the train platform.

Two crucial messages from Strictly Ballroom and Shall We Dance are also present in 10Dance. From Strictly Ballroom, “dance is about love. If you cannot convey love and passion through the dance, it is inadequate.” From Shall We Dance?, “remember you are not dancing alone. Ballroom is about the connection between you and your partner.” (I am paraphrasing in both cases.) Both of these messages are crucial to understanding 10Dance and the relationship between Suzuki and Sugiki.

As such, I believe this is a dance movie more than a BL. If you do not enjoy watching dance, you will probably get bored. However, this is a superb dance movie. The actors did a phenomenal job training, and they truly look like professional ballroom dancers to me. (I’m not a trained ballroom dancer but I am a trained ballet dancer—or I once was. I can tell a really talented dancer when I see one.) It is not just that they are good dancers, though. They absolutely embody their characters through their different dance styles. Suzuki is passionate, wild, full to overflowing with love and desire for others and for life. Sugiki is controlled, disciplined, superbly trained and taught to act like an artistocrat. We see these character differences through how they move. We also see these differences in non-dance scenes as well, like when Sugiki takes Suzuki out to eat. (Quite a humorous scene yet also so insightful.) The restaurant is so button down and oozing wealth. On the flip side, when Suzuki takes Sugiki to see his home and “little Cuba” in Tokyo, we see the opposite side. Rundown surroundings, but joyful drinking, free-form dancing, wild behavior, and general abandonment. (The visit to “little Cuba” is also a direct reference to Strictly Ballroom, when the FL takes the ML to her poor neighborhood to meet her Spanish family and learn the true feel of Hispanic culture and ballroom dance.)

What’s important about the interaction between these characters is what they have to offer each other. They are both aware they are using each other, but also greatly admire each other, and may even be developing feelings of love for each other. Yes, the tension between them is palpable, but it isn’t only sexual. They are both searching the other for what they are missing in themselves. Sugiki is told by his mentor that there is no “love” when he dances. He later describes to Suzuki his compulsive need to keep dancing at when he was previously at Blackpool, even when his partner was falling apart. He calls himself “the grim reaper.” At first I didn’t understand this description, but I now believe he was thinking of how he killed any feelings—feelings he and his partner were experiencing in the past, in order to keep dancing. He sees himself as devoid of feeling. When Suzuki dismisses his story (the English subtitle was that’s “lame,” which I hate, but we get the gist.) Sugiki realizes in that moment that Suzuki is the key to unlocking feelings in himself, both through passion for each other and for the dance. (Again, back to Shall We Dance?, where the main characters are both the key to unlocking each other’s love for and devotion to dance.) After Sugiki’s realization, we get the iconic Japanese BL running scene, before a passionate kiss. This mislead me into thinking this would be more of a typical romance BL. Instead of becoming lovers, however, when we next see the two kissing and heading towards more, Sugiki says no. He is afraid if he gives in to passion he will lose his self-control. That self-control has brought him this far, and he relies on it. He is not ready to let it go. This was so disappointing as a romance viewer, but satisfying for the story because it shows Sugiki’s ultimate motivation and goal: to win above all else. Suzuki, ever emotional, however, cries.

When we are finally reunited with both Suzuki and Sugiki in Blackpool after 6 months, they compete in their respective categories as if nothing has changed between them. But then the demonstration or honor dance arrives, and shockingly (ok, maybe not that shocking), Sugiki picks Suzuki as his dance partner. They then dance like we have never seen them dance before, with restraint on Suzuki’s side, abandon on Sugiki’s, joy in their faces, and a new level of overall mastery. We see what they can achieve as a couple, as partners. Then we are left with the lovely kiss and that (heartbreaking) line “until 10Dance,” leaving us drooling and wishing for more as dance fans and as romantics. But I guess we can’t have it all. Yet, I hope.

Besides this wonderful story, we have a film with two truly phenomenal actors who convey this story almost exclusively through movement and facial expressions, while making us believe they are in fact Suzuki and Sugiki. We also have a director who knows how to film dance. He gives us full-body views to show off the choreography, facial close-ups to convey the emotions, and overhead shots to enhance the beauty of the movement. The cinematography in general is beautiful, with so many atmospheric shots of the different locations and their accompanying emotional beats. The music, while largely traditional ballroom music, was also perfect.

