Enemies-to-lovers is possibly the best romance trope, and in Netflix’s 10Dance, Keita Machida (Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?!) and Ryoma Takeuchi are caught up in a charged romantic affair.
Machida and Takeuchi star as Shinya Sugiki and Shinya Suzuki, respectively, two of the most accomplished Japanese dancers.
They each specialize in different styles of dance, with Sugiki being the country’s Standard Ballroom champion and Suzuki being the Latin Dance champion.
If you’re wondering how the animosity towards each other develops, then you might have missed the fact that they share the same first name and broader field of dance. As a result, they’re usually compared to each other, something a very competitive Suzuki doesn’t like.
One day, Suzuki receives a surprise when Sugiki asks him to team up and win the 10-Dance Competition. The 10-Dance is a competition in which top dancers perform five varieties of Latin Dance and five varieties of Standard Ballroom.
Knowing how difficult it would be, Suzuki initially rejects Sugiki’s proposal to teach each other their respective styles and compete on the world stage, but Sugiki’s provocative attitude sparks Suzuki’s competitive spirit and spurs him to begrudgingly accept.
The two men’s opposite personalities clash as they devote themselves to daily lessons, but they grow steadily closer over time. Before long, Suzuki realizes he has started developing a romantic attraction to Sugiki.
’10Dance’ Exposes Deeper Feelings in Explosive Trailer
Netflix released the film’s trailer, and if you were on the fence about the movie, those feelings will change by the end. It is visually stunning, engaging, and the leads are majestic.
It recaps the film’s premise, which revolves around the two dances and how they never intersect, except during a dance known as the 10-Dance.
The rivals are stars of their own fields, but there is a nagging feeling they experience whenever the other person shines. So naturally Sugiki challenges Suzuki’s team, as the only way to achieve inner peace is after he wins. Suzuki accepts because why not?
However, this might be a ploy to be closer to each other, as Sugiki had been experiencing some misattributed feelings.
Practice brings them together, and when they start practicing with each other — for some reason — everything falls into place.
Sugiki has never felt such a rush before whining his waist while grinding on Suzuki, who, by the way, doesn’t pull back.
However, anyone paying the smallest attention can see that this is love hidden behind competitiveness. When Sugiki explains how it makes him feel being close to Suzuki, it’s an admission of being deeply in love.
Still, they didn’t get to the top by letting sentimentality rule. Dance is ruthless and competitive, feelings Sugiki feels deeper than Suzuki, and they might ruin a good thing.
Will he submit to the new feeling and become one with Suzuki?
Netflix subscribers worldwide will find out when 10Dance premieres on December 18.
The live-action film is based on Inouesatoh’s hit manga 10DANCE, which explores two men consumed by the world of competitive dance.
Other cast members include Shiori Doi as Aki Tajima, Suzuki’s passionate Latin partner, and Anna Ishii as Fusako Yagami, Sugiki’s elegant Ballroom partner. Additionally, Shinya Hamada, Oshiro Maeda, Nadiya Bychkova, Susie Trayling, and Pasquale La Rocca also star.
Keishi Otomo directed the film from a script he co-wrote with Tomoko Yoshida.
Between Heated Rivarly and 10Dance, 2025 is shaping up to be great for enemies-to-lovers fans.