10 Greatest Movie Dance Scenes Of All Time, Ranked

April 20, 2024, 6:30 p.m.

Movies

10 Greatest Movie Dance Scenes Of All Time, Ranked

0 0

Summary Belle and Beast's ballroom waltz to "Beauty and the Beast" is one of Disney's most iconic scenes.

The "Naatu Naatu" dance from RRR is a recent cultural phenomenon.

Baby and Johnny's final dance in Dirty Dancing is one of the most famous movie dance scenes ever.

Several of the greatest movie dance scenes of all time belong to the best movie musicals of all time. However, other examples appear in movies that are not strictly musicals but still must be considered among the best. What makes these scenes amazing is more than just good dancing: the spirit, the music, the acting, and how the dancing narratively functions in the movie.

Some of the best dance scenes in movies represent the culmination of a romance or friendship, or capture the message of the entire movie. Several of the most iconic dance scenes of all time popularized the song playing during the dance, ingraining it with a very specific association in the cultural zeitgeist. No matter how old the movies are, these movie dance scenes still capture the imaginations of viewers longing for romance, rebellion, or a classic rock star moment.

10 Tony & Stephanie Win Dance Competition

Saturday Night Fever (1977)

Saturday Night Fever (1977) A Brooklyn teenager finds an escape on the dance floor at the local disco. Director John Badham Release Date December 16, 1977 Cast John Travolta , Karen Gorney , Barry Miller , Joseph Cali , Paul Pape , Donna Pescow , Bruce Ornstein , Val Bisoglio , Julie Bovasso Runtime 119 Minutes

John Travolta is the star of several famous movies that focus on dance. One of his earlier hits is Saturday Night Fever, following a high school student who is not sure where his life is headed but is at home on the dance floor during the heyday of disco. Tony's familial and romantic trials lead up to the ethereal number for which he and Stephanie win the local disco's dance competition, with a duet choreographed to "More Than a Woman."

The cinematography for this scene captures several beautiful upward angles with shining lights and wide shots that show off the dance floor. These technical aspects, the dreamy song, and the spinning choreography emphasize not just the subtle whimsy of disco culture but the chemistry between the two characters. The finale of Saturday Night Fever is hardly Travolta's best dance number, but it is a beautiful one nonetheless.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

9 Belle & Beast Ballroom Dance

Beauty And The Beast (1991)

Beauty and the Beast (1991) Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

rent

buy Not available Not available Not available A beautiful young woman falls in love with a prince cursed to be a beast. Director Gary Trousdale , Kirk Wise Release Date November 21, 1991 Cast Paige O'Hara , Robby Benson , Angela Lansbury , Jerry Orbach , David Ogden Stiers , Bradley Pierce , Jesse Corti , Richard White Runtime 84 Minutes

Beauty and the Beast's unique production, stunning animation, and iconic music by the legendary team of Alan Menken and Howard Ashman led to it becoming the first animated movie to be nominated for Best Picture. With the magical ballroom scene where Belle and Beast meet for a classic dance and Mrs. Potts sings "Beauty and the Beast," the studio created another moment that would become synonymous with the name Disney. It is a classic that the live-action remake recreated, fearing any changes.

The artistic highlights of this scene include the characters' costumes with complimentary colors, their movements falling in time with the music, and the detailed production design. It is no wonder that "Beauty and the Beast" won Best Original Song when it is elevated by this scene. Additionally, the ballroom dance marks a turning point in Beauty and the Beast's story and effectively segues into the dark final act.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

8 Mia & Vince Dance At Club

Pulp Fiction (1994)

Like with Beauty and the Beast, the cinematography, production design, and even contrasting costumes contribute to Pulp Fiction's perfectly planned scene.

Travolta claims one too many of the most famous dance scenes of all time. The one in Pulp Fiction is not characterized by Travolta's dancing skills but by the strange, pulsing energy that continues throughout the movie. Travolta and Uma Thurman's freestyle dance to "You Can Never Tell" elevates the tension between the two, with Vince worried that Mia is attracted to him, and he will get in trouble with her crime boss husband.

It is one of the best instances of a moment that breaks up the twisting, non-linear script of Pulp Fiction with an outburst of energy from one or more of the characters. Like with Beauty and the Beast, the cinematography, production design, and even contrasting costumes contribute to Pulp Fiction's perfectly planned scene. It is also a perfect nod to Travolta's career, as he had already starred in Grease and Saturday Night Fever at that time.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

Related 10 Most Iconic Shots In Pulp Fiction In a career full of iconic movies, Pulp Fiction is still arguably Quentin Tarantino's most iconic work. It's full of instantly recognizable imagery.