So while I am desperate for a sequel, I cannot really find much fault with this film. It delivered two of my favorite things, dance and romance, in an exquisite package. I really hope others can see what I see here. And I hope for a sequel, of course.

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It’s just dance ?

I’m not going to lie, I probably wouldn’t have put this on my watch list if I hadn’t seen the trailer and thought it was going to be a BL.
If you have a strong appreciation for dance, you’ll likely enjoy this film. But if, like me, you were hoping for more romance, this will be a huge letdown. Part of my frustration comes from the fact that I expected better overall quality from a Netflix BL than I usually expect from Thai BLs, especially in terms of storytelling and structure.
Don’t get me wrong, I love a good movie, BL or not. And to be fair, the cinematography was great, and the music was cool too, those were definite highlights. However, if I use the same standards I apply to other films, I’d still give this about three stars.
The story didn’t flow well and often felt in-cohesive. There was far more dancing than dialogue, which made it hard to follow the narrative. I also didn’t really understand what drew the two leads to each other; their connection felt underdeveloped and a bit one-sided. At times, it even felt like the more gloomy character was simply using the other.
On top of that, I was genuinely confused about the setting , were they supposed to be in Cuba or the UK? The location was never clear, which added to the overall sense of disconnection.

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I'm speechless... it was just too good

I was halfway through the movie when i read spoilers saying it was a sad ending. I was like "shit if i knew i wouldn't have watched" but then thank god i watched. It was beautiful. Started with a playful banter then made me cry ugly and the ending couldn't wipe the smile off my face...
Now i get others when they said it was not a happy or sad or even open ending but a perfect ending. Especially when the manga is ongoing they've not stepped in and created an ending. I do hope Shiguki wins before he retires.. cz he is the most relatable character to me cz I'm exactly like him. I'd work hard even if it'd kill me and go by the rules. I can reject the person i love if i feel I'd love him too much and there's a chance that I'd get hurt. Everything he did was soo relatable. Like how he never gets his love cz he's perfect...

As for Suzuki he was gorgeous and seemed like a real professional dancer the whole movie... i could feel his playful side and the reason both of them fell for each other..

As for the ending i guess we'll have to wait for the manga to end to know what happens... i think it'll be a happy ending manga❤️

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the tension was unbelievable

"did you feel like a princess?"

oh my god. i seriously have no words. this movie was so incredibly well done. the sexual tension between the two of them - one that lingers all throughout the film, it's quite literally endless, they don't even have to be on-screen together because it's still there, burrowing itself within the story.

that train scene? fucking legendary. the camera movements, the colour and lighting. THEM. that whole scene was so beautiful and the way they both lost control and fell into the temptation and desire, the kisses back and forth along the train, the movements and their hands being connected together. MY JAW DROPPED?

the slow-burn in my personal opinion was also what fueled the film to its maximum, it was aided by the tension so well and you could just feel the yearning, almost through your veins istg. the way they looked at each other, that scene where sugiki was supposed to hold his hips and waist as he moved but he stared for one milli-second was golden.

i literally could not breathe when suzuki went "lick'em, eat'em and make'em come." THAT WAS SO CRAZY.

they were so sensual and so intimate and the technicality of the ballroom dance and latin american dance was just top tier. sugiki being the symbolism of a grim reaper and suzuki of an angel >>

in conclusion? THIS WAS ONE OF THE BEST FILMS OF 2025 AND I NEED A PART 2.

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Ten dance? Tense dance.

A lavish banquet for the eyes, ears, touch, and senses—a fusion of light, melody, lines, color, and raw passion. 10Dance carries the searing heat of a Latin rhythm and the refined elegance of a Waltz’s fleeting touch, all layered over the underlying aches of possession, distance, and the icy chill of the Reaper.

