Desert Dancer

20142014
PG-13PG-13
1h 44m

Reece Ritchie and Freida Pinto in Desert Dancer (2014)

Afshin Ghaffarian risks everything to start a dance company amidst his home country of Iran's politically volatile climate and the nation's ban on dancing.

Play trailer2:20

Biography Drama Music

Afshin Ghaffarian risks everything to start a dance company amidst his home country of Iran's politically volatile climate and the nation's ban on dancing.Afshin Ghaffarian risks everything to start a dance company amidst his home country of Iran's politically volatile climate and the nation's ban on dancing.Afshin Ghaffarian risks everything to start a dance company amidst his home country of Iran's politically volatile climate and the nation's ban on dancing.

Director
- Richard Raymond
Writers
- Jon Croker(screenplay)
- Afshin Ghaffarian(based on the life story of)
Stars

See production, box office & company info

See more at IMDbPro

Awards
- 2 nominations

Photos53

Desert Dancer (2014)

Desert Dancer (2014)

Desert Dancer (2014)

Desert Dancer (2014)

Desert Dancer (2014)

Desert Dancer (2014)

Desert Dancer (2014)

Reece Ritchie and Freida Pinto in Desert Dancer (2014)

Desert Dancer (2014)

Tom Cullen in Desert Dancer (2014)

Reece Ritchie in Desert Dancer (2014)

Tom Cullen in Desert Dancer (2014)

Director
- Richard Raymond
Writers
- Jon Croker(screenplay)
- Afshin Ghaffarian(based on the life story of)
All cast & crew
See more cast details at IMDbPro

Trishna

6.0

Blunt Force Trauma

4.6

Blunt Force Trauma

Miral

6.3

Yamasong: March of the Hollows

4.9

Yamasong: March of the Hollows

Black Knight Decoded

5.6

Black Knight Decoded

Shirin in Love

5.1

Day of the Falcon

6.6

Day of the Falcon

Love Sonia

7.4

Souls of Totality

7.0

Souls of Totality

Only

5.1

The Other Half

5.4

The Batsman and the Ballerina

The Batsman and the Ballerina

A film based on an incredible true story. Desert Dancer is a classic hero story about brave young people risking their lives to rebel against their government and fight for their dreams. Set in Iran, where it is currently forbidden to dance, the story follows Afshin Ghaffarian and his friends who despite the dangers form an underground dance company where, via hacking into YouTube, they learn from the very best - Michael Jackson, Pina Bausch, Gene Kelly and Rudolf Nureyev. Reveling in the freedom of expression that dance gives them, they set upon putting on a performance deep in the desert, away from the watchful eyes of the military police. —Anonymous

tehran iran man beaten flashback repressed culture basij 50 more

Taglines
- Freedom Takes Courage.
Genres
Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
- Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, some drug material and violence
Parents guide

Trivia
There is a misspelled word in the big banner the protesters carry in front of them

Connections
References Dirty Dancing (1987)

Soundtracks
Louie Louie
(Richard Berry (as Berry))
Performed by Jack Ely

Top review

10/10

Great movie that meets and exceeds expectations

If you like dance movies, this is for you.

It's comparable to the best true-story dance movies like 'Mao's Last Dancer', 'Dancing Across Borders', and so on. If you liked those movies, you will love this.

It's well cast, well acted, well danced, and very interesting and dramatic.

I loved it!

Highly recommended for dance-movie fans.

The lead character is especially well cast, and he dances marvelously, with passion and beauty and skill, while also being an excellent actor.

helpful•8

2

angelofvic
Oct 26, 2015

Release date
- April 22, 2016 (United Kingdom)
Countries of origin
Official site
- Official site
Language
- English
Also known as
- Until I Rise
Filming locations
- Casablanca, Morocco
Production companies
See more company credits at IMDbPro

Budget
- $4,000,000 (estimated)
Gross US & Canada
- $155,271
Opening weekend US & Canada
- $40,763
- Apr 12, 2015
Gross worldwide
- $438,165

See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

Runtime
1 hour 44 minutes
Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1

Freida Pinto’s Freebird Films Inks First-Look TV Deal With eOne

Freida Pinto’s Freebird Films Inks First-Look TV Deal With eOne

Aug 26Deadline Film + TV

Freida Pinto opens up on the time when the world ridiculed Indians

Freida Pinto opens up on the time when the world ridiculed Indians

Reece Ritchie and Freida Pinto in Desert Dancer (2014)

Top Gap

By what name was Desert Dancer (2014) officially released in India in English?

More to explore

View list

IMDb's 2022 TV Guide

See the full list

Image caption not available

Remembering the Stars We Lost in 2021

Watch the video

Recently viewed

Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.