7 High School Dance Competition

Grease (1978)

Grease Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

rent

buy Not available Not available Not available In this film adaptation of the iconic stage musical, good girl Sandy Olsson and greaser Danny Zuko fall in love over the summer. When they unexpectedly discover they're now in the same high school, will they be able to rekindle their romance despite belonging to different social cliques? Director Randal Kleiser Release Date July 7, 1978 Cast John Travolta , Olivia Newton-John , Stockard Channing , Jeff Conaway , Barry Pearl , Michael Tucci Runtime 110 minutes

The wild high school dance competition in Grease is as much of a tribute to 1950s teenage culture as anything in the whole movie. The camerawork and editing create an impressive, seamless montage that shows many of the characters dancing during "Born to Hand Jive." This way, the audience gets to enjoy a variety of dance moves and costumes rather than just watching whatever Danny and Sandy are doing.

There is some personal drama peppered throughout, such as Danny abandoning Sandy to dance with Cha-Cha. Rude as it is, Danny and Cha-Cha are clearly among the best dancers and their duet is the epic culmination the number needs to finish things off. Like most of the big numbers in Grease, the high school dance competition has an explosive energy that captures the movie's celebration of youth.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

6 Ren Dances In Warehouse

Footloose Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

rent

buy Not available Not available Not available Footloose is a 1984 musical drama starring Kevin Bacon as Ren McCormack, a young man who moves from Chicago to a small town where dancing is banned. Ren, his crush Ariel (Lori Singer), and other teenagers join forces to fight for their right to express themselves through music. Director Herbert Ross Release Date February 17, 1984 Cast Chris Penn , John Lithgow , Dianne Wiest , Lori Singer , Sarah Jessica Parker , Kevin Bacon Runtime 107 minutes

For the most part, Kevin Bacon's Ren plays it friendly and cool when he finds himself in a small conservative town where dancing is banned and the local preacher is convinced that Ren is out to ruin his daughter. However, the famous scene of Ren dancing alone in a warehouse is a kind of release of pent-up frustration. While he is alone, Ren can do something he loves and is good at, before he goes back to trying to defend it.

The song "Never," comprising angsty, frustrated lyrics, is congruent with this. Additionally, the warehouse scene shows off the true scope of Ren's dancing abilities. The blocking uses up the space in every way it can as Ren performs acrobatic flips and spins that are beyond what he does in any other scene in the movie. The warehouse scene in Footloose is probably the one that shows the most honest version of Ren, with no facade covering up his true personality.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

5 Donna, Tayna, & Rosie Sing Dancing Queen

Mamma Mia! (2008)

Mamma Mia! (2008) Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

rent

buy Not available Not available Not available A young woman sets out to find her biological father and have him walk her down the aisle at her upcoming wedding. Director Phyllida Lloyd Release Date July 10, 2008 Cast Meryl Streep , Pierce Brosnan , Colin Firth , Stellan Skarsgård , Julie Walters , Dominic Cooper , Amanda Seyfried , Christine Baranski Runtime 109 Minutes

"Dancing Queen" illustrates the biggest themes of Mamma Mia!, of a single mother rediscovering young love and her daughter finding out more about who her mother was as a young woman. Much of "Dancing Queen" as performed by Meryl Streep, Christine Baranski, and Julie Walters has a freestyle feel of three friends messing around, but this is in keeping with the spirit of the song. However, the number soon progresses to them dancing their way through the village with many of the women on the island joining them.

There is little Streep can't do, and in this case, she shows how a fraught Donna is in the middle of a difficult situation with her daughter and needs to let go. The number ends with Donna and some of the others jumping off a pier into the ocean, once again showing how the song is simply about having fun. The Mamma Mia! movie adaptation was lucky to find the perfect actresses to recreate one of ABBA's most iconic songs in a beautiful setting that elevates the lyrics.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

4 Anita Sings America

West Side Story (1961)

West Side Story (1961) Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

rent

buy Not available Not available Not available A modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet that depicts two teenagers falling in love amid a war between rival gangs in New York City. Director Robert Wise , Jerome Robbins Release Date October 18, 1961 Cast Natalie Wood , Richard Beymer , Russ Tamblyn , Rita Moreno , George Chakiris , Simon Oakland Runtime 152 Minutes

"America" in the first movie version of West Side Story has lots of great classic choreography that captures the casual setting of a group of friends having a party on the rooftop. Rita Moreno shines during this number, as she does for much of West Side Story. The colors and movements of the dresses also highlight the party feeling that is found in few other movie musicals.

