10 Dance, Vol. 1

10 DANCE #1

by Satoh Inoue, 井上 佐藤

Dip into your new obsession in this steamy gay ballroom romance! The beautifully-detailed, lithe bodies of the two "kings of the ballroom" fly across the dance floor as rivals build a volatile bond in this red-hot romance!

IT TAKES TWO

Shinya Sugiki, the dashing lord of Standard Ballroom, and Shinya Suzuki, passionate king of Latin Dance: The two share more than just a first name and a love of the sport. They each want to become champion of the 10-Dance Competition, which means they'll need to learn the other's specialty dances, and who better to learn from than the best? But old rivalries die hard, and things get complicated even further when they realize there might be more between them than an uneasy partnership...

Genres: Manga, Romance, LGBT, Queer, Yaoi, Comics, Graphic Novels

224 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 16, 2013

About the author

Satoh Inoue (井上 佐藤 [いのうえ さとう]) is BL (Boy's Love) manga artist of Japan.
First published work: 「エンドルフィンマシーン」2007.

Reviews

[destiny ♡ howling libraries · Rating 1 out of 5]

First of all, if you're a big fan of professional dancing, let me go ahead and say I strongly believe you'll enjoy this more than I did. It's clear that the creator knows what they're talking about, as there's a lot of detail spent on both the technical details of dance as well as the world of professional dancing competitively, and the impact that world has on its residents. I was impressed, but it was overly detailed sometimes to the point where it fully removed me from the story, and that wasn't enjoyable for me.

As far as the story goes, however... I honestly don't even know half of what was going on because this was so difficult to follow. It jumps from scene to scene with weird transitions, the characters are constantly randomly changing the topic too abruptly to make any sense, and I swear it took the first half of the book just for me to keep track of who's who because the two leading men's names are almost the same (Suguki Shinya and Suzuki Shinya). What a strange (and inefficient) writing choice...

Even if I had been able to fully get into the story, the characters don't help. Suzuki Shinya is horribly unlikeable and an absolute brat, while Suguki Shinya is bland as hell (and has a few really problematic remarks near the end about Latinx people). This entire manga was a bit of a disaster for me, sadly. I definitely won't be continuing the series and I can't see myself reaching for anything else by this author, either.

Thank you so much to Amazon Vine for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

This romance is too slow a waltz for me. The dance scenes are low energy, the two guys have little chemistry, and after a full volume they are so deep in the closet that they have made little to no progress toward starting a relationship or even realizing one is possible. I wouldn't avoid a second volume, but I won't seek it out either.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the many things I want to learn in my life is Latin dancing. Extravagant music, colorful outfits, the overall feeling of wanting to dance with them are all things that captivated me. So when I learn that one of my favorite publishers had a manga about Latin dancing I WAS THRILLED! But I wasn't expecting myself to love it as much as I did. Both of the protagonists have great chemistry together. The banter between the two and the sexual tension was also hilarious to me!

There is an overall story arc to which the plot slowly leads to. I appreciate it since many times when I read manga that has romance in it, theirs is not that much plot. Not only does this story have a good plot but it also has great artwork!

Overall I really loved this and I have no complaints about this tome.

[atmatos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two words: Fucking. Sexy.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tsuzuki Shinya. The name of two successful ballroom dancers - one specializing in Standard, the other in Latin dances. The Standard one aims to be World Champion, and as such needs to conquer Latin dance as well, so he asks the other one to help him. He accepts despite himself - he doesn't have any great aspirations, really, but as they practice together at some point he starts to get serious too. And the two Shinyas dance very well together..

It's the first volume, and (almost) nothing physical happens between them - apart from the dancing, of course. To be honest, the main attraction of this is the dancing but it's so hot the four stars are easily deserved. I'm a bit on the fence regarding the characters, but they do have chemistry and I had fun reading it. And the dance scenes *are* gorgeous.

(It placed 3rd on the "Kono BL Ga Yabai 2014" list, but in no way is this better than "Saezuru Tori" or "Udagawachou" or - well, a few others on the list. It was good though.)

[Gavin Hetherington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this for a yaoi vlog project on YouTube, check it out: https://youtu.be/xQXDRVCfBr4

[Mehsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meet Suzuki Shinya and Sugiki Shinya. Two names, so very close together, yet their personalities will clash a lot in this gorgeous dance manga.

