# 10 Best Movie Dance Sequences Ever **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 18, 2004, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-movie-dance-sequences-ever/269819 "2004-10-18T13:22:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-movie-dance-sequences-ever/269819/21 "2004-10-19T01:30:48Z")
Don’t hit me, but I always liked Ray Bolger’s goofy dance as the Scarecrow. Here’s a couple of dances I like for their emotional impact (and not for the dance moves per se): Harrison Ford and Kelly McGillis in **Witness**. The gay friends putting aside their conflicts (and ironic alienation) for a moment of solidarity, in **The Boys In the Band**. ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-movie-dance-sequences-ever/269819/22 "2004-10-19T01:56:28Z")
I thought Singing in the Rain was vastly overrated. Wouldn’t put it near Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Could be worse though, some silly list in the UK listed Grease as the best musical ever. Jesus wept. ---
**Author:** ![chukhung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e79b87/32.png) [@chukhung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chukhung)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-movie-dance-sequences-ever/269819/23 "2004-10-19T02:11:33Z")
I can’t really call it one of the “best” dance sequences ever, but I willl put in a plug for _Jaan Pehechaan Ho_ from the film [Gumnaam](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0247394/) that’s available as an extra on the [Ghost World](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0162346/) DVD. One of the very few dance sequences on film that–for me, at least–has been quite literally jaw-dropping. ---
**Author:** ![JoeSki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b487fb/32.png) [@JoeSki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoeSki)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-movie-dance-sequences-ever/269819/24 "2004-10-19T02:15:31Z")
And to think, not a single ojne of you lousy little freaks mentioned the dance scene from **Pulp Fiction** yet. For shame :o . Or does everyone contributing to this list think it’s overrated? ---
**Author:** ![Stark\_Raven\_Mad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Stark\_Raven\_Mad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stark_Raven_Mad)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-movie-dance-sequences-ever/269819/25 "2004-10-19T07:08:07Z")
Pulp Fiction seconded. The Roxanne Tango was ruined by that narcoleptic’s horrible, amelodic voice, but the dancing was still pretty damned good. ---
**Author:** ![Scoundrel\_Swanswater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dfb087/32.png) [@Scoundrel\_Swanswater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scoundrel_Swanswater)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-movie-dance-sequences-ever/269819/26 "2004-10-19T11:03:57Z")
If people are going to nominate crappy dancing like in **Pulp Fiction** , let me nominate \*Saddam Hussein’s \* **I can change** from **SouthPark, Bigger, Longer & Uncut**. ---
**Author:** ![Stark\_Raven\_Mad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Stark\_Raven\_Mad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stark_Raven_Mad)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-movie-dance-sequences-ever/269819/27 "2004-10-19T11:15:18Z")
Was it really crappy (technically, I mean)? My only experience with dance was an eight-hour crash course for prom and two sittings of the Riverdance: Live From New York City DVD. I nominated it simply because I thought the twisting looked nice. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-movie-dance-sequences-ever/269819/28 "2004-10-19T11:22:29Z")
Oh! Oh! Oh! I know! The opening number from _Austin Powers in Goldmember_! One of my all time favorites is the “Daddy’s Song” sequence in _Head_, danced by Davy Jones and Toni Basil. Toni Basil is so freaking cute in that movie- I just want to scoop her up and cuddle her! I also really enjoyed the dance during the storm in _The Company_. ---
**Author:** ![Saitou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Saitou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saitou)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-movie-dance-sequences-ever/269819/29 "2004-10-19T11:23:39Z")
I admit, it doesn’t have the best footwork but the dance sequence in the cafe in **Bande à part** is pretty memorable. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-movie-dance-sequences-ever/269819/30 "2004-10-19T11:23:40Z")
