Dance has been part of culture for thousands of years, so it’s no surprise that the art of dance features heavily in pop cinema culture.
Which are THE must-see films that showcase dance?
In this article we give you 10 must-see films and 11 honourable mentions.
Read also: learn all about salsa.
1- West Side Story
This 1961 musical is a great film classic and a modern take on the story of Romeo and Juliet.
Instead of two children from rival families falling in love, it’s the story of Tony and Maria, who each come from rival gangs in New York City. The two lovers try to keep their romance secret and run away, but the feud between the gangs keeps escalating. Tony tries to make peace between the two gangs, but they are fighting a turf war.
The film won 10 Oscars, including Best Supporting Actor and Actress for George Chakiris and Rita Moreno, and Best Picture.
West Side Story is a timeless film with beautiful choreography and iconic music.
West Side Story soundtrack:
2- Center Stage
This 2000 drama tells the story of 12 teenage ballet dancers after they are accepted into the prestigious American Ballet Academy.
They have worked very hard to join the dance company. On top of the stress of training to build a career, there are extra tensions within the academy, mixed with personal traumas and more.
What makes it special is the incredible dance scenes. Many of the actors are professional dancers, such as Amanda Schull, Zoe Saldana and Sascha Radetsky… Their experience makes the dance scenes very realistic. It’s a classic teen drama that would be worth watching for its dance scenes alone.
Center Stage soundtrack:
3- Dirty Dancing
Released in 1987, Dirty Dancing tells the story of a family visiting a summer resort in the 1960s. The youngest daughter, Baby, is a naive daddy’s girl living a privileged life. At the resort she falls for a dance teacher, Johnny, who is looking for a dance partner for a show.
Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey give powerful performances with great chemistry between the characters, making the film both light and strong. Swayze delivers one of the most famous lines in cinema: “Nobody puts Baby in a corner.”
What fans love about this film is the romance in the dance scenes and the fun. It’s one of everyone’s favourite dance films, and countless wedding first dances have been set to the choreography of one of its scenes and, above all, its iconic music.
Dirty Dancing soundtrack:
4- Singin’ in the Rain
This is a great dance musical. Released in 1952, this romantic film is set in the 1920s, as silent films face the difficult transition to sound.
Two stars of these films, Don and Lina, are a romantic couple in many films. During the transition to talkies, Don realises he has more chemistry with a young rising actress, Kathy, who is hired because of Lina’s terrible voice.
The film stars Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor and Debbie Reynolds. Together, this ensemble helps audiences lose themselves in the songs and choreography that make the film so special. Singin’ in the Rain is a perfect blend of romance, comedy and great performances. It’s a film for all ages, to watch with the family.
Singin’ in the Rain soundtrack:
5- Billy Elliot
This 2000 drama is a favourite of many dancers. The story: an 11-year-old boy, Billy Elliot, in the 1980s. After the loss of his mother, the family struggles to make ends meet; Billy’s father and brother work in the mine, while Billy looks after his grandmother or takes boxing lessons.
However, Billy discovers that he is more passionate about ballet than boxing, which his family struggles to accept.
The main characters are played by Jamie Bell, Jean Heywood, Jamie Draven and Gary Lewis. Billy Elliot is a moving, inspiring film that makes it a unique story. A heart-warming tale.
Billy Elliot soundtrack:
6- An American in Paris
This is an old classic musical. Released in 1951, it follows 3 friends living in Paris who struggle to find work in their creative fields. As the characters begin to develop feelings for each other, everything gets more complicated. Two of the friends fall in love with the same girl, forming one of cinema’s most iconic love triangles.
The film deals with the choice between career and love. Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron and Oscar Levant all help make the story lively and engaging for the audience.
The choreography and cinematography make this musical a must-see and unforgettable. The film also won Best Picture at the 1952 Oscars. The dance sequences are superb!
An American in Paris soundtrack:
7- Step Up
Released in 2006, this drama tells the story of a troubled young adult, Tyler Gage, living in Baltimore, Maryland. After being caught vandalising, Tyler has to do community service cleaning a local arts school. While he’s dancing hip-hop, a ballet dancer spots him and asks him to replace her partner.
The film shows great chemistry between Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan. They’re not only very good actors but also great dancers, making this classic film even more beautiful. The dramatic and romantic story keeps you hooked throughout, with beautifully choreographed dance sequences all through the film.
Step Up soundtrack:
8- Black Swan
This 2010 psychological thriller by Darren Aronofsky is about a professional ballerina, Nina, whose life revolves around dance. She is chosen to play the lead role – both the innocent White Swan and the cunning Black Swan – in Swan Lake. Nina embodies the White Swan perfectly but struggles to capture the essence of the Black Swan. Competition heats up when a new dancer embodies the Black Swan…
The cast is incredible, with Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis and Winona Ryder, all creating real tension in the film. Natalie Portman won an Oscar for her role as Nina. The actors all underwent extensive training to perform complex choreography, and it shows in the dance scenes. A beautiful film!
Black Swan soundtrack:
9- Flashdance
A great 1983 classic, this drama tells the story of Alex, a Pittsburgh girl who works two jobs, as a welder and as a dancer in a nightclub. Passionate about dance, she decides to make it her career. But she needs professional training, so she has to try to get into the Pittsburgh Conservatory of Dance and Repertory.
Jennifer Beals and Michael Nouri play the lovers. One of the film’s best points is the music! It features several of the best songs of the 80s, keeping viewers hooked on the story and rooting for Alex to achieve her dreams. The famous final dance scene is legendary…
Flashdance soundtrack:
10- Footloose
Released in 1984, this film tells the story of a teenager who moves to a town where rock music and dancing are banned. Even though he tries to fit in, he struggles to accept the rules. More problems arise when he falls for the daughter of the minister who makes the rules. The rebellious teenager decides he must show the town the joys of dancing to good music.
Footloose features big stars, including Kevin Bacon, Lori Singer and John Lithgow. Kevin Bacon makes the film particularly enjoyable with his fun, smooth dance moves.
This film is a hugely popular classic. It’s a fun story with even better music and dancing throughout. A drama that’s really worth watching.
Footloose soundtrack:
Other dance films worth watching
Here are some more films to see:
- All That Jazz
- Dance Academy: The Movie
- Fame
- Girls Just Want to Have Fun
- Magic Mike
- Strictly Ballroom
- The Company
- The Fits
- The Red Shoes
- The Turning Point
- White Nights
