Kaboku just wants to do his best to blend in during his high school years, but an obvious speech impediment doesn't make things easy. One day after school, Kaboku spots Hikari Wanda dancing wildly in front of a window and feels a desire to join her. This doesn't coincide with Kaboku's plans to remain under the radar, but he can't help feeling like grooving to the music. Kaboku and Wanda find themselves joining the school hip hop club, which is primarily made up of other female students who are way better than him. Now Kaboku stands out even more! Will he ever be able to loosen up and get with the beat?

Pros: Lots of flashy action sequences, touching dealing with a disability, and a rather unique plotline.
Cons: Storyline is a bit slow to get going and somewhat repetitive.

"Wandance, VOL. 1" is a great start to a sure-to-be promising series. It's a mix of coming-of-age high school storylines laced with dance and movement. The main character suffers from a speech impediment, and a weak self-esteem, but strikes an unexpected friendship with a classmate after seeing her dance without care. The plot so far is great and the aesthetics are impeccable, expressing hip-hop dance movements with a lot of fluidity (a feat on a black and white page!). It's also very informative (I'm not a connoisseur at all when it comes to any type of dancing) so it's actually a really refreshing manga. I do hope I'll be able to get my hands on the following volumes at one point, it was a great read!

I really enjoyed volume 1 and will continue to read this series as it releases. After a dance experience in middle school,Kabo tries not to stick out. However, he meets Wanda and is entranced when he finds her dancing one day. He decides to join the dance club since it's an activity that doesn't involve speaking and it interests him.

I absolutely love how Wanda doesn't make a comment about Kabo's stutter when he is talking to her. They both put in hard work to get better and others are seeing how well Wanda and Kabo dance together. It honestly kept my attention throughout the whole volume and left me wanting to know how things continue. I also like how the dance moves are described so readers can understand what their movements are as they dance/practice.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kodansha, and Coffee for the opportunity to read this manga in exchange for an honest review.

If you are interested in dance, this one is for you!

Kaboku has a stutter and, though he didn't know it, would prefer an activity with a little less talking. He plays basketball but also joins the dance club after seeing his classmate, Wanda, dance. Her moves are inspiring, and she has a speaking schtick of her own, which is why dancing is a much better form of expression for her.

He may not know any moves, but Kaboku is more than willing to learn. With someone as inspiring as Wanda dancing at his side, he might have just found a knack for something he never expected!

Solely focused around dance, this manga has great illustrations to show the movement of dance, as well as foot-work steps on some of the dances (which means you can try too!). I would say this manga is for someone who is interested in dance, as well as friendships and how finding an unexpected outlet can really bring the best out of someone.

really enjoyable read!! it was sweet and a bit awkward but I really enjoyed reading it even if I usually read manga really fast, I've never read a manga centered on contemporary dance so that made it more unique for me

This was actually quite lovely and I’m very excited to read the rest of this series! The art and the tone of the work are both seemingly lighthearted, but I love the theme of being true to yourself and that trying hard to do something you love, even in the face of not being very good at it, pays off in joy!

Very much in the same vein as other treasured titles like, Blue Period, and I hope that this receives a similar response from fans!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eArc in exchange for my honest opinion!

I loved how seinen manga is evolving these days. I've read a few series that made me look at this manga category in a different light, of course, with an undeniable smile.

<i>Wandance</i> is a story of self-discovery, freedom of self-expression, coming out of comfort zones, and following one's passion, all tied in a delicate rhythm. The art style is kind of odd but it's one of the elements that built its attractiveness. I'm not a fan of dance or idol-thing in general, and I am not once amused in the premise of this story, but to each his own. Nonetheless, Kubo's character development is really hooking and at most moving. Also, this series actually pretty wholesome no matter what angle I look at it.

My gratitude to Kodansha Comics and Netgalley for providing me with an advanced reading copy of this series in exchange for an honest review.

A manga with some cool main characters. The dancing is spot on and I love the insecurity and deep dive of the main character.

ARC Copy...I give top points for the Japanese hip-hop doses added to the high school drama premise and I also liked the fact hip-hop dance is treated with seriousness and flows like a a good hip-hop beat.

(Longer review forthcoming).

I cannot express how good this series is. The artwork is expressive and brilliant, the story is empathetic and inspiring. This is a manga that needs to be on school library shelves, and I'm so glad it's available in physical format!

This is a fantastic story with illustrations that really capture the fluidity of hip hop dance. I am also pleased with the disability representation here - the main character has a speech impediment and everyone thinks it’s because he’s nervous or can’t talk to girls, but I have a feeling he’s going to find a new way to communicate through his dancing.

This was fun!

