July 17, 2008
Happy Feet
Last week I asked for favorite movie/TV kissing scenes. This week, after watching the latest installment of So You Think You Can Dance I thought I’d venture into favorite dance scenes/performances on TV and/or film. I have dozens but for brevity’s sake, I picked five out of a hat. Can you name one that stands out for you? Here are mine in no particular order:
Kevin Bacon in Footloose when he teaches that rhythmically-challenged guy how to dance. Though there’s nothing brilliant about this dance-wise, this clip is brimming with characterization, emotion and overall cuteness. It tells a great story.
Michael Jackson on Motown 25. I still remember where I was. Sitting on the living room floor in my parents’ house SPELLBOUND. It was his very first LIVE Billie Jean TV performance. It was also the first time he did the moonwalk. I still get goosebumps watching this!
The last dance scene from the movie Center Stage. I picked the DVD up from the bargain shelf at Walmart last year. I didn’t expect much, so it was a pleasant surprise! The movie was great. This dance sequence is about 9 1/2 minutes long, but it’s well worth the effort. Not only does it tell a story, but the choreography is breathtaking and the dancers are fabulous. It made me want to try my hand at modern/jazz ballet. This is an awesome clip!
This has to be my favorite Cosby Show episode ever! It’s the one where the entire Huxtable family celebrates the grandparents’ wedding anniversary by performing Ray Charles’ Night Time Is The Right Time in the living room.
Brigadoon is one of those old movies you never forget. And while there are plenty of singing/dance sequences to pick from, Go Home To Bonnie Jean is my favorite. I love Gene Kelly and Van Johnson in this. The tenor singing this Bonnie Jean is really, really good too!
Lessee…
Agree about the Billie Jean number. I was not only spellbound–but happened to be TAPING at the time, so I got the original.
I liked that Cosby episode too, lol. Very cute.
“Brigadoon”…yes. But my favorite number was with Cyd Charisse and Gene Kelly dancing to the tune, “The Heather On The Hill”. If you have a single, romantic bone in your body, it will MELT you.
The Nicholas Brothers in “Stormy Weather” (I believe), in which one of them takes three leaping steps up a wall, flips over backward, lands in a perfect split, and bounces back up without using his hands at all (and no special effects, folks–it’s the real thing…made me grab my heart when I first saw it).
And I must mention Jamie Lee Curtis’ underwear dance number in “True Lies”, in which she shocks her husband by being sexy. Hilarious.
Raine, I second, third, and fourth The Nicholas Brother’s dance scene in that movie. I will add Stomp The Yard, heck most of the dance scenes in that movie made me want to go take dance classes.
Raine,
You were taping Billie Jean? Wow! I don’t think I’ve seen the Nicholas Brothers in Stormy Weather, but I do remember one of the brothers in Tap with Gregory Hines. He was also in the Five Heartbeats.
I agree that Heather On The Hill rocked!
Melissa,
I’ve never seen Stomp The Yard. I’ll definitely have to check that out. I just saw Step Up II. The final dance scene is really good.
Tanya, you must see the Nicholas Brothers sometime.
Fred Astaire himself said one of their routines was ‘the best dance sequence he’d ever seen.’
Ya can’t beat that.
OMG that cosby episode makes me want to get it on DVD so the kids can watch it!
Here’s one of mine!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=jKlxjbhB9HE
PS Sadly my children can do the Carlton dance
Tanya…….I was SURPRISED at how much I really liked Stomp the Yard. There’s a real nice message in it –besides the great dancing/stomping.
Raine,
I’m going to see if I can put it on my Netflix queue.
AW man I *heart* Center Stage!!!
fave scene has to be when Baby goes to Johnny after her dad has helped out Penny and they “dance” alone in his room. It is sooooo very sensual. (Dirty Dancing) I watched it the other day and just had to sigh………
Cece,
OMG!!! I forgot about that one. Here’s mine from Fresh Prince:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=PFfy-12oDGQ
Oh and I saw Stomp the Yard the other day as well as Step Up. Moives like that really get me motivated. Don’t know why (maybe because of Beat Street and Breakin’ back when I was a kid–not that I can dance like that, but still….).. But I have always loved dance movies.
Cece,
Okay, I’ll add Stomp to my Netflix queue too.
Dennie,
Center Stage was a real surprise for me. I didn’t expect it would be THAT good. I love that scene in Dirty Dancing too. I also like the scene where they perform the latin dance at that other resort.
I forgot about this one. Remember THE EVOLUTION OF DANCE?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=dMH0bHeiRNg&feature=related
Ok, so I’m late to the dance… again. My favorite is a Gene Kelly dance from An American In Paris the long sequence to Rhapsody in Blue. Awesome. I liked Fred Astaire’s dancing. So graceful.
There is a really funny dance sequence in White Christmas where Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye dance to “Sisters”.
Gee, can’t tell I like old Hollywood style musicals or anything.
I meant to break that first paragraph up. Sorry. Yes, I know. Fred Astaire was not in an American in Paris. I just like to watch him dance in anything.
I left one out, though. Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse in Singing in the Rain… Especially, the part of the sequence where she has a really long scarf that moves with her in the breeze… Old Hollywood style at it’s best.
Oh, and I love Brigadoon, too. Shocker, I know!
Lynn,
Here’s one of my favorite Astaire routines (Putting on the Ritz):
http://youtube.com/watch?v=j02k9t4rP50
I have American In Paris. It’s the movie I first introduced Gene Kelly to my kids when they were toddlers. They grew up loving him from it. In fact, AIP is my daughter’s favorite Gene Kelly movie. My favorite is Brigadoon. I also like Singing In the Rain (Moses, Good Mornin’ and the Make ‘Em Laugh sequences). I also liked the sequence with Leslie Caron, although it is missing the part with scarf. I loved that too:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=7YWBOfsXsDA&feature=related
Lynn,
This is an Astaire classic too.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=YzdYsxfIJLQ&feature=related