Filmmaker Rick Gomez makes his directorial debut with She Dances, a comedy-drama film starring (and co-written by) Steve Zahn alongside his real-life daughter, Audrey Zahn.
Steve Zahn plays Jason, a struggling father who reluctantly serves as a chaperone for his estranged teenage daughter, played by Audrey, to a final regional dance competition.
Also starring in the independent film are Ethan Hawke, Sonequa Martin-Green, Rosemarie DeWitt, and Mackenzie Ziegler.
She Dances had its world premiere in the Spotlight Narrative section of the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival, then went on to screen at Palm Springs International Film Festival, Gold Coast International Film Festival, Heartland International Film Festival, and Twin Cities Film Fest. It is now set for a wide U.S. theatrical release on March 27, 2026, via EKKL Entertainment.
In the film, dad Jason lives apart from his ex-wife and distant teenage daughter Claire while dealing with his own grief over the loss of their son Jack. When Claire and her best friend Kat are invited to compete in the Southeastern Regional Dance Finals, Jason is asked to act as their chaperone, a job he’s unprepared for both logistically and emotionally. Thrust into the world of competitive dance, cheap motels, and whirlwind mom entourages, the unlikely pair confront past wounds and begin to find their rhythm, discovering moments of connection they’ve long missed.
In a review, Variety described She Dances as a “sweet yet uneven dramedy,” but quickly added, “But the two Zahns — especially newcomer Audrey — bring enough charisma and intrigue to rise above the film’s shortcomings.”
Watch the official trailer for She Dances above.
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