10Dance (2025)

 The live-action adaptation of 10 Dance has left me in a bit of a "tug-of-war" with my emotions. On one hand, I’m thrilled to see this beloved manga come to life; on the other, I’m left checking my watch and wondering if we missed a few steps. My primary frustration is the pacing. The film covers roughly five volumes of the eight currently out in Japan, which means—to my absolute disappointment—it doesn't actually reach the titular 10 Dance competition. After sitting through a runtime of 2 hours and 15 minutes, I expected a grand finale. Instead, I felt left in suspense. Are they holding out for a sequel? I certainly hope so, because the story feels unfinished. I’ll admit, I’m a tough critic when it comes to ballroom movies. I grew up on the gold standards: Emile Ardolino’s Dirty Dancing (Patrick Swayze was a force of nature) and Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom. Having been raised on that level of cinematic passion, I found the dance sequences in 10 Dance lacking a certain "sensual spark." Even the long-awaited moment where Suzuki Shinya and Sugiki Shinya finally dance together in public felt a bit muted. Honestly, their practice sessions in the empty studio had more tension. However... when it comes to the chemistry between the leads, the film finds its rhythm: While the dancing lacked heat, the kissing scenes—especially the one in the subway—were electric. The sensual energy was definitely there. Takeuchi Ryoma is incredibly sexy as Suzuki. Watching him opposite Machida Keita’s Sugiki is a treat; I spent half the movie wishing Suzuki would just grab Sugiki and "muss him up" a little! As a long-time fan of the manga, I noticed an interesting change in tone. The film feels much more "open" than the source material. In the manga, their mutual attraction is incredibly restrained and subtle. In the movie (perhaps due to the script or translation), they are much more vocal about their feelings. While I knew not to expect anything beyond a few kisses, the directness of their declarations actually surprised me. Is It Worth It? Absolutely. I actually reactivated my Netflix subscription (the premium, ad-free version, because I refused to let a commercial break ruin the mood!) just to watch this. Despite the slow-burn dancing and the incomplete plot, the charisma of the leads makes it a must-watch for fans. See it for the chemistry, even if you’re left wanting more from the choreography. HEA (more or less). You can watch on Netflix. Heat Level: 4/6.


Manga: amzn.to/3YEQaao

Heat Level:

1/6: glances, caress, hugs, no kisses

2/6: kisses, closed mouth or camera angles

3/6: full kisses, clothes on

4/6: full kisses, some clothes off, hands above the waist, pants stay on

5/6: most clothes off, they have sex, but it’s masked, no sexy sounds

6/6: full nudity mostly hidden by camera angles, they have sex, sexy sounds