She Dances is an indie dramedy featuring a father-daughter duo, with Steve Zahn and his daughter, Audrey Zahn, who shines in her debut role. Steve plays Jason, a single dad who’s having a tough time reconnecting with his estranged teenage daughter, Claire, while he’s there to support her at a regional dance competition in Kentucky.

The film feels very personal right from the start since it showcases a real-life father and daughter, and Steve collaborated with fellow actor Rick Gomez to co-write the script. Audrey has a background as a competitive dancer before she transitioned into acting at a young age, which really adds to the story’s authenticity. I’m not at all familiar with the dance competition scene, so it’s really interesting to see it serve as the setting for this family dramedy.

Steve Zahn is such a likable actor, and you can’t help but feel for his character Jason, who often seems a bit lost. The phone call with his ex-wife (Rosemary DeWitt) shows that he hasn’t been around much for Claire, but he really makes an effort. Steve’s real-life friend Ethan Hawke has a small yet significant role as Brian, Jason’s business partner, as they run a distillery called The Two Jacks. We find out later that the business is named after their two sons and that Jason is still grappling with the loss of his only son.

Art can serve as a profound remedy for tragedy, and this film delves into that theme without becoming overly somber or heavy-handed. The dynamic between Jason and Claire is cute and fun as they travel together by car to a major dance competition, accompanied by Claire’s best friend, Kat (Mackenzie Ziegler). Any girl-dad can likely relate to Jason as he attempts to understand the world of teenage girls, particularly during such a high-pressure event.

The story appears lighthearted and even goofy at first, but the third act explores deep emotional themes of reconciliation and healing, particularly as Claire still grapples with the loss of her brother. She turns to dance as a way to convey her feelings when words fail her. The dance sequences are beautifully choreographed, yet they serve a purpose beyond mere entertainment, acting as a powerful form of emotional expression.

Given that this is Gomez’s feature directorial debut, some issues keep this from being a truly great movie. The dialog feels somewhat clunky at times, and I could do without the uninspired side story between Claire and her main competitor that feels tacked on. One character I really wish had more screen time is Jamie (Sonequa Martin-Green), a dance instructor and Claire’s mentor who radiates warmth and seems to bring a healing presence to everyone she meets.

The Zahns share a strong chemistry, which is understandable since they’re family. The road trip acts as a metaphor for the father and daughter finding their way to each other and working through their grief together. As Claire moves forward in the competition, it allows them to engage in genuine, meaningful conversations. It feels like the father and daughter are finally getting to know each other for the first time in their lives.

She Dances is a heartwarming story that highlights the cathartic power of art and the importance of being present for one’s family. I watched this last October at TCFF, and it’s one of my top three of the 8 films I saw. I’m glad it got distribution, and it’s now playing in US theaters.