Katherine Lancaster was once one of the most famous dancers on Broadway. Flashy, flamboyant, and stunningly beautiful, her enormous talent propelled her to legendary success. After falling ill with a mysterious illness, she flees New York City for California, where she now spends her days confined to her rambling, beachside Malibu mansion. Her sole caregiver is her live-in lover, Howard, a man she met on an online dating site.

Katherine's eccentric best friend and life-long hanger-on, Dwayne, lives rent-free in the guesthouse. The only outsider who comes and goes from the property is Katherine's loyal assistant, Susan, who is helping her pen her memoirs.

Although day to day life at the Malibu mansion seems calm and tranquil, it soon becomes evident that all is not as it seems. Flashing back and forth between 1990s Chicago and present-day Los Angeles, The Dancer is a story of greed, addiction, and ruthless ambition.