I just couldn't resist checking this one out when I found out about it. A dance manga? One with mxm coupling? Um, hello? Where do I sign up?!

What happens when two amazing dancers decide to pair up, or at least try to teach each other the skills they are amazing in. For one that is Latin dance, for the other that is waltz/standard. It may work out in normal situations were it not that these guys aren't too fond of each other. :P They are both really proud of their own dances and so are really unhappy when the other doesn't seem to be able to do it (or do it right). I had such a laugh when they were commenting on how much their bodies were touching (even commenting about the dicks touching and jumping away in obvious NOPE), in the mean time the girls (the men's official partners) didn't even care about their bodies touching. Or when Suzuki just strips his torso and draws lines on it to show how Sugiki should dance, how his abs and body should move.
As the story continues we see the guys work hard on their dances, together, or alone. Their connection is getting better and my heart was just babumping all the way as they really dance supersexy. Plus their banter makes everything way more fun and interesting. I just can't wait for these two guys to get together, fall in love, and kiss. And I would definitely like it if they break the standard and just dance together in competitions.

At times I was a bit confused, sure, these guys don't look the same, but their names are so close together. Plus their personalities are also quite close together (even if they would deny it).

I liked learning more about both the characters. From how Sugiki started and how he always gets second place, to Suzuki who was born in Cuba and how he first was a pretty chaotic dancer and then turned pro (though still has the tendency to let his hot Latino roots show).

Big points to the art, whereas I love Ballroom e Youkoso, this one did so much better on the bodies and the movements. No strange weird body proportions or weird dancing (which made me laugh at more than one occasion, and not always the right one), instead everything is tight and gorgeous. The dances are glittery and shiny and sensual (well, when they get it right) and I just adore how well the artist draws the motions and the bodies.

Will I continue? Um, definitely. As I said at times confused as the names of these guys are very close to each other, but I want to see these guys get together. I want to see them hug and kiss and get way loveydovey. I want to see more sexy dances. I want to see them enter competitions and wear flamboyant outfits. I want more bantering.

All in all, if you are into a funny, sexy, dancing manga and don't mind a m x m coupling, be sure to check this one out!

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for dancing, frilly dresses, and BL. So far, this is the story of two competitive ballroom dancers. Since they specialize in different types (standard vs latin), they begin to teach each other in preparation for the international 10 Dance competition, where they will be competing in both types. One MC is serious, witty, and a bit contentious. The other is audacious, passionate, and charismatic. As things get hot on the dance floor, adoration for one another builds, leading to confusing feelings and and engaging slow-burn.

[Risa (Clazzi) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so glad I picked this up! The art is amazing, the story is realistic and flows so well. The attraction develops so naturally ant a comfy slow pace without all the gross problematic trips from most BL series. Can't wait for vol 2!

[marcia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This series has been on my TBR for years. When I found out my beloved Keita Machida is playing Shinya in the live adaptation, I knew I have to read it before the movie comes out. Vol. 1 is underwhelming. Not only is it burdened by jargon, the pacing is a mess. Still, I'm willing to try out a couple more volumes.

[Knigoqdec · Rating 4 out of 5]

Двама световни шампиони по танци - единият "император на традиционния валс", другият - "латино цар". Първият предизвиква втория да се явят на престижното състезание 10 Dance, като за целта ще се наложи и двамата да научат специалитета на другия. Уроците започват... Разбира се, всичко прераства в пълна катастрофа!
Мангата е симпатичен шонен-ай (в първия том не бих казала, че има нещо, което да я числи към групата на яои). Героите са изградени доста добре, макар и да не получаваме истински достъп до личните им истории. Разбира се, Сузуки е по-емоционален и действен, каквото се очаква да представлява един латино цар (аз в тази роля виждам Сууабе Джуничи и точка, само той е достойната откачалка за сею на този герой!). Сугики е, разбира се, по-обран, по закона на BL заглавията. Клишета в цялата работа, много ясно, има, но на мен тези работи почти никога не ми омръзват, освен ако не присъстват в рядко зле направена манга. Единственият проблем на 10 Dance като цяло е, че понякога личи как времето в действието доста прескача и това съвсем леко убива емоционалния ефект... Но явно твърде леко, защото на мен тези двамата са ми достатъчно симпатични за солидни четири звезди (пък и винаги мангите са ми слабост). Също така - артът ми е малко нетипичен, но е... каваи...

