Passionate about dance, young merab levan gelbakhiani has trained at the national georgian dance ensemble since childhood. His sole aim in life to join the main dance ensemble, break free from the confines of georgian society and travel the world. When a dancer in the main ensemble is disgraced and his place becomes available, merab's ambitions finally feel within reach. When irakli bachi valishvili, a virile, talented male dancer unexpectedly joins his group, merab fears the newcomer is the only thing standing between him and his dreams. Charismatic and carefree, irakli, has an effect on merab that he can't quite explain. As they compete, irakli becomes both merab's fiercest rival and strongest desire, a desire that, in conservative georgian society, threatens to throw his dance career, livelihood and family into turmoil. With a breath taking central performance from breakout star levan gelbakhiani, levan akin's luminous and then we danced explores forbidden desire, ambition and liberation set against the backdrop of traditionalist tblisi.