The title? Unmissable. The story? Surprisingly tender. The cast? Bringing heat even in Park City’s subzero windchill. Ha-chan, Shake Your Booty! made its world premiere at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, and let’s just say... nobody expected a ballroom dance movie to slap this hard emotionally.

From Tokyo Dance Floors to Sundance Snowbanks

Directed by Josef Kubota Wladyka (Narcos, Catch the Fair One) and co-written with Nicholas Huynh, the film follows Haru, a Tokyo ballroom dancer who shuts down after personal tragedy. Her spark returns when she develops an infatuation with a mysterious new dance instructor—and yes, that goes about as smoothly as a waltz on black ice.

Wladyka, along with producers Kimberly Parker Zox and Mao Nagakura, was awarded the Dolby Creator Lab Grant, which supported the film’s polished, immersive visual world. And it shows. The camera moves like a dance partner, the lighting pulses with emotional beats, and the sound design doesn’t just support the film—it feels like part of the choreography.

Let’s Talk About the Cast

Rinko Kikuchi leads with grace and grit, giving Haru just the right mix of poise and vulnerability. Alberto Guerra and Alejandro Edda bring a grounded, emotionally charged energy to the men around her, steering the film away from cliché and into something more lived-in.

Edda spoke about the collaborative energy behind the project and how culture and identity shaped the film’s performances. Guerra, reflecting on his role, described Ha-chan, Shake Your Booty! as a unique opportunity within his evolving career, touching on the emotional depth and personal resonance of the story.

It's Not Just a Dance Movie (Though the Dancing Is Stunning)

The film doesn’t rush to its emotional beats—it lets the awkward silences, missed steps, and small glances build up real tension. The ballroom scenes are electric, sure, but it’s what happens between rehearsals that keeps you locked in. Ha-chan is less about winning trophies and more about reclaiming your body, your rhythm, your space.

Standing Ovations and Subtle Power Moves

Screened at the Eccles Theater, the press line was packed (tip: show up early if you want more than standing room). Cast and creatives showed up bundled but glowing, and while the title got plenty of giggles on the schedule, the film’s impact hit much deeper.

Keep your eye on this one. It’s an underdog story without the sports clichés, a romance without the fluff, and a healing narrative without the sermon. Just people, pain, dancing, and the very real work of moving forward.