The Top 10 Dance Sequences in Films
BY DANI FAITH LEONARD
This week marked the beginning of the 2011 Dance on Camera Festival co-produced by the Film Society of Lincoln Center. It made me think of the many dance sequences on film that are iconic paintings of that film, or even of an era. I started dancing when I was very young, inspired by the dance sequences in old movie musicals.
Maybe Black Swan will make my list eventually, but for now, here are my Top 10 Dance Sequences in Films:
10 - "Time Warp" from Rocky Horror Picture Show - Can you watch it and not dance? I guess you can, but you'll be trying as hard not to dance as Kevin Kline in In & Out. Try it. I dare you. This dance was so catchy that people all over the world still attend midnight viewings and dance along.
9 - Saturday Night Fever - John Travolta's dancing in Saturday Night Fever was the portrait of an era and proved that dancing can be masculine.
8 - Billy Elliot - The inspirational dance sequences in Billy Elliot, the story of a young male ballet dancer, make me want to go out and get back to class pronto! The joy in his dancing is contagious.
7 - "Tango Roxanne" from Moulin Rouge - Who knew that something that Sting created could be any sexier.
6 - Pulp Fiction - The iconic dance from Pulp Fiction marked the revitalization of John Travolta's career and is one of the most iconic film images from the 90's (not to mention Tarantino's career).
5 - Dirty Dancing - How can you not want to learn to dance when you watch Dirty Dancing? Yes, it's a chick-flick. And yes, "Nobody puts Baby in a corner" is one of the cheesiest movie-lines ever. But the appreciation for dance is so present and the lifestyle of dance is so greatly presented.
4 - Fred Astaire dancing on the walls and the ceiling in “You’re All the World to Me” from Royal Wedding - Fred Astaire was a genius and my favorite of Fred Astaire's filmed dance sequences are the ones where he had a gimmick. This performance was total genius.
3 - West Side Story Prologue - This dance sequence sets up the film and the seamless transitions between walking to dancing and speaking to singing were revolutionary.
2 - Singing in the Rain - Whether it was Donald O'Connor in "Make ‘em Laugh", or Gene Kelly "Singing in the Rain", or the "Broadway Melody" ballet sequence with Syd Charisse and Gene Kelly, or "Fit as a Fiddle", or "Moses Supposes"...I can go on...The point is, it's just great.
1 - An American in Paris - It's hard to explain why the dance sequences in An American in Paris are the best. They just are. Gene Kelly was a manly-man, a gentleman, a graceful man, a strong dancer and an emotional actor. The emotional dance sequences in An American in Paris are the best of the best.
