20 Greatest Dance Scenes In Movie History

The 1980s saw a surge in dance movies but not as we knew them before. Switching out the balletic tap and the elegant costumes of the 1950s for more vibrant imagery, they were commonly set in their own contemporaries and revolved around a younger group of people. From Footloose to Beat Street, they were fresh and dynamic.

Within this new sub-genre, Flashdance was the stand out. The storyline is simplistic but not short of some enticing choreography and interesting stylistic choices. It follows Alex Owens – a steel worker by day, a nightclub dancer by night – as she thrives for bigger opportunities by getting into ballet school. After a turbulent journey, Alex finally gets the opportunity to audition for a big dance school.

With the pressure of impressing a panel of snobby judges, she has a false start in her performance and begins the music again. The second time round, she finds her feet and gradually grabs the judges’ attention amidst a very inspiring, liberating performance. The words of the song playing are naturally very apt to the plot – “in a world made of steel” referring to Alex’s day job, and “take your passion and make it happen” as she finally lives out her dream.