Top 10 Dance Scenes in Dance Movies

[Elvis Presley singing] Spider Murphy
played the tenor saxophone.

[singing] Little Joe was blowing on the—

[narrator] Whether you can
bust a move or not,

you've probably copied the moves
from a movie before.

[Presley singing] The whole rhythm section
was the Purple Gang.

Let's rock...

[narrator] Welcome to watchmojo.com,

and today we're counting down our picks
for the top ten dance scenes

in dance movies.

For this list, we've picked the most fun
and memorable dances

we could think of that occur in movies
that feature multiple dance scenes.

But that means picks like

"Shake a Tail Feather"
from The Blues Brothers do not count.

[Blues Brothers singing] Uh...

[singing] Twist it!

Shake it, shake it, shake it,
shake it, baby!

["Shake a Tail Feather"]

[Bert] It's all me, pals!

Step in time!

[narrator] Number ten: Mary Poppins.

[chimney sweeps] Step in time!

Step in time?

Step in time!

[Bert] Step in time!

[narrator] In what is perhaps one of
the most fun dance numbers on film,

Dick Van Dyke leads
his fellow chimney sweeps

in an inspired song and dance number
across the rooftops of London.

[all singing] Step in time, step in time.
Step in time, step in time.

[singing] Never need a reason,
never need a rhyme.

[singing] We step in time,
we step in time.

["Step In Time"]

[Bert] Kick your knees up!

[all singing] Kick—

[narrator] Shouting out various
instructional phrases like

"kick your knees up,"
"flap like a birdie,"

and "link your elbows,"

Bert leads his buddies in a rousing
choreographed dance.

[all singing] —elbows,
step in time.

[singing] Link your elbows,
link your elbows, link you elbows!

[narrator] Of course then Mary Poppins
joins in herself

and shows the boys how it's done.

[chimney sweep 1] Isn't she beautiful?

[chimney sweep 2] Lovely. Tell your mum.

["Step In Time"]

Hello, hello, hello!

[chimney sweeps] More, Mary. Mary!

["Step In Time"]

[Jerry Travers singing] Heaven,
I'm in heaven.

[narrator] Number nine: Top Hat.

[Jerry singing] —heart beats
so that I can hardly speak.

[narrator] Never has there been
a better dancing duo

than Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

[Jerry singing] —I seek

when we're out together dancing
cheek-to-cheek.

[narrator] The couple dances
cheek-to-cheek,

and as they move,
Fred gently sings in Ginger's ear,

making it one of the most romantic
movie moments as well.

[Jerry singing] Dance with me.
I want my arm about you.

[narrator] With chemistry
they'd already cultivated

in a few on-screen match-ups
previous to this classic,

the pair moves to another setting
and even adds in some fun tap steps.

[tap dancing]

But every move seems effortless.

[tap dancing]

Yes, even the iconic climax.

[music]

[music changes]

[Jet] Yeah!

[music]

[narrator] Number eight: West Side Story.

[music]

Dancing and gangs
don't sound like they go together,

but this movie proves they do.

[snapping]

And it does so through
many extravagant numbers

featuring all manner of styles.

[Sharks] Mambo!

[Jets] Mambo!

[all] Go!

[music]

[narrator] Whether it's
a mambo dance hall duel

or a rooftop rant about
Puerto Rico versus America,

these people know how to dance.

[music]

Perhaps most iconic
is the opening sequence

where the Sharks face off against the Jets
in the streets of Manhattan—

[music]

—establishing the story from the get-go
with snappy moves and ballet steps.

[music]

You can't beat dance-fighting.

[Jet] Jets!

Jets!

[music]

[screaming]

[music]

[clock chiming]

["Time Warp"]

[narrator] Number seven:
The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

[Riff Raff singing] It's astounding.

[singing] Time is fleeting.

["Time Warp"]

[singing] Madness takes its toll.

[narrator] The "Time Warp" is the best
kind of dance there is:

Instructional.

[movie's narrator] It's just a jump
to the left,

["Time Warp"]

[all singing] and then a step
to the right.

[movie's narrator] With your hands
on your hips,

["Time Warp"]

[all singing] you bring your knees
in tight.

[singing] But it's the pelvic—

[narrator] It's a simple dance even those
with two left feet can perform,

which explains its staying power.

