English and Portuguese Review
𝐀 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞The story of 10Dance is basically about two dancers who want to step out of their comfort zones and learn styles different from the ones they already master in order to compete in 10Dance. Throughout this process of exchanging techniques, training together, and competing, the two end up forming a connection that keeps growing and goes beyond dance itself.
The film focuses much more on the dances, rehearsals, and competitions than on the emotional development of the romance. The intimacy between the protagonists grows a lot through dance, training, and physical closeness, and their chemistry is very strong. Still, the relationship ends up moving forward in a somewhat rushed way, without them really talking about what they feel. One moment they are just training partners and friends, and suddenly they are intensely kissing, which left me a bit confused due to the lack of that emotional transition.
On the other hand, the dance scenes are incredible. It truly feels like you are watching professional dancers, everything is very well executed. The acting is also great and helps keep you engaged. The soundtrack, for me, was one of the strongest points of the film. There were several moments when I was literally dancing along in my bed while watching.
Another thing I really liked and that stood out to me was the presence of multiple languages in the original audio, such as English and Spanish, in addition to Japanese. The Latin representation was something I genuinely enjoyed, speaking as a Latino myself.
As for the ending, I can’t say I loved it, but it leaves things very open, clearly hinting at a continuation. It gives the feeling that, in a possible second film, they might deepen the protagonists’ feelings and relationship, which is something I felt was missing here.
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𝐔𝐦𝐚 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐝𝐞 𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐝𝐚 𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐚 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐜̧𝐚
A história de 10Dance é basicamente sobre dois dançarinos que querem sair da zona de conforto e aprender estilos diferentes dos que já dominam para competir no 10Dance. No meio desse processo de troca, treinos e competições, os dois acabam criando uma conexão cada vez mais próxima, que vai além da dança.
O filme foca muito mais nas danças, nos ensaios e nas competições do que no desenvolvimento emocional do romance. A intimidade entre os protagonistas cresce bastante através da dança, dos treinos e da proximidade física, e a química entre eles é muito forte. Ainda assim, o relacionamento acaba avançando de forma meio apressada, sem que eles realmente falem sobre o que sentem. Em um momento são parceiros de treino e amigos, e de repente já estão se beijando de forma intensa, o que me deixou um pouco confuso pela falta dessa transição emocional.
Por outro lado, as cenas de dança são incríveis. Dá realmente a sensação de que são dançarinos profissionais ali, tudo muito bem executado. A atuação também é ótima e ajuda bastante a manter o interesse. A trilha sonora, pra mim, foi um dos pontos mais fortes do filme. Teve vários momentos em que eu estava literalmente dançando junto na cama enquanto assistia.
Uma coisa que eu gostei bastante e que me chamou atenção foi a presença de vários idiomas no áudio original, como inglês e espanhol, além do japonês. A representatividade latina foi algo que eu curti muito, falando aqui como latino mesmo.
Sobre o final, não posso dizer que amei, mas ele deixa tudo bem aberto, claramente com cara de continuação. Então fica a sensação de que, em um possível segundo filme, eles possam aprofundar melhor os sentimentos e o relacionamento dos protagonistas, coisa que senti falta aqui.
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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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This review may contain spoilers
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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This review may contain spoilers
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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1"Don't ditch when I get serious"
Two hot guys sizzling as they Waltz and do the Cha Cha Cha while staring into each other’s eye? That’s pretty much the plot of 10 Dance and yet the actors made it next to impossible to look away.Suzuki Shinya is the Japanese Latin dance champion while Sugiki Shinya is the Ballroom dancing champion. Both are competitive and seek to be the best. While Suzuki and his partner, Aki, are loose and have fun, Sugiki rigidly controls everything, never cracking a smile. Sugiki doesn’t hesitate to berate his partner, Fusako. “The Grim Reaper” puts forth a plan to Suzuki that they teach each other their different styles and compete in the 10 Dance that requires both Ballroom and Latin dance skills. Tentative at first, Suzuki agrees and the enemies become something a little more friendly.