Even if Anita is the star, the blocking of "America" is planned well to give different performers the time to show off their abilities. "America" and "I Feel Pretty" stand out as the two songs in West Side Story that have much more levity than the rest. They reflect the hopes of Anita and Maria, respectively, in contrast with the turf war and discrimination that stands in the way of what they want.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

3 Cell Block Tango

Chicago (2002)

Chicago Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

rent

buy Not available Not available Not available After being imprisoned for murder, two women fight to sway public opinion to avoid the gallows, with help from a corrupt lawyer. Director Rob Marshall Release Date December 10, 2002 Cast Taye Diggs , Renee Zellweger , Cliff Saunders , Catherine Zeta-Jones , Richard Gere , Queen Latifah Runtime 113 minutes

After landing in prison for shooting her boyfriend, Roxie is greeted by an entourage of other female inmates who perform the "Cell Block Tango," describing their crimes and why their former partners all "had it coming." Catherine Zeta-Jones' character Velma Kelly's vicious and sensual personality is best expressed during this song, which is why her solo about her husband and sister's murders is a highlight. "Cell Block Tango's" tango dance moves and acrobatics comprise perfect choreography.

Meanwhile, the team behind Chicago created the perfect set to transfer the Broadway musical's darkest and most memorable song over to the screen. The lighting, costumes, and individual performances all capture the essence of the number. "Cell Block Tango" is an important moment because it shows how the characters have no remorse, and will do what they must to be exonerated.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

2 Naatu Naatu Dance

RRR (2022)

RRR Directed by S.S. Tajamouli, the Telugu epic RRR tells the fictional story of two real-life figures, Alluri Sitarama Raju (Charan) and Komaram Bheem (Rama Rao), who become friends while fighting the governing forces as Indian revolutionaries during the British Raj. Director S.S. Rajamouli Release Date March 24, 2022 Cast S.S. Rajamouli , Ram Charan , N.T. Rama Rao Jr. , Ajay Devgn , Alia Bhatt , Ray Stevenson Runtime 187 Minutes

The RRR choreographer planned many versions of "Naatu Naatu" in order to find the perfect one.

The defining moment of the smash hit Tollywood movie RRR is the Oscar-winning "Naatu Naatu" dance number, an impromptu dance competition led by the movie's two main characters at an otherwise stuffy party. With its fast-paced but flawless choreography, "Naatu Naatu" reflects the most important elements of the movie: Raju and Bheem's growing friendship, the spirit of revolution against British imperialism, and the amazing musical and action-oriented spectacle. The RRR choreographer planned many versions of "Naatu Naatu" in order to find the perfect one.

Still, everyone was surprised by RRR's massive popularity and the dance number's rise to become a cultural phenomenon. RRR's ending includes another energetic dance number, but it can't match its counterpart midway through the movie. Although it is relatively new, "Naatu Naatu" will endure as a beloved movie dance scene.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

Related 10 Best Modern Movies That Are Over 2 And A Half Hours Long, According To Letterboxd A long run-time shouldn't put viewers off. From King Kong to Django Unchained, these are the best long modern movies according to Letterboxd.

1 Johnny & Baby's Final Dance

Dirty Dancing (1987)

Dirty Dancing Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

rent

buy Not available Not available Not available Starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, Dirty Dancing follows Frances "Baby" Houseman, a young woman on vacation at a summer resort with her family who becomes the unwitting competition partner of one of the resort's dance instructors, Johnny. As Baby and Johnny's relationship deepens over the course of the summer, the disapproval of Baby's family, especially her father, threatens to tear them apart. Director Emile Ardolino Release Date August 21, 1987 Cast jennifer grey , Patrick swayze , Jerry Orbach , Cynthia Rhodes , Jack Weston , Jane Brucker Runtime 100 minutes

Johnny returning to dance with Baby at the end of the season is the culmination of many things: Baby's weeks of training to fill in for Penny, Baby learning to think for herself instead of always listening to her parents, and Johnny and Baby's romance. The song "The Time of Life" expresses how this is a summer that changed the characters' lives, while the dancing itself is as intoxicating and energetic as it is throughout the movie. The scene is amazing not just because Johnny returns, but also because the rest of the entertainment staff rallies with him.

Overall, the final scene of Dirty Dancing has stood the test of time as one of the most iconic dances in a movie ever. The scene conveys a feeling of the movie's biggest themes triumphing, of the young and rebellious winning recognition from an older, conservative class. People are still drawn to these themes today, making Dirty Dancing and its final number a timeless moment.