It is no secret that the entire film revolves around a single central theme: the dance. The characters are dancers; the soundtrack is a medley of waltzes and Latin beats. Yet, dance here transcends its objective definition. We do not watch this as a documentary on technique, nor do we merely see two performers moving to a beat on stage. We see two people in love. A viewer might not grasp the mechanics of a routine, but they can feel the music and the movement, getting swept away in every sequence. It is simple, really: dance is the vessel for love. Like the interlacing of fingers, the sway of a hip, the drive of a step, or the locking of eyes, the dance pulls them into a world of passion and affection. Music becomes the catalyst that turns humans into a fuse, where skin-to-skin contact transcends to become the most primal of longings—a burning heat ready to consume these entranced dancers, even when they are performing a gentle waltz meant for the most refined gentlemen.

To be honest, I have always adored the metaphor of love as a dance. A performance requires two people, and within that space, they truly inhabit a world meant only for themselves. There might be couples crowding the stage, or just two souls dancing in a back alley; they might be under a blinding spotlight or shrouded in total darkness. Some dance with a partner; others embrace an imaginary silhouette to take their long, sweeping strides. To complete the dance, all one needs is emotion and the courage to follow the heartbeat. A dancer has the right to invite a partner, and the moment they extend a hand to take another’s—stepping together into the light—that is the moment most akin to love. It is an invitation: Step into my dance, and we shall move in rhythm until the music ends. Because, quite simply: love is an intertwining.

Sugiki and Suzuki are far from a conventional pair. One is the embodiment of Standard perfection; the other is the raw, sun-drenched fire of Latin dance. One moves by the book through rigorous discipline; the other dances like a sudden eruption of heat from a desert wasteland. It is as if while the Queen of England is being served Coronation Chicken, Castro is igniting a revolution in Cuba. The distance between an International Standard runner-up and a Japanese Latin champion is not just the distance between two sides of the globe—it is a spiritual chasm. And yet, ultimately, no heart can beat only as it wishes, no body can defy the music, and no soul can resist love. Just as the opulence of a royal coronation differs fundamentally from a revolution blooming in a colonized land, who is to say the frantic thrum in the chests of those two men is any different? At this point, these two strangers surrender their bodies to the heart's command, to the notes, and to the dance.

10Dance is beautiful because it cherishes the most exquisite aspects of being human: both carnal desire and deep emotion, the sensory vibrations existing in every muscle fiber, every sound heard, every touch felt, every gaze, and every breath. Love here doesn't just spring from sentiment and head straight for the soul; it is grounded in these very "human" facets. These two strangers are drawn to each other before they even realize it, and from start to finish, every opportunity for contact is placed on a high-tension wire, vibrating as if it might snap at any moment. That tension feels like an electric current charging the air between them; they are unconsciously pulled together, yet neither speaks of it. Indeed, neither Sugiki nor Suzuki says "I love you" even once. We only know their love through their eyes (often dark and searching in the dim light), their locked kisses, their gestures, and most explosively, through their dancing. The film offers no definitive conclusion to the feverish love hidden beneath the distance of these parallel universes—perhaps because the original manga is ongoing—but as a standalone piece, this open ending feels like the perfect answer. It is an invitation for an honorary dance, sweeping Sugiki and Suzuki into an embrace across every rhythm—noisy, melodic, vibrant, and intoxicated. Finally, they have truly merged. When the dance concludes with a fleeting kiss, their final words are a promise to meet again in a competition where both are at their best—loving the way they love, dancing as their bodies tell the story. They have found their own answer.

If forced to choose between the Latin and Standard styles, I find 10Dance leans slightly more toward the color of a Standard dance. The passion and noise of the Latin influence feel like blood pumping beneath a detached exterior—the silent suffering and yearning one often finds in a soft melody. Instead of letting the heart speak, the love in the film is expressed through high-wire nervous tension (sexual tension). The primal instincts of the Latin dance are guided by steps that are sophisticated, slow, and noble, carrying the manipulative and terrifying aura of a Reaper rather than a gentleman. The production is incredibly polished, making the film as poetic and artistic as intended: the fierce, wild fire of the Americas; the noble, romantic elegance of the West; and the reserved, thoughtful sentimentality of the East. Whoever conceived the idea of two dancers falling in love through the dance itself is, quite frankly, a genius.