[Maia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sugiki and Suzuki are both competitive ballroom dancers, ranked internationally, but since Sugiki dances Standard Ballroom while Suzuki competes in Latin Dance, they have never faced each other at an event. But they are very aware of each other through a long standing school rivalry. Then Sugiki surprises Suzuki and his dance partner with a surprise request: they train each other in their respective disciplines and all compete in the 10 Dance: the event which includes the 5 Standard Ballroom dances as well as the 5 Latin Dances. Most of this first book comprises of late night dance practice sessions in which Sugiki critiques Suzuki's weak leading energy and form while Suzuki in turn roasts Sugiki for his stiff hips and stern expressions. While in competition they will dance with their female partners, but in practice they mostly dance with each other and an undercurrent of competitive flirtation and attraction begins to build. This 8 volume manga series was recently adapted into a live action film which looks great from the trailer! I picked this up to get a sense of the characters and tone. The casting looks perfect.

[Fny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I need more ... like yesterday 😅🤣😍

[Sanna G. Ståhl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this manga! It really showed me a new side of the dance industry and the work it takes to becomes a professional dancer. The chemistry between the two main characters is impossible not to notice which makes me curious to read more of the series.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hesitated for a long time before getting this manga because I worried that it would read like a dance instruction manual, but I was wrong. It simmers with sensuality. Every page is bubbling with sexual tension between the two leads as they learn to dance each other's styles for a competition they both want to (separately) take part in.

Secondly, I flipped through this manga in a bookstore and thought it didn't really look like yaoi. I was wrong again. So far volume 1 is filled with primarily innuendos, but the two characters are definitely moving in that direction. One man has been a long-time admirer of the other, though keeps that secret to himself; the other is developing an apparent attraction that even he is unaware of at this point. When they are separated due to another dance competition, they clearly pine for one another. And this manga is at least six volumes long, so there's plenty of time for their relationship to grow.

And the third thing that made me hesitate was that it seemed this book was built on the premise that two straight men fall in love. That trope annoys me when it's done in a way that the characters repeatedly say, "I'm sleeping with a man, but I'm not gay!" I really find that sort of thing offensive and luckily it seems to be going out of style in Japanese comics. And that's not how sexuality is treated in this book, fortunately. One man refuses to comment on his sexuality at all, and the other seems to be slowly realizing his bisexuality as his feelings for his dance practice partner begin to grow.

There are quite a few funny moments, but on the whole I would describe this manga as sensual. I would easily put this in my top five all-time favorite yaoi series. I would recommend it to fans of Youka Nitta's "Embracing Love." While it's not explicit, and volume 1 contains a single kissing scene, it has the same vibe. The whole world revolves around the relationship between these two men, and while the storyline is intriguing, it doesn't overpower the actual romance like in manga such as "Blue Morning" by Shoko Hidaka.

[KimB · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first manga novel in the series. It seems like it had a lot of set up and had some introduction to the characters. I would need to read at least two more books before I can say for sure if I like the series.

It seems to have a rough art style that expertly shows the dramatic movements of the characters (who are professional dancers).

So far not much development in the romance of the characters.

[Leanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting premise and I love the illustrations. However, the pacing seems a bit choppy and the translation leaves a little to be desired. I can't always follow the conversations well. I think the author got a new publisher after this book, though, so perhaps the storytelling smooths out a bit after this first volume? We shall see...

[Adriana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for ballroom dancing stories and this one has strong characters plus pretty and dynamic art working for it, there's no way I wasn't going to enjoy it.

[Dani(elle) · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's kind of like a dancing version of Yuri!! On Ice without the unfortunate fatshaming. Hopefully, I get more concrete declarations of love and affection as well.

[Online Eccentric Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

In this first volume, we are introduced to two very different but world class dancers, each with the same first name. Shinya Sugiki is a very traditional and old fashioned uptight ballroom dancer. He is elegant, precise, and composed. Shinya Suzuki, on the other hand, was born in Cuba, is half Cuban, and dances Latin with passion and fire. Most of the first volume is about the clash of styles and how each handles their personal lives.

Story: Both Shinyas are curious about the other's dance styles and need to learn them in order to win a prestigious competition featuring 10 different dances. When they make a deal to teach other, it becomes apparent that one needs to loosen up and breathe while the other needs to become precise and less intuitive. Their female partners, meanwhile, are less enthused about learning another dance style and leave the men to their own devices. What follows is a an examination of the Ballroom and Latin dance competitions and styles - and what it takes to be a leader.