I have not read the manga so I can only comment on what was shown on the screen. The plot was as thin as a sheet of music. I really wish we’d gotten to know more about the two characters than one was overtly rigid and the other enjoyed food, drink, and multiple women. Thankfully, the two actors were able to elevate their characters above the script. Takeuchi Ryoma gave a wonderful performance as the passionate Suzuki. He displayed a wide array of emotions, digging deep when he found himself falling for his cold rival. He also had a habit of taking his shirt off which I wasn’t mad about. Machida Keita as Sugiki had to work hard to convey his conflicted feelings in his character’s overtly disciplined body and mind. Just a shallow note, I miss his long hair from Glass Heart. Doi Shiori made the most of her screen time bringing the loyal Aki to life. Poor Ishii Anna’s character was mostly relegated to a pretty face.
I know nothing about ballroom dancing, but enjoyed the various dance styles and the rigorous training behind them. Most importantly, for a romantic dance film, Takeuchi and Machida’s chemistry was sensual and palpable. The ending seemed to leave room open for a sequel and I will certainly buy a ticket to watch these two dance again.
19 December 2025
Trigger warning: Nudity early in the film, nekkid buttocks and suggestive breast images
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This review may contain spoilers
Unexpected but also FRUSTRATION?
The backstory of stumbling across this was thinking it was reality TV about dance competition...Oh boy how wrong was I - but can't complain, of course.
I went into the trailer expecting reality tv > then assuming it was a trope of "let's use each other but we end up falling in love along the way"
To an extent, yes. But the story and characters ended up being so so much more than that. It was this aspect that had heavy influence on the final rating. And it's these kinds of stories that toss me in the unexpected end up being the most memorable.
I had to sit with my thoughts for a while before writing this review, and the last time I did this was Method (that itself is a rabbit hole).
The beauty of this movie is not solely for the romance that YES, we BL enthusiasts swarmed to like moths to light.
It was the subtle artistic choices by the director that couldn't be overlooked - such as for example, there were multiple shots of Sugiki being in the darkness when engaging in conversation with Suzuki, who remained in the light in some way (the studio, where he stood at the mezzanine, looking down at Suzuki).
Sugiki finally smiling at the end despite losing when he was stoic as a bamboo pole throughout the film.
The nuanced touches spoke volumes about their characters and particularly Sugiki's obsession with perfection, that everything else related to the human touch, is viewed as a distraction. Love is such the case for him, that he doesn't realise he remains in darkness, despite the prestige he has earned in the ballroom world.
To put it plainly, there is just overwhelming layers of depth that begs for a rewatch.
It goes without saying the chemistry between the two leads just sparked upon the first practice session. The tension in the struggles between ego, power, and control is so palpable it could drive one mad sitting through it. What started as a cutthroat masterclass became almost bregrudingly, a waltz of flowering emotions both are so adamant to NOT admit but continued to partake. The power dynamic, facial expressions of yearning and reluctance were delightful to watch.
I think what was surprising (as someone who hadn't read the manga) was the reasoning behind the romance. It was more than the bond through partnership that was expected reading the premise. It was Suzuki seeing Sugiki's pain and obsession for the one thing he believed would be his salvation, the need for perfection that was crippling him inside out. It was Sugiki watching Suzuki dance and realised the latter had something he yearned but couldn't understand.
10Dance just felt like watching a variation of Sherlock and Watson, ruthless machine and a compassionate doctor, both filling in the gaps where the other lacked, but ultimately, it was acceptance and understanding without dialogue, that truly made me realise how beautifully executed this movie is.
Honestly BLs are just getting better. This is no exception. But the ending is surely a perfect opening for a sequel...? TT
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This review may contain spoilers
Quite curious about this. Let’s watch…The story centers on two elite professional dancers who represent opposite worlds of dance. Shinya Suzuki (Suzuki) is the reigning Japanese champion of Latin dance—passionate, raw, and instinctive. Shinya Sugiki (Sugiki) is the Japanese champion and world number two in Standard (ballroom) dance—elegant, disciplined, and stoic.
Despite their rivalry, Sugiki one day proposes that they train each other to compete in the 10 Dance, a grueling competition that requires mastery of all ten disciplines (five Latin and five Standard).
