When a high-profile CEO is murdered on the eve of his company's corporate event in Malta - a high stakes ballroom competition between senior executives - Detective Bailey is sent undercover ... Read allWhen a high-profile CEO is murdered on the eve of his company's corporate event in Malta - a high stakes ballroom competition between senior executives - Detective Bailey is sent undercover as one of the contestants.When a high-profile CEO is murdered on the eve of his company's corporate event in Malta - a high stakes ballroom competition between senior executives - Detective Bailey is sent undercover as one of the contestants.
- Awards
- 1 nomination total
Kirsty Bartolo
- Gala Guest
- (uncredited)
Mariolys Morales
- Passer-by
- (uncredited)
Mike Parish
- Senior Dance Student
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
Constance Bailey (Lacey Chabert) is a no-nonsense detective who prefers to work alone. When a high-profile CEO is murdered on the eve of his company's corporate event in Malta - a high stakes ballroom competition between senior executives - Detective Bailey is sent undercover as one of the contestants. The only problem? She can't dance. To convincingly compete, she must team up with charismatic and free-spirited performer Sebastian Moore( Will Kemp). But with a killer on the loose and a growing list of suspects, it's going to take more than a little fancy footwork to solve this case.
The mystery elements are simplistic, a little lacking in intrigue and you are likely to work out who the culprit is, however I found this quite fun to watch, mainly due to the Malta location, Lacey Chabert-charming as ever - and her chemistry with Will Kemp, and the old time classic film feel. It could have been stronger with the mystery and the characterisation, but it's enjoyable and the combination of Ballroom and mystery is a good idea.
The mystery elements are simplistic, a little lacking in intrigue and you are likely to work out who the culprit is, however I found this quite fun to watch, mainly due to the Malta location, Lacey Chabert-charming as ever - and her chemistry with Will Kemp, and the old time classic film feel. It could have been stronger with the mystery and the characterisation, but it's enjoyable and the combination of Ballroom and mystery is a good idea.
I have grown to appreciate Lacey Chabert through her work on Hallmark (although I did grow up watching Party of Five) and I thought she did a great job in the Crossword Mystery series, so I was delighted to see her back in a mystery series. Lacey plays a detailed oriented and independent police detective Constance Bailey. Her boss has noticed that she does not work well with others...so when the opportunity comes up to prove herself by partnering with a detective in Malta, Constance jumps at the chance.
There in beautiful Malta she meets her contact who explains that if she is up for it she will be going undercover as one half of a married couple in Malta for an executive dance competition. Enter Sebastian Moore, dance teacher extraordinaire...played by Will Kemp (who honestly steals the show). Together, while blending in with the other executives, they dance...interrogate, investigate and solve a murder of an American CEO.
I am a former dancer (although as a dancer you are never really "former"...you are just a dancer) and a big fan of mysteries, so this mystery series was really made for me. I loved Constance's teal dress with the orange and white flowers, gorgeous! I really grew to appreciate this pairing and the characters of Constance and Sebastian. This is the second Hallmark film that I have seen in Malta and I have to comment on what a lovely and interesting backdrop it is.
I have trouble seeing how they are going to keep these two paired together for future murder mysteries, since they don't even live in the same city...but I want them to be put together again and I look forward to seeing more. This was decent as far as the mystery is concerned and a great start to a series. I can recommend this to cosy mystery fans...I think you should check this one out.
There in beautiful Malta she meets her contact who explains that if she is up for it she will be going undercover as one half of a married couple in Malta for an executive dance competition. Enter Sebastian Moore, dance teacher extraordinaire...played by Will Kemp (who honestly steals the show). Together, while blending in with the other executives, they dance...interrogate, investigate and solve a murder of an American CEO.
I am a former dancer (although as a dancer you are never really "former"...you are just a dancer) and a big fan of mysteries, so this mystery series was really made for me. I loved Constance's teal dress with the orange and white flowers, gorgeous! I really grew to appreciate this pairing and the characters of Constance and Sebastian. This is the second Hallmark film that I have seen in Malta and I have to comment on what a lovely and interesting backdrop it is.
I have trouble seeing how they are going to keep these two paired together for future murder mysteries, since they don't even live in the same city...but I want them to be put together again and I look forward to seeing more. This was decent as far as the mystery is concerned and a great start to a series. I can recommend this to cosy mystery fans...I think you should check this one out.