Just for emphasis, I’d like to mention again that I want to scoop Toni Basil up and cuddle her. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-movie-dance-sequences-ever/269819/31 "2004-10-19T11:43:06Z")
**Eve** beat me to my real favourite of those not listed - Astaire and Powell dancing _Begin the Beguine_, so I’ll throw in one that I loved everytime I saw it _Jailhouse Rock_ with Elvis. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-movie-dance-sequences-ever/269819/32 "2004-10-19T12:53:52Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > 😕 > > Are you thinking of the Ray Charles song, “What’d I Say”? Wasn’t in the movie. The big Ray Charles number was “Shake a Tail Feather”, which _was_ amazing. So was the James Brown number in the church. Thanks **jcs**. I couldn’t remember the song, but I remember that whole street dance number. All of the dances in the Blues Brothers were great. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-movie-dance-sequences-ever/269819/33 "2004-10-19T13:24:30Z")
> [@JoeSki](#): > > And to think, not a single ojne of you lousy little freaks mentioned the dance scene from **Pulp Fiction** yet. For shame :o . > Or does everyone contributing to this list think it’s overrated? I loved that dance sequence. Even TiVoed just that, and watched it over and over again. Then, there’s Fred Astaire’s “Puttin’ on the Ritz” which again I TiVoed and still watch it , every now and then. It’s delightful dynamite. Fred slides into a room and there we see a hoofers’ line of 8 (count 'em) Fred Astaires, who tap a bit, and then in unison, beckon Fred to come on in and dance with them. Which of course he does. And it knocks me out. Ever watch the tango dancing in **Assassination Tango**? Okay, okay, the story line is ludicrous, but I was utterly transported by the dancing in that flick - so much so, that I bought the DVD just to watch those Argentine women dance the tango. (I doubt anyone watches their male partners). Tall, graceful and beautiful women with figures to die for, simply steal the show. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-movie-dance-sequences-ever/269819/34 "2004-10-19T13:31:57Z")
If you like the tango, **Antiochus** , you might enjoy [this film](http://imdb.com/title/tt0120275/). ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-movie-dance-sequences-ever/269819/35 "2004-10-19T13:38:13Z")
Some of my personal favorites: —“Waltz for Eva & Che” in _Evita_ —The Bottle Dance (as well as L’Chaim) from _Fiddler on the Roof_ —the final scene from _Dirty Dancing_ —“Shall We Dance” from _The King & I_ (I’m a sucker for flying silk hoop skirts) ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-movie-dance-sequences-ever/269819/36 "2004-10-19T13:39:34Z")
And of course Pacino’s tango (“Por Una Cabeza”) with Gabrielle Anwar in the otherwise forgettable _Scent of a Woman_ ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-movie-dance-sequences-ever/269819/37 "2004-10-19T13:42:42Z")
Wow. The whole L’Chaim/Bottle Dance from “Fiddler.” Best dance sequence by a bunch of guys. I’d also vote for the Newton John/Travolta ending of “Grease.” ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-movie-dance-sequences-ever/269819/38 "2004-10-19T13:48:56Z")
Let’s not forget the Gregory Hines flick **Tap**. There’s a wonderful challenge sequence with a bunch of old-timers (unfortunately shot in rather iffy light); a very young Savion Glover; and a wonderful sequence out on the street where they pick up the rhythms of construction, passing vehicles, etc., and play with them. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-movie-dance-sequences-ever/269819/39 "2004-10-19T13:52:23Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > If you like the tango, **Antiochus** , you might enjoy [this film](http://imdb.com/title/tt0120275/). Thank you, **Twiskster**! Went to [amazon.com](http://amazon.com) immediately to buy it. They don’t list it. But I’ll keep looking. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-movie-dance-sequences-ever/269819/40 "2004-10-19T14:00:03Z")
There’s a horrendous short called [Rufus Jones for President](http://imdb.com/title/tt0024509/) (1933), starring a wee little Sammy Davis Jr., that contains an amazing musical number, “Brown-Skinned Diplomats,” with some of the most breathtaking dancing ever seen onscreen. I’m assuming some of the ensemble were “The Will Vodery Girls,” but I’m guessing the producers raided the Harlem nightspots for some of the hottest jitterbugs and shimmy-shakers they could find. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-movie-dance-sequences-ever/269819.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-best-movie-dance-sequences-ever/269819.md?page=3)