While the film successfully stimulated my sensory nerves and left me in awe of its "purely cinematic" camera work—and while I was mesmerized by the acting (I sighed more than once at their expressions, especially Ryoma’s magnetic presence)—I still felt a slight void in the overall experience. Aesthetically, it is flawless; every frame could be a still photograph, rich in classical style. But emotionally, the fragility and lack of commitment in the relationship occasionally left me feeling restless. The dialogue requires too much "reading between the lines," creating a sense of ambiguity and drifting reminiscent of Hong Kong romance films—distinctive, but at times suffocating, because the viewer can never quite grasp the emotional current. Everything hangs in a state of tension that affects not just the characters, but the audience as well—a feeling of being adrift, unanchored, and fumbling in the dark. The lack of words equals a lack of communication; it seems the film cares less for that and more for how bodies speak. Yet, I still loved the narration and the characters' brief inner monologues. The actors’ eyes know how to tell a story, guiding the viewer so we aren't left lost for too long. The presence of refined language—saying only what is necessary and filtering the rest through a gaze—is an art form in itself.

In short, despite the occasional suffocating psychological tension, 10Dance is a complete, deeply aesthetic, and artistic work. It is slow yet seething, as if stepping right off the pages of a Japanese manga—lingering, nostalgic, and profoundly deep in both beauty and soul.

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First movie about professional dancers

I loved it! There was not a single moment where I thought it's boring. The story and chemistry were superb. I really felt the raw emotions in the scene where they kissed in the hotel room. The actors were really handsome and actresses beautiful. It's the first movie I have watched about professional dancers. All the dances and dancers were really captivating. The music was good too. I really liked that they decided to add 'sway'. I saw a youtube edit about '10dance' with 'sway' some time ago and thought it fits perfectly.
I really hope there will be '10dance 2' where we get to see more of their relationship.

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I'm gonna have to disagree with reddit on this

Alright, who decided on that ending?
I really, really, really love this. Like, the ending was just infuriating. See you at 10 dance. Die. Give me 10 dance. Show me 10 dance. Show me the sweat and the struggle and all the practice. BUT, that first practice was insane. The first practice with them together was genuinely... It was so sensual and intimate. 'If ballroom is first courtship, then Latin American is raw eroticism.' Like, it was just too... I can't even put into words. But it was like, the way he was watching him his every move and you couldn't really tell if it was just to learn or more. Suzuki was constantly ripping off his shirt genuinely just baring his soul to this guy being so vulnerable it's so clear the way he loves hot and fast and passionate. And this uptight, cold, reserved Suguki waltzes in and taunts him with the 10dance.

When I saw the trailer, it was just so sensual. They were so passionate in completely different ways, Suzuki flaunted his entire being for the world to see while Suguki showed his passion in his unrelenting obsession with dance and the art of it all . And I don't know anything about Latin American dance nor Latin America full stop so this is probably coming from a lot of uneducatedness from my part and the fact that I didn't know nothing about the dancing either means i don't really have a say on the representation nor the accuracy but also means i have nothing to nitpick either.

The actor for Suzuki was just insane. He's so sexy as well. Dear god. One review said 'he just lives, breathes, and walks like sex' and i genuinely couldn't agree more. The confidence that just oozes from this guy needs to be studied .And I just don't know the complete difference in characters. They both have undeniable confidence but the way they present themselves, how Suguki walks with the air that he KNOWS what he's doing and the self assurance of his clockwork abilities whatever happens HE will be the one to control it and Suguki just gives off the air of couldn't give a fuck, and I am obsessed with the contrast.

But the thing is, I kind of hoped he would have seen Suguki the same way Suzuki saw him when he was dancing just imagining him there, i wish we saw more of what he was thinking and how he felt about Susuki. The fact that he was fully clothed at all times shows nearly the fear he has to be vulnerable. The last dance the way they both just entirely threw themselves into it and you could feel how much they were enjoying it you could see why they dance, there was no more control or lead it was 'love that made it whole'. It was just sensual, and sexy and erotic and seductive and just so fucking passionate.

Give me the sequel like yesterday hun

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