And the Winner is: STEP UP
Other films that made the list are:
AN AMERICAN IN PARIS (1951) starring Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron
Gene Kelly discovered Leslie Caron in Paris, where she was studying classical ballet. An American in Paris became her debut film and changed the course of her career. It was ranked 5th on the American Film Institute’s list of Greatest Movie Musicals and 68th on the 100 Greatest American Movies of All Time list.
BEAT STREET (1984) starring starring Rae Dawn Chong, Guy Davis and Jon Chardiet
Hip hop
A Beat Street fan wrote “Me and my mates used to watch this back in the 80s…and then go into our garages and [try] to replicate the moves on a big bit of lino with disastrous effect…”
BILLY ELLIOT (2000) starring Jamie Bell, Jean Heywood, Julie Walters and Jamie Draven
This Oscar nominated film, named British film of the year, made a star of Jamie Bell who won a London Film Circle Critic’s award. Ever popular, it is the tale of an aspiring young dancer who realises his dream to dance despite some of the obstacles in his way.
BRING IT ON (2000) starring Kirsten Dunst, Eliza Dushku and Jesse Bradford
Cheerleading comedy
BREAKDANCE THE MOVIE (1984) starring Lucinda Dickey, Adolfo Quinones, Michael Chambers
CENTRE STAGE (2000) starring Amanda Schull, Zoe Saldana and Susan May Pratt
The trials and tribulation of the dance world as experienced by students enrolling at the American Ballet Academy, New York.
CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON (2000) starring Yun-Fat Chow, Michelle Yeoh and Zivi Zhang.
Nominated by a choreographer who encourages film enthusiasts to look at the movement and ‘dance’ like sequences.
Michelle Yeoh studied dance at the Royal Academy of Dance.
DIRTY DANCING (1987)
A classic summer romance and dance story with the immortal characters Frances (known as ‘Baby’) and Johnny. The film, also a successful musical and reality TV show (Dirty Dancing: the Time of Your Life), is characterised by that lift.
FAME (1980) starring Irene Cara, Eddie Barth and Lee Curreri
Chronicles the lives of students at New York City High School for the Performing Arts who discover what it takes to get through performing arts school. Irene Cara sang the theme song ‘Fame’, which became the theme for the 1982 series and a massive hit. Some of the stars from the film, such as Debbie Allen, recreated their role in the television series.
FLAMENCO (1995) starring Paco de Lucia, Joaquin Cortes and Manolo Sanlucar, directed by Carlos Saura
The history of Flamenco comes alive.
FLASHDANCE (1983) starring Jennifer Beals and Michael Nouri
A welder by day and a dancer by night, Alex harbours the dream to win a place at the Pittsburgh Conservatory of Dance and Repertory.
The musical is coming to the West End in September.
FOOTLOOSE (1984) starring Kevin Bacon, Lori Singer and Diane Wiest .
Dance, rock and life in a small town that doesn’t do rock music drives this story.
Sex and the City Star Sarah Jessica Parker has a role. Watch out for the remake next year.
GREASE (1978) starring John Travolta, Olivia Newton John and Stockard Channing
Classic soundtrack, memorable characters, iconic dance moves…what can one say about ‘Grease’ a romantic coming of age and know who you are story? It’s electrifying!
HAIRSPRAY (2007 version) starring John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer and Christopher Walken
This is the film where John Travolta, nominated for Greatest Dancer in the Big Dance poll, dresses in drag to play Edna Turnblad.
Did you know that: actor Christopher Walken trained as a dancer?; Choreographer Jerry Mitchell won the 2003 Tony Award for Best Choreography and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding choreography for the musical versions of the film and dancer and choreographer Helen Dixon was the Dance captain of the original London cast of Hairspray.
HONEY (2003) starring Jessica Alba, Mekhi Phifer and Lil’ Romeo
Honey wants to be a success as a dancer and help children at the local community centre who have the potential to become good dancers. Can she do both? The dance is “hip hop”, soundtrack dance hip hop and there’s some gospel music thrown in.
MOULIN ROUGE (2001) starring Ewan McGregor, Nicole Kidman and Jim Broadbent
Enter the world of cabaret via this love story. Moulin Rouge received 8 Oscar nominations.
SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER (1977) starring John Travolta, Karen Lynn Gorney and Barry Miller
The Disco film of the 70s with John Travolta in the role that got him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor and Bee Gees’ soundtrack, which is often listed in polls as one of the greatest albums of all time.
SAVE THE LAST DANCE (2001) starring Julia Stiles, Sean Patrick Thomas, and Kerry Washington
An uplifting, chasing a dream film with an interracial romance.
SHALL WE DANCE (1937) starring Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers
This Oscar nominated film is a musical comedy about a romance between two dancers that has its complications. A Fred and Ginger classic.
SHALL WE DANCE? (2004) starring Richard Gere, Jennifer Lopez and Susan Sarandon
Richard Gere stars as a lawyer who wants more from his life and takes up ballroom dancing. Also stars Jennifer Lopez who started out as a dancer.
STEP UP (2006) starring Channing Tatum, Jenna Dewan and Damaine Radclliff
Winner of the favourite film poll as voted via Big Dance website
Romance is in the air as opposites attract not only in dance styles but in class.
STEP UP 2 – THE STREETS (2008) starring Briana Evigan, Robert Hoffman and Adam G Sevani
Romance between two students from different backgrounds and dance action that moves to the streets.
STRICTLY BALLROOM (1992) starring Paul Mercurio, Tara Morice and Bill Hunter
This cult Australian film is about ballroom dancing, conviction and embracing change.
Paul Mercurio trained as a classical ballet dancer and danced with the Sydney Dance Company and Tara Morice appeared in Molin Rouge.
TAKE THE LEAD (2006) starring Antonio Banderas, Rob Brown and Yaya DaCosta
This is based on the true story of Pierre Dulaine who saw dance as a way of teaching skills, manners (See Peter Gent in stories on this website) and effecting change in the lives of New York City children through his dance programme in schools.
Trivia: Yaya DaCosta was a finalist in America’s Next Top Model.
THRILLER (1984) starring Michael Jackson, Ola Ray and Vincent Price
Is it a film or music video or both? It has a screenplay, lasts 14 minutes, was directed by award winning director Michael Landis of American Werewolf in London fame and, arguably, had a marked impact on popular culture. It is the first “music video” to be inducted into the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress.
TOP HAT (1935) starring Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire
Classic Fred and Ginger movie that includes the song ‘Cheek to Cheek’.
TURN IT UP (2001), stars Pras, Ja Rule and Jason Stathan
THE RED SHOES (1948) starring Anton Walbrook, Moira Shearer and Marius Goring
A story of love, ballet and making choices. Moira Shearer trained as a dancer and joined Sadler’s Wells Ballet School.
WEST SIDE STORY (1961) starring Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer and Rita Moreno
Winner of 10 Academy awards, West Side Story started off life as a musical before transferring to the screen. It is based, loosely, on Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' and is based on the tension between the Sharks and the Jets. In 2006, the American Film Institute ranked West Side Story as number 2 on its Greatest Movie Musicals list.
WHITE CHRISTMAS (1954) starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney
A nominee writes “The dancing in White Christmas still blows my mind”.
WHITE NIGHTS (1985) starring Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gregory Hines
This film combines the talents of two dancing legends – ballet star Mikhail and tap dancer Gregory Hines. Oscar Award winning actress Helen Mirren appears in this film.
YOU GOT SERVED (2004) stars Marques Houston, Omarion and Steve Harvey
Let the street dance competition begin…