I really like our main character, Kotani. He's got a stutter - but it's not treated like some huge thing, nor is he ostracized for it. I think it's nice representation, because it is something that many people feel conscious about. There's also bits about how he works with it. I also love that he's unapologetically into Western music, has a good ear for sound, (his English was also good at the beginning), and joins a mostly all-girls dance club. He's not weird about it, he befriends Wanda pretty quickly - and that's also not weird. It's nice to see some good, supportive friendship modeled. So yeah, big fan of Kotani.

The rest of it gives me sports manga vibes, as it should. Kotani's characterization and his motive for joining dance club is what keeps it feeling fresh. Looking forward to more.

Kaboku decides to join his high school dance club when he meets a girl named Wanda who is a dance enthusiast. He has always played basketball but he wants to do something different, something where he can be free and something where he doesn’t have to speak because he has a stutter.

He joins the dance club and little by little finds his rhythm and his groove. He also finds a friendship with Wanda as he steps out of his shyness and allows the music take him. This is a story of courage, friendship and finding love, but it is also about finding yourself and being who you truly are. The artwork is good and the story manages to portray the dances without detracting from the flow of the story.

This first volume was very enjoyable, with a great build up and has definitely left me feeling intrigued about what is to follow. Definitely a series to follow.

Copy provided by Kodansha Comics via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

This manga is one of the most artistically stunning titles I've seen in a long time. Wow. The way you feel the movement of the dance through the art is amazing. I can't even put into words how amazing it is.
Not only that, we have a young man who understands music differently than others, and got teased in middle school. When he sees Wanda dance, it brings back the love of dance for him. This story is about learning who you are, how to express yourself, and how to dance. I cannot wait until Vol 2 comes out!

Wandance is an inspirational manga aimed at fans of coming-of-age stories who enjoy series such as Blue Period and Your Lie in April per its synopsis. Readers follow Kaboku, a shy teenager who struggles with self-confidence and is trying to overcome his stuttering speech. Determined not to make a splash Kaboku often stays in the background of the crowd and goes with the flow of his classmates. But when Kaboku meets Hikari, everything changes. He becomes enamored with Hikari’s dancing skills and her ability to dance like no one’s watching. She inspires him to take a step out of his comfort zone and try something new; a dance club!

As a person who loves music and dance, this manga was right up my alley. It gave me similar inspiring themes that I’ve also seen in series such as Welcome To The Ballroom (which I highly recommend). Dancing is scary for Kaboku and being one of the only guys in the school’s dance club makes him stand out even more. At first, he is intimidated by the seemingly difficult dance steps by once he starts to truly get into the steps does he truly feel free. It’s a way for Kaboku to escape from his own mind that holds him back and he finally found something that brings him joy.

I loved the budding friendship between Kaboku and Hikari in the first volume. Their newfound friendship seems to bring out the best in each other. They help each other to overcome their obstacles and become more confident individuals. By the end of the novel, I was cheering them on to ace their dance auditions and learn each routine. On top of the coming-of-age themes that are explored, I also appreciated how Coffee explores the world of dance (with a heavy focus on hip-hop styles). It breaks the terminology down for readers who may be unfamiliar. The dance parts of the manga itself are beautifully illustrated and the author pays special attention to the dance steps shown and the intricacy of each move.

more a 3.5, it's a slow manga with not much happening but I like the way they explain dance and how it works in a different way to different people. also, the MC representation is amazing really liked that but so far nothing big happen just a build-up maybe for the next volumes which makes this one a bit slow. let's see how it continues

The story was not exactly what I expected but I liked it.
We follow Kaboku, a young high school student who has trouble expressing himself because he stutters. One day, he sees Wanda dancing and this will awaken the same desire in him. I liked the characters, I think that in a few more volumes I would have become quite attached. Kaboku cares a lot about what other people think, whereas Wanda doesn't. I really like the dynamic and the way it's done. I really like the dynamic and the friendship that develops between them. It's nice to see the change of mentality in Kaboku. I liked the drawings a little bit because I found them a bit weird in the proportions and the positions sometimes. I think you get used to it with time but it surprised me.
I recommend it to those who want a sports manga with endearing characters
3.5/5

Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the e-arc!

Such beautiful art, the way they capture movement and dance I really like it! I could really feel Kaboku's movements especially since the darker shading really puts an emphasis on the shift. The dynamic between him and Wanda is cute, they both bring something the other needs in a way. Feelings of approval, fitting in, normalness, being authentic and having fun thats what youth is right? A inspiring read, remember to dance like no ones looking!

Unique and fun storyline! Reminded me of High School Musical (but for dance).

Thank you Kodansha and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review!

Very nice and unique. A manga about dance. Cute, sexy, charming story and art. I love it and will continue the series!