Rick Gomez‘s feature directorial debut, She Dances, is an uplifting, albeit poignant exploration of family, grief, and the spirited yet cutthroat world of competitive dance. Co-written with Steve Zahn, the film follows a father and daughter whose relationship has been shaken by loss, but who still have a shot at redemption by finding their way back through humor, honesty, and shared struggle.
Steve Zahn gives a nuanced performance as the father, brilliantly navigating the film’s tonal shifts; from the early humor to the later, heartbreakingly intense scenes that evoke powerful audience emotions. Audrey Zahn also shines as the daughter, Claire, who ultimately takes the brave step of confronting the “elephant in the room” with her father, shedding much-needed light on how adults have just as much to learn from their kids as kids do from their parents – in this case, about the grieving process and its ripple effect on close family circles. Mackenzie Ziegler, who plays Kat, Claire’s dance partner, shares on-screen chemistry with Audrey Zahn that makes their friendship feel genuinely authentic. Their dynamic and interactions with Steve Zahn’s character are a joy to watch, especially when they initially take the upper hand, treating him like a kid tagging along to the competition.
Gomez’s direction really hits the mark, with intimate and inventive visuals that accentuate the family’s tumultuous dynamic. His meticulously choreographed split-screen sequences capture the parallel experiences of father and daughter, allowing the narrative to unfold across spaces without ever feeling gimmicky or overwhelming.
Supporting performances from Rosemarie DeWitt, Sonequa Martin-Green, and Ethan Hawke add multiple different perspectives on the film’s central themes, powerfully showing how tragedy ripples outward, often much stronger than it seems.
She Dances impresses with its humor, heartfelt poignancy, inventive direction, and empathetic performances, with the dance world serving as the perfect parallel to life: the precision and grace of synchronized choreography juxtaposed with the messy and unpredictable nature of human relationships, but with both spaces allowing for tenderness and wonder to prevail.
It’s a film meant to be a shared experience – whether in a theater or gathered in the living room with family and friends – as its themes of connection, loss, and resilience are guaranteed to resonate all the more when experienced together.
VERDICT:
She Dances releases in theaters nationwide today, March 27, 2026