Suzuki scoffs at first. He wants nothing to do with it. But Sugiki knows how to push his buttons. With a sharp, almost provocative attitude, he challenges Suzuki’s lack of ambition on the global stage—questioning whether he’s truly serious or just stuck in the spotlight of national fame. The challenge strikes a nerve and ignites Suzuki’s fierce competitive spirit.
And so begins grueling training—long hours, clashing styles, relentless tension. But as their bodies learn to move in sync, something shifts. The friction isn’t just professional anymore. It becomes electric—physical, emotional, undeniable.
So, will this intense connection grow into something more?
Or in the end, will they remain only rivals—dancing close, but never truly together?
That's pretty much the story without giving anymore spoilers. Now what I like and don't.
What I like:
+ The intense dancing… Haha…
+ The chemistry between the couples…
What I don’t like:
- The ending… Ugh… I hate the ending
- The unclear relationship between them. Like Wing3dBean wrote; everything feels unfinished.
Overall, after watching this, I prefer this more in a drama setting. So we have more time to develop their relationship to the fullest.
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The Trailer Overpromised
The trailer promised more than it delivered.Visual Beauty, Emotional Gaps
The film was visually stunning, sensual, and tender at times, but also underdeveloped and even cringey in others. I had so much faith in Machida Keita before the release, but I felt he transmitted very little when watching. I had no expectations of Takeuchi Ryoma, on the other hand, because I’d seen very little of him, but he was the one who pulled me in. And I’m not even talking about the waist scene. It was his eyes and the yearning he portrayed after a certain point.
Stereotypes and Weak Writing Choices
I was not a fan of the heavy-handed stereotypes about Latin people, but that wasn’t his fault. It was the writer’s and the showrunner’s choice. The writing focused far too much on telling and not enough on showing. There’s a scene where Suzuki tells his dance partner how he can feel Sugiki’s emotions when he dances with him, listing many of them, yet the only one that actually comes through from Sugiki is his need to control. Suzuki’s partner and the bartender then tell Sugiki that he’s in love so the train scene wouldn’t come out of nowhere, yet they were still jarring. I've seen countless of edits online fawning over this scene yet it barely left a mark on me because in my mind it was supposed to be a build up of their connection not just after a tense moment when Sugiki had accidentally revealed what a sociopath he was to his dance partner.
Underdeveloped Relationships
The characters, their motivations, and their growing emotional connection are severely underdeveloped. Instead, time was wasted on behind-the-scenes sponsor meetings and whatever that conversation was with the British lady, as well as those men gossiping about Sugiki and Liana.
Language Breaks Immersion
The English and Spanish dialogue was embarrassing to watch, delivered by Japanese and non-Japanese actors alike. The non-Asian actors seemed like randos picked up from the street. Their delivery was wooden and cringey.
Ryoma’s and Keita’s multilingual lines were painfully delivered. We’re supposed to believe Sugiki spent time with a British lady as a surrogate mother and had a girlfriend who doesn’t speak Japanese, yet he can barely say a few lines in English? Ryoma’s mom is supposedly Cuban, yet he struggles to speak Spanish to the bartender. This completely takes you out of the story.
Language Proficiency as a Production Responsibility
And don’t give the excuse that they’re Japanese and other languages are hard to learn. I’ve recently seen two BL short series where the actors have heavy accents and are clearly not native English speakers, yet they deliver their lines so clearly and confidently that it doesn’t even matter. Connor, the actor from Heated Rivalry, did an entire speech in Russian, doing justice to his character, yet nobody bothered to teach these guys how to say a few sentences in different languages when the characters were supposed to be speaking them. They spent an entire year learning the dances, but couldn’t learn to pronounce a few lines with confidence?
Final Thoughts
I overall enjoyed the film. I’m just disappointed it was spoiled by such amateur work in certain aspects.
