There have been many great dance movies that warrant you taking time to watch and enjoy.
We have taken a look at the last forty plus years and have chosen our favorite dance movies from the 1970’s, 1980’s, 1990’s, and the 2,000’s. Here are our movie picks from each of those decades:
1970’s Dance Movie
Our pick for the 70’s is the 1977 release of “Saturday Night Fever” starring John Travolta.
This is the story of a 19-year-old Brooklyn boy with a “dead end” job at his parent’s hardware store who feels the only chance to succeed in life is to become the King of the dance floor.
1980’s Dance Movies
It was two hard to pick between two great 80’s movies, so we chose two. The first is the 1984 release of “Footloose” starring Kevin Bacon and Lori Singer.
This is the story of a teenage boy from Chicago who moved to small town in which, due to the efforts of a local minister, dancing and rock music was banned. That sure changed, and who can forget the final scene with the an incredible dance scene to the music from the movie title.
The second movie from the 80’s we recommend to go back and watch is the 1987 release of “Dirty Dancing” starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey.
The two stars become dance partners in the end of season dance show at an exclusive resort in the Catskill Mountains that Baby’s family was staying at in the summer of 1963. Who can forget the last scene when the entire cast dances to the music “I’ve had the Time of my Life”.
1990’s Dance Movie
Our choice for a recommended movie for the 90’s is the 1991 release of “Stepping Out” starring Liza Minnelli.
This movie is about a “has been” Broadway performing who moves to Buffalo and starts teaching tap dance to a group of misfits who, through their dance lessons, bond and learn they can achieve success.
2000’s Dance Movies
Since we are in the midst of the second decade of the 2000’s we are going to provide two choices for movies released between 2000 and 2016.
Our first choice for one of the best movies since the 2000’s began, is the 2000 release of “Center Stage” starring Zoe Saldana and Peter Gallagher.
This is a story about 12 young dancers who, through auditions, gain entry into a prestigious ballet dance company. The story details their hard work, daily dance classes, along with their trials and tribulations, as they prepare for the final dance workshop which will determine the three boys and three girls who will be asked to join the company.
This is a great movie for any aspiring ballerina to watch to truly understand what is involved in making dance a career.
Another movie we suggest you consider is the 2006 release of the first “Step Up” film starring Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan Tatum.
Set in Baltimore, the film follows the tale of a disadvantaged male dancer and a privileged modern dancer who find themselves paired up in a showcase that will determine both of their futures. After struggling at first as partners, they realize they only have one chance and finally learn to work together. This popular movie was followed by several sequels, most recently “Step Up All In” in 2014.
So there you have it, our take on some great dance movies produced over the past forty-plus years. So make some popcorn, sit back, and take your pick of any of these six suggested movies and you won’t be disappointed.