["Time Warp"]

[all singing] Let's do
the Time Warp again!

[narrator] The film is the longest-running
theatrical release ever

given its popularity as a midnight show
and a cult classic,

and this song and scene
are perhaps its most famous.

[all singing] But it's the pelvic thrust
that really drives you insane.

[narrator] Sung and danced
by a variety of Dr. Frank N. Furter's

friendliest freaks,

it puts the electric slide to shame
and really tires a group out.

[all singing] Let's do
the Time Warp again!

["Time Warp"]

[Anousheh Khalili singing] Well, I'd tell
him that I'd rather die.

[narrator] Number six: Flashdance.

[water splashing x2]

In a film known for its wet stripper moves
and maniacal dances,

it's tough to fit a fave dance scene.

[Michael Sembello singing] She's a maniac,
maniac on the floor.

["Maniac"]

[singing] And she's dancing
like she's never danced before.

["Maniac"]

[narrator] But the one that's gone down
as a pop culture staple

is the final audition.

[Irene Cara singing] Take your passion—

["Flashdance... What A Feeling"]

[singing] —and make it happen.

[narrator] With the movie's theme song
providing the soundtrack,

the welder-by-day, stripper-by-night
makes use of all her dancing background,

complete with gravity-defying leaps
and breakdancing moves.

["Flashdance... What A Feeling"]

[Cara singing] What a feeling—

["Flashdance... What A Feeling"]

[singing] —bein's believin'.

[narrator] Sure, Jennifer Beals had
several body doubles,

including one dude,
performing the sequence for her,

but that doesn't lessen the effect
of this iconic scene.

["Flashdance... What A Feeling"]

[Cara singing] Take your passion—

["Flashdance... What A Feeling"]

[singing] —and make it happen.

[narrator] Number five: Grease.

[Sandy Olsson] You know, Danny,
I'm kind of worried about this dance-off.

Maybe they dance differently
than we do back home.

[Betty Rizzo] Don't worry about it.
Maybe we'll invent the kangaroo bop.

[narrator] In a magical land where every
student in school knows the hand jive,

this set of star-crossed lovers
really came together

when they reunited in epic dance
at the school carnival.

[Danny Zuko singing] I got chills.
They're multiplying.

[narrator] Sandy returns as a bad girl
in black leather pants,

shedding her good girl image
to Danny's delight.

[Sandy singing] You better shape up

because I need a man.

[narrator] And of course this prompts
a song and dance for the ages.

[Danny/Sandy singing ] You're the one
that I want.

[ensemble singing] You are the one I want.

[Danny/Sandy singing] Ooh, ooh, ooh,
honey.

[singing] The one that I want.

[ensemble singing] You are the one I want.

[Danny/Sandy singing] Ooh, ooh, ooh,
honey.

[narrator] As the two croon,
"You're the one that I want,"

they use the rides and games
as a backdrop for their hand jiving,

shimmying, and shaking.

[Danny/Sandy signing] The one that I want,

[ensemble singing] You are the one I want.

[Danny/Sandy singing] Ooh, ooh, ooh,
honey.

The one that I want—

[narrator] And send up the school year
in style.

[Danny/Sandy singing] —ooh,
the one I need.

[ensemble singing] The one I need.

[Danny/Sandy singing] Oh yes, indeed.

[ensemble singing] Yes, indeed.

[Danny/Sandy singing] You're the one
that I want.

[ensemble singing] You are the one I want.

[Danny/Sandy singing] Ooh, ooh, ooh,
honey.

[narrator] Number four:
Saturday Night Fever.

[Bobby C.] You're the king out there.
You're great. You're a great dancer.

[Tony Manero] You could do as good as me
if you practiced.

[Bobby] Yeah? You think
I'd be a good dancer, Tony?

[Tony] Sure, why not?

No.

[narrator] Disco may be dead,
but the dancing from this movie lives on.

[Bee Gees singing] Dancing, yeah.

["You Should Be Dancing"]

[singing] Dancing, yeah.

[narrator] The film responsible
for bringing the disco craze

out of the underground clubs
and into the homes of millions,

Saturday Night Fever is full of
iconic music and moments.

[Bee Gees singing] —moves at midnight.

["You Should Be Dancing"]

[narrator] And everything from our
favorite dance screams to be remembered,

from the dance floor lights
to the smooth Bee Gees tune

to John Travolta's bright white suit.

