The upcoming independent feature The Way You Dance has announced the addition of two key cast members: the acclaimed actor Tzi Ma and the versatile Kyle Toy. Ma, a Canadian Screen Award nominee with a career spanning four decades, will not only star as the father but also serve as a producer on the film. Toy, known for his roles in The Arrangement and Center Stage: On Pointe, will take on the central role of Twinkle Lee, a choreographer returning to his roots.
The Way You Dance is the creation of writer, director, and producer Quentin Lee, with Cindy Au Yeung, a 2024 Canadian Screen Award winner, also producing. The film has secured international distribution through The Open Reel, an Italian sales outfit, while Jennifer Price will handle North American sales.
The film centers on Twinkle Lee (Kyle Toy), a successful choreographer who returns to British Columbia to care for his estranged father (Tzi Ma), who is facing a terminal illness. Amidst this challenging reunion, Twinkle finds unexpected purpose and healing by mentoring a diverse community dance class. The film explores themes of family reconciliation, self-discovery, and the power of dance to transcend difficult circumstances. One storyline involves a transgender teen’s struggles to live authentically.
Tzi Ma expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating, “As the actor and producer, my vision for The Way You Dance is to elevate British Columbia out of the quagmire of being a ‘day player town.’ We are better than that!”
Kyle Toy added, “Who we choose to connect with, and the risks we take to connect, have the biggest impact on who we become. The Way You Dance shows how less-than-ideal circumstances can create the greatest relationships in our lives… and I’m very excited to .”
Quentin Lee, the driving force behind The Way You Dance, shared his excitement about the cast and crew: “I’m thrilled to be collaborating with Tzi Ma and Kyle Toy, two actors whom I have met and admired over the years. I am grateful for the star-studded team both in front of and behind the camera to help me realize The Way You Dance, my long awaited auteur effort since my third feature Ethan Mao that world premiered at AFI Fest in 2004.”
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Cindy Au Yeung echoed this sentiment, noting, “The Way You Dance is an expression of love – whether it is a love of dance, love for family, or love for self, it is about soul-searching no matter what stage in life you are at and that the power of self-expression and dance can transcend above the pressures of intergenerational trauma and cultural expectations. Quentin’s unique sensibilities will bring these relatable characters to life along with Tzi Ma and Kyle Toy, and I can’t wait for all the magic to happen!”
With its focus on human connection and the redemptive power of art, The Way You Dance promises to be a compelling addition to the independent film landscape.
