STORYLINE: Haru and Luis love competing in Tokyo’s ballroom dance scene, but after tragedy strikes, Haru withdraws into isolation. When friends coax her back to the studio, she develops an infatuation with the new instructor.  (IMDb)

     Kevin Bacon found his groove in Footloose (1984).  Jennifer Grey had the time of life in Dirty Dancng (1987).  The L.A. street dance scene was the the thesis of the 2005 documentary Rize.  Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty has danced its way into theaters. 

    Dance, and film,  are an international languages, with many styles.  Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty, is directed by an American filmmaker, stars a Japanese actress. and features three languages.  This is truly a film that crosses borders. 

    Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty is a true crowd pleaser.   The story begins with tragedy, but turns into an entertaining feature to watch. 

   The movie is filled with multiple  dance sequences, that are fun to watch.  The dancing centers primarily around competitive ballroom dancing.   Naturally a great soundtrack to enjoy  accompanies  the film.  As part of the soundtrack, this includes the best rendition of ‘The Tome of Your Life’ I have heard. 

    Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty has lavish costumes.  Being a motion picture set the dance world of ballroom dancing, this is a must. 

    There os a love story component to the motion picture.  This gets a bit awkward to watch.  However, it provides entertaining breaks from the entertaining ballroom sequences.  As part of this story. There is a highly entertaining, Bollywood style, dance number. 

   Before directing Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty, Josef Kubota Wladyka directed a film titled Catch the Fair Obe (2021).  Of you get a chance, see this one as well. It’s a heavy movie to watch, but an incredibly powerful movie.

    Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty is a dance feature with lavish ballroom, dance, sequences, in an awkward love story at the device to propel the plot forward.

     Until next time, I will see you at the movies!