The Wasteland Reviewer

She Dances (2026) Written Review

Are we ready for the new father/daughter dramedy of 2026? With She Dances, real life father/daughter Steve and Audrey Zahn lead the film as an estranged father/daughter pair. There is a looming sense of grief that has fractured this once connected family. But now, chaperoning his daughter’s dance competition is the way that Jason can reconnect with his daughter, Claire. Co-written by Zahn, writer/director Rick Gomez brings this engaging dramedy to the screen with plenty of energy along with plenty of potential for growth. 

How does Gomez approach bringing this indie flick to life? First off, Gomez does a fine job navigating the balance of tones. There are certainly some sillier moments (especially centered around Jason awkward attempts to relate to his daughter) but Gomez always finds the depth in each of these where there is something boiling underneath the surface. You get the sense that something is weighing upon our father and daughter protagonists (which turns out to be the harsh truth). The pace of the film is great with this film only being 90 minutes and it flies by since it is just so engaging. There are bursts of flair that Gomez injects into the experience. The use of split screens makes for some powerful juxtapositions as the audience witnesses the difference in state that Jason and Claire are in. The film knows how to keep things light, but it also knows when to bring the emotional weight. There are a few scenes in the third act that will be getting those tears going. 

Does the story that Zahn and Gomez tell resonate? You can tell that there are some real passions and emotions behind the camera and on the page. The overall journey of the film is not the most surprising or unique but there is something powerful in the themes and heart in the film. The journey that Jason goes on is quite powerful. He feels disenfranchised. He wants to sell his company with his partner Brian (Ethan Hawke). The lonely existence we witness is quite sad. But through this trip with his daughter, he can confront their shared grief and finally truly be present and supportive of her. The relationship between Claire and her all-round partner Kat (Mackenzie Ziegler) is powerful and quite endearing. Claire has her own grief to overcome as well as a rivalry brewing with one of her fellow dancers. How all these threads come together makes for a moving story. The film has some strong emotional moments including Claire’s final dance. There is some strong, consistent humor along the way as well. 

What is the true gem of the film? The cast. The Zahn father/daughter combination delivers a pair of layered, rich, and empathetic performances. Their real-life connection gives their on-screen one some strong authenticity. Both have some powerful vulnerability that shines on screen. Ziegler is quite charming and her chemistry with the younger Zahn is palpable and electric. Hawke shows up for a few scenes and nearly steals the show with one emotional lunch with the elder Zahn. Rosemarie DeWitt is such a gem, and she sells so much emotion and character elements during a phone call later in the film (as she portrays Claire’s mother and Jason’s ex-wife). Sonequa Martin-Green is charming too and has a good heart portraying Claire’s coach. Haley Fish gets to show some depth as well as Claire’s dancing rival in the film. The cast is so pitch perfect and certainly elevates an already rock-solid screenplay. 

Does She Dances deliver a charming and engaging experience? Steve and Audrey Zahn make a dynamic duo and make you want to see more films with them together. There is a strong story about grief and loss here that delivers so poignantly. A great cast and plenty of passion can go a long way with She Dances as a perfect piece of evidence to that.