Welcome to the Ballroom

Tatara Fujita is an ordinary middle school student who has no clear goal until a single moment opens the door to competitive ballroom dancing. He starts out clumsy and insecure, but the rhythm and discipline of dance give him something to care about. Surrounded by driven partners, rivals, and coaches, Tatara learns technique, timing, and how to read a partner. The show follows his step-by-step improvement in lessons and competitions, and it focuses on day-to-day practice, setbacks, and the small triumphs that build confidence. You watch his relationships and skills develop without giving away major plot twists or final results.

Released in 2017, Welcome to the Ballroom was created by Kenichi Suemitsu and Tomo Takeuchi and features voices from Shimba Tsuchiya, Ayane Sakura, Nobuhiko Okamoto, Kentaro Tomita and Toshiyuki Morikawa.

It didn’t rack up major industry awards, but the series received positive attention from anime critics and viewers for its animation quality and character arcs. It has shown up on various fan and critic lists that highlight notable genre entries, reflecting steady appreciation rather than mainstream prize recognition.

Critics and fans gave the show generally favorable ratings, with a 7.7 average from viewer votes. The series leans into themes of discipline, personal growth, and finding purpose through practice, with an emphasis on how skill and perseverance reshape identity. The drama stays grounded in relationships and competition, while the comedy lightens tense training and social moments.

Among anime audiences, Welcome to the Ballroom is often praised for its realistic portrayal of dance movement and choreography. Its attention to footwork and partner dynamics sparked plenty of fan art, discussion, and online analysis, and it helped introduce ballroom terminology and styles to viewers who had never encountered the sport before.