20 Greatest Dance Scenes In Movie History
Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, dance on air...
There are so many different elements that go into dance, from your emotion to how you expressive yourself. It’s not just movement, it’s a way of telling of a story, often without the need for words. It’s a timeless art form, one which can be universally accessible to anyone.
By now, we have seen every single style of dance imaginable performed in the movies, ranging from ballroom, tap, ballet, street, Latin and freestyle. As cinema continues to evolve, so does the art form of dance.
The 1930s saw the poised waltzing of Fred and Ginger, the 1950s brought us show-stopping Broadway numbers, the 1970s gave us the risqué choreography of Fosse, the 1980s depicted something new and unique – each era gave us something different. And who knows what else is in store for the next stage of dancing in the movies?
But which of these moments in film have stood out amongst the rest? The following is an exploration of the most iconic choreography sequences in movies which left us spellbound by their sheer performance skills and artistry.
20. Twist And Shout - Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
Starting off with a movie that is neither about dance or music, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off captured the hearts of audiences back in the 1980s as it played out every highschooler’s dream of skipping class for a day to live out all the wildest adventures they want. The movie was a triumph thanks to John Hughes depiction of teenagers as young adults with a mind of their own, rather than just kids.
With a strong group of characters to drive the film along, the story is filled with lots of delightful twists and turns, from the art gallery scene to Jeanie’s encounter with the boy at the police station.
That’s why the Twist and Shout sequence has a greater pay off, because it’s completely unpredictable, and all the more entertaining for it. Not only does it showcase the confidence and charisma of the titular character, but it oversees all different groups of people coming in unity to put life’s troubles on hold in order to share a happy moment in time together.