The two main characters are fairly common archetypes for this genre - Sugiki with his Meiji Restoration idealism and manners while Suzuki always has music in his head and was taught to feel the music by his abuelo in Cuba. Sugiki is dead serious about dancing while Suzuki is a dilettante - dancing to the music and whims in his head. Their personalities and styles are at complete odds and it creates complications and drama.

The artwork is fine and well drawn - makes the moves easy to understand. As well, both men's personalities (as well as those of their female partners) come through clearly in the illustration work. This first volume is about meeting and then learning each other's styles. There isn't any romance and only the beginnings of an attraction (at this stage, only curiosity about the other). We learn of Sugiki's very traditional Japanese family and contrast that with Suzuki, who came from a broken home.

Dancing aficionados will especially appreciate the details and quality of discussions about the art. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I believe I am reading this the wrong way.

Before I picked up this manga, I must admit that my expectations were quite high. After all, I am a big fan of Welcome To The Ballroom by Tomo Takeuchi (both the manga and the anime). But despite the high expectations, I was looking for something quite different from 10 Dance 1. And that's where I made the mistake. When I was reading Welcome To The Ballroom, I am just looking for the spectacle that was pure ballroom dancing. For 10 Dance 1, I was expecting more from the romance side, and I viewed the ballroom dancing as an added bonus.

I think I would have enjoyed Inoue's manga more if I read this like the way I read Welcome To The Ballroom. For now, I will stick with my 3-star rating, but this manga deserves a second chance from me.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

*More of a 3.5*
I really liked this! It’s funny and interesting and a bit of a slow burn.

My issue is that I feel like it’s hard to pinpoint the characters, sometimes they do things that seem a little out of no where and despite it being more of a slow burn it seems as if their relationship progresses to quickly at times. But all of this is happening throughout a span of months so its not actually going too fast it just feels that way. I want to see more little flirty moments between them!!

I don’t really care about any of the ball dancing that much, but I look forward to seeing both of them grow. I overall like this, but my feelings are a little all over the place.

[Mere Rain]

This series is off to a great start. The art is pretty good and the two main characters are well-drawn and nuanced. This is also a rare manga where men look and behave like adults (not always the most mature adults, but real people, not caricatures or hysterical teens).

For readers who are into ballroom, there is a lot of information about that, and the dancing scenes are carefully depicted. The character are very serious about dance, and it is treated seriously in the story, not as a device to get two people rubbing up against each other (although that also happens).

[Charlize 🌸 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two Shinya’s: a Cuban-Japanese (Suzuki) Latin dancer, and a Japanese/British (Suguki) Ballroom dancer team up to teach each other the 5 styles of their dance profession for the 10 Dance competition.

Interesting dynamics. This wasn’t too bad. It didn’t drag necessarily but not much build up in my opinion, but it still held my attention as a fan of BL. I think it’s because the competition will take place in the second volume, which I’d be interested in reading just to see where their relationship will go.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the art in this one and I enjoyed the characters a lot. The focus on the dancing was a bit too much for me (I do think the dancing would work beautifully in anime) but I still liked 10 Dance!.

I just hope that the relationship between the two main characters will be explored and will evolve more in the following volume.

[XA · Rating 5 out of 5]

¿Existe una forma más pura y sublime que el arte para expresar el amor? No lo creo. Para quienes vivimos y respiramos el arte, en todas sus formas, el amar es como esa fuerza creadora que nos impulsa al movimiento. Ese positivo total. Al final, ¿qué es el amor sino la máxima expresión del movimiento?

[duniamimpigie Anggi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wkwkwkwk dimasukin rak comedy-humor karena, yaaaah, karena.
Unexpectedly good, really good.
Sudah difoto-foto beberapa adegan begonya. Nanti kapan-kapan kalau lagi sempat, pingin ditambahin di review ini ehehehe...
Beli pas diskonan Kino. Kalap.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come

[Adrian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm loving this series with the first volume. I wanted to like "Welcome to the Ballroom", but couldn't get into it. I feel that the reason I enjoy this so much is because it's adults. I know WTTB isn't a BL, but the dance element is beautiful in this manga, and it's exactly what I'm looking for in a story.

[honeybean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a both hilarious and beautiful to read. What good one-liners! "Oh...you have an emperor too..." <3 <3 perfection