And let's not forget the moves.

We still haven't seen a disco slow dance
better than this one.

[Bee Gees singing] We can take forever
just a minute at a time.

[singing] More than a woman—

[music changes]

[narrator] Number three: Footloose.

[Reverend Shaw Moore] If our Lord wasn't
testing us,

how would you account for the proliferation
these days of this obscene

rock and roll music—

[narrator] The movie may focus on a town
with no dancing,

but that doesn't stop the teens
in this movie from expressing themselves

on the dance floor.

[Ren McCormack] Let's dance!

[cheering]

[music]

[narrator] There are some
key dance moments in the film,

including Kevin Bacon's routine
of gymnastics and free-style dancing

in the warehouse.

[Moving Pictures singing] —ever hide
your heart.

Don't you ever, ever,
ever, ever try.

Whoa, no.

[narrator] But they do it best
at the big dance at the movie's end

in which everyone breaks free
to Kenny Loggins's beat.

[Kenny Loggins singing] Everybody cut,
everybody cut,

everybody,
everybody cut footloose.

["Footloose"]

[Johnny Castle] Sorry about
the disruption, folks,

but I always do the last dance
of the season.

[narrator] Number two: Dirty Dancing.

[Jennifer Warnes singing] —and I owe it
all to you.

[narrator] Set to the movie's anthem,
"(I've Had) The Time of My Life,"

there is nothing screams feel-good
better than this dance scene.

[Marjorie Houseman] I think she gets this
from me.

[Billy Medley singing] Just remember—

[narrator] In the climax moment
of the film,

bad boy Johnny comes to get his girl,

and Baby proves that she's a woman
in front of the entire country club set.

[Warnes/Medley singing] —and I owe it all
to you.

[cheering]

[Medley singing] Hey, baby!

[narrator] Their dirty dancing is fun
and gets others going.

[Medley singing] You're the one thing—

[narrator] But when Johnny dramatically
lifts Baby over his head,

their dance affirms its place
as a timeless classic.

[Warnes/Medley singing] Because I've
had the time of my life.

No, I never felt
this way before.

[narrator] Before we choreograph
our number one pick,

here are a few honorable mentions.

[Velma Kelly singing] They had it coming!

[ensemble singing] They had it coming!

[Velma singing] They had it coming!

[ensemble singing] They had it coming!

[Velma singing] They had it coming
all along.

[The Narcoleptic Argentinean singing]
Roxanne!

["El Tango de Roxanne"]

[singing] You don't have to put on
that red light.

["El Tango de Roxanne"]

Walk the streets for money.

You don't care if it's wrong
or if it is right.

[Sally Bowles singing] Bye bye,
mein lieber Herr.

[singing] Farewell, mein lieber Herr.

[singing] It was a fine affair,
but now it's over.

[singing] And though I used to care,
I need the open air.

[singing] You're better off without me.
You'll get on without me.

[ensemble singing in German]

[Bowles singing] Mein—

[music]

["Singin' In The Rain"]

[narrator] Number one:
Singin' in the Rain.

[Don Lockwood singing] I'm singin'
in the rain.

Just singin' in the rain.

[narrator] Known for his athletic build
and dancer's grace,

any movie featuring Gene Kelly dancing
will sure to be a success.

["Singin' In The Rain"]

[Don singing] I'm laughing at clouds,

so dark up above.

[narrator] And while this classic
musical comedy

has more than its fair share of
song and dance routines,

there's one standout scene.

["Singin' In The Rain"]

[Don singing] Come on with the rain.

I've a smile on my face.

[narrator] Never has Kelly done it better
than his iconic routine in the rain.

Every move looks easy
as he dances down the street

using the city landscape as his stage.

["Singin' in the Rain"]

[Don singing] I'm happy again.

[narrator] Legend has it,
he filmed this scene while sick with a fever,

which makes it that much more impressive.

["Singin' In The Rain"]

Do you agree with our list?
Which dance sequence was your favorite?

[Danny singing] Go, grease lightning,
you're burning up the quarter mile.

[ensemble singing] Grease lighting.
Go, grease lightning.

[narrator] More show-stopping top tens
published every day.

Be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com.

[Danny singing] You are supreme.

The chicks'll cream

for greased lightning.

["Greased Lightnin"]