I had been looking forward to this movie and sadly my wait wasn't worthwhile. Great leads, good chemistry and acting, beautiful scenery, however none of this could save a dreadful script. Weak from the first minute.
You take someone who supposedly is not a dancer and without any real lessons or hours of practicing turns into a top-notch dancer. Really? As for the ridiculous car/scooter chase around the streets of Malta, words truly do fail me.
As a longtime fan of Hallmark and your Mysteries this one is a real BIG loser and I sincerely hope you are not planning on making this into a series. Put you time, effort and money into something with a lot more substance that this. Thank you.
You take someone who supposedly is not a dancer and without any real lessons or hours of practicing turns into a top-notch dancer. Really? As for the ridiculous car/scooter chase around the streets of Malta, words truly do fail me.
As a longtime fan of Hallmark and your Mysteries this one is a real BIG loser and I sincerely hope you are not planning on making this into a series. Put you time, effort and money into something with a lot more substance that this. Thank you.
Maybe it's the British accent and dancer's.confidence but I really like Will Kemp in Hallmark movies. I also like Lacey Chabert a lot and generally like the movies in which she stars.
But they were not well served by this mystery - if you can call it that. I did like really cute clever bit of calling him names of other detectives which added to the their banter as well the beautiful black and white dancing sequence. However I fail to see how a Dancing Detective can really continue to be a thing. It really was a waste of the lovely Malta setting. So to meet the IMDB required characters I will say that that I loved the characters but the mystery not so much but will continue to watch Hallmark movies with Will Kemp and Lacey Chabert.
But they were not well served by this mystery - if you can call it that. I did like really cute clever bit of calling him names of other detectives which added to the their banter as well the beautiful black and white dancing sequence. However I fail to see how a Dancing Detective can really continue to be a thing. It really was a waste of the lovely Malta setting. So to meet the IMDB required characters I will say that that I loved the characters but the mystery not so much but will continue to watch Hallmark movies with Will Kemp and Lacey Chabert.
This is a treat for the eyes. The scenery is lush, and it's beautifully shot. There is a retro-glam feel to this that's reminiscent of 1960s films.
The dancing is wonderful, and the dance scenes were my favorite parts. The tango rehearsal in water and the black & white dream sequence were standouts.
Will Kemp really is the star of this for me. He is a wonderful dancer, a good comedic actor and has loads of charm.
From other reviews, it seems some didn't care for Lacey in this. But her character was meant to evolve, and she does. From a stiff detective who is anti-social to quipping with Will's character. I thought they were a good pairing.
The mystery was the least of it for me. I think they were so many moving parts - the dancing, showing the scenery and building their partnership, that it was a bit hard to fit everything in. That said, there are some stellar parts to this movie. I would watch another installment.
The dancing is wonderful, and the dance scenes were my favorite parts. The tango rehearsal in water and the black & white dream sequence were standouts.
Will Kemp really is the star of this for me. He is a wonderful dancer, a good comedic actor and has loads of charm.
From other reviews, it seems some didn't care for Lacey in this. But her character was meant to evolve, and she does. From a stiff detective who is anti-social to quipping with Will's character. I thought they were a good pairing.
The mystery was the least of it for me. I think they were so many moving parts - the dancing, showing the scenery and building their partnership, that it was a bit hard to fit everything in. That said, there are some stellar parts to this movie. I would watch another installment.
Did you know
- TriviaWhen chiding Sebastian, Bailey calls him different detective names throughout the movie but never repeats the same name twice. They include Miss Marple, Columbo (1971), Jessica Fletcher from Murder, She Wrote (1984), Poirot as in Hercule, Rockford from The Rockford Files (1974), Inspector Morse (1987), Crockett from Miami Vice (1984), Sherlock as in Holmes, and Benoit from Knives Out (2019).
- GoofsWhen Sebastian is listing fictional detectives in his first scene with Detective Bailey, he includes Perry Mason, but Perry Mason was a lawyer (his investigator was Paul Drake).
- ConnectionsReferences Perry Mason (1957)
- SoundtracksDon Agustin Bardi
Written by Horacio Salgán (as Horatio Adolfo Salgan)
Performed by Cayao
Arranged by Mikael Jöback
Courtesy of Naxos of America Inc.
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Танцующий детектив: Смертельное танго
- Filming locations
- Malta(Malta)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content

Top Gap
By what name was The Dancing Detective: A Deadly Tango (2023) officially released in Canada in English?
Answer