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Gorgeous but jarring in many ways
The costumes, the sets, the people themselves - everything was quite breathtaking. The four main actors and actresses fit their roles perfectly. All their interactions were natural, with a good mix of subtlety and drama. The dancing was also very impressive. The train scene as well as the training sequences (and even the final dance to some extent) left an impact on me both aesthetically and emotionally. Luckily, the whole icy ballroom dancer meets passionate Latin dancer dynamic just about landed on the right side of the enjoyable trope vs. offensive cliché coin and is a classic for the dance movie genre.Everything else though? The plot: not enough and badly executed non-linearity. The side and background characters: a bunch of hackneyed stereotypes spouting even cringier lines. The music: almost comically unimaginative. The treatment of the female dance partners: definitely comically unimaginative (Thank God for the couple nuances they were granted despite everything!). While I'm glad that 10Dance got the budget it deserved, I hope we get a little more creative and pay appropriate attention to all aspects that make up a good movie next time. On more than one occasion, I thought I was watching one of those American musician biopics. Many BL shows and movies have a certain charm to them that acts as a buffer against criticism. When you remove that, well, I'm tempted to rate them the way I would more mainstream productions.
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This review may contain spoilers
Dance Challengers
The concept suggested by film trailer is two rival professional dancers falling for each other through teaching each other their respective dance genre specialties, but that's not what it delivers. The film is the most fascinating when exploring the psychology and athleticism of competitive dancers like when Suguki poses Suzuki in the female dancer positions to illustrate the grueling pain of dancing for hours and hours in heels in order to make him understand he needs to be supportive while leading his dance partner and the chilling scene where Suguki who everyone admires as the dancing gentleman cruelly puppets his near catatonic from ptsd shock dance partner by shouting instructions to get her through the competition. The movie fails to deliver on romantic tension or any feelings of yearning and longing outside of Suguki's yearning to finally be champion. Although Suguki is the one that initiates them working together and later to make out on the train, he never shows any kind of attraction or feeling for Suzuki aside from the flashback where it's revealed that he cried from the overwhelming feeling of inspiration when he first saw Suzuki dance. Suguki only loves dancing, he doesn't really care about any human being for themselves. Even his ex girlfriend that left him for another dancer, he just really liked how she danced with him. In the end he embraces his love of dancing for the sake of dancing rather than to be champion where he's not favored by the judges for whatever arbitrary reason by the slimmest margins though he's obviously at the top of the game, with Suzuki that he enjoys dancing with. Like how in Challengers everything is about tennis and tennis is about sex, here everything is about dance and dance is the sex. If this was how it was advertised, then perhaps it would be less disappointing in the romance department.Was this review helpful to you?
A waste of chemistry and good actors!!
I really expected more than what I got. Be serious, who’s sitting through a 2-hour movie where 1 hour and 45 minutes is just dance routines, and the romance barely gets 10 minutes? The dancing was cool, sure, but that’s not why I showed up 🤣. I came for the romance and the chaos, and got neither!The leads? Phenomenal actors with insane chemistry. But what’s the point of all that spark if they don’t actually use it?
Visually, the cinematography was solid. And after that train kiss, I genuinely thought we were about to dive into the real drama. But nope, it just fizzled out again 😭. This could’ve been one of the greats if they’d leaned into the romance instead of going full dance showcase.
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Excellent acting
I enjoyed this so much. Both main leads did a fantastic job in their respective roles. Ryoma absolutely slayed his role as the passionate dancer in every scene. His expressions and movements portrayed Suzuki perfectly. And Keita Machida as the restrained and disciplined ballroom dancer portrayed his character well too. The dances were fantastic in themselves too.But something that struck me while watching this and made me pause is where Ryoma describes what it takes to participate in these 10Dance competitions- it may look glamorous on the surface but it takes tremendous discipline and endurance to dance in 40 dances of different types and styles during the competition day. And when Machida describes how the lady dancing the ballroom dancing has to dance elegantly while wearing her high heels. Somehow these two points left a tremendous impression on me. In fact, this very well describes what all artist, dancers, actors, and so on must truly be experiencing - everything might look glamorous on the surface, but level of practice and discipline needed for it….
Takeuchi Ryoma and Keita Machida also do a phenomenal job of dancing. It must surely have taken them many days and hours of practice to be this good! And of course, the chemistry between these two was very visible every moment of the movie.
The time flew by so quickly as I was watching this. I can imagine that we would likely get a sequel for this (here’s me trying to manifest this🤣). I mean, I would like to see them participating in the actual 10Dance competition! And there is so much potential for further expanding this story anyway, that it would be such a waste to not explore this further in a sequel.
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