What makes an electric dance movie? Motorbikes, garish leotards, leg warmers and lustful tear-jerking tales about dancers coming out on top, apparently. A fortnight ago we asked the members of our Facebook fan page to tell us what their all-time favourite dance movie is. We reveal your top-five films below!
1. Centre Stage (2000)
With a tagline like ‘Life doesn’t hold tryouts’, you know exactly what Centre Stage will offer: the high drama of competition for prestigious dance troupe positions. The film is given authenticity by the fact many of its actors are also professional dancers – and the leather-jacketed, motorcycle-riding bad boy of ballet, Ethan Stiefel is empirically dreamy.
2. Mao’s Last Dancer (2009)
Mao’s Last Dancer is based on Li Cunxin’s best-selling book – describing his poor childhood in China, transformation to a world-famous ballet star, and eventual defection to the West. It’s obvious why it’d be a sentimental favourite in Australia. Not only is it directed by Bruce Beresford, but the real-life Li joined the Australian Ballet in 1995.
3. The Red Shoes (1948)
A restored print of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s 62-year-old melodrama The Red Shoes managed to wow audiences at Cannes just last year. It’s widely regarded as a masterpiece of British cinema – and the ballet it contains is one of the best dance sequences ever put on film. You’ll gasp, you’ll laugh, you’ll cry. Well, okay – you’ll mainly cry.
4. Billy Elliot (2000)
For the past decade, Stephen Daldry’s coming-of-age drama has plucked heartstrings the world over. Its appeal to dancer-lovers is obvious. Not only does the film show young Billy Elliott choosing ballet over boxing – initially against the wishes of his working-class father – the final triumphant performance places its star in Matthew Bourne’s celebrated all-male Swan Lake.
5. Flashdance (1983)
Narrowly beating out Dirty Dancing (so I guess someone does put Baby in the corner, huh?) comes Flashdance. It’s the story of Alex Owens (Jennifer Beals), a steel-mill welder and late-night bar dancer who hopes for a career in ballet. Alex’s water-drenched chair routine has become an icon of both post-disco dance and the absolute excess of ‘80s cinema.
What’s your favourite dance movie? Leave a comment below!
Mine would have to be Cabaret. The singing, the dancing! The telephones in the nightclub! The costumes! Liza Minnelli’s eyelashes!
Where’s Honey? I thought that was a good dance movie
It always manages to bring a smile to my face and make me slightly teary at the end of it. Also, Shall We Dance was a good one as well!
Does make me want to settle in for a movie night!
My personal collection does feature Dirty Dancing, Shall We Dabce, Chicago, and even Save the Last Dance… All of them bring a spring to my step!
Centre Stage is the best. i got my first pair of pointe shoes the day i was this movie!
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The Red Shoes. I thought it was just fantastic. The Turning Point also brought tears of joy to my eyes.
Actually any Movie with good dancing is wonderful and enjoyable.
My personal favourite Dance movie is Turning Point with Anne Bancroft with cameos by Barynishikov, Lucette Aldous, etc
Does the Australian Ballet ever make tickets available to watch rehearsals? The Queensland Ballet used to do this (maybe still does? )and it is very rewarding to watch the ballet take shape.
My favourite will always be Tales of Beatrix Potter. My granddaughters were grown up before the video came on sale so I bought it for myself, have played it to death! And I would love to see Hobson’s Choice again (thanks ABC TV), have never been able to find that on video or DVD.
Adore “The Red Shoes”, “Turning Point” and “Mao’s Last Dancer”, but what could beat Moira Shearer’s performance in “The Story of Three Loves”?
I first saw the red shoes when I was about 5 years old and fell totally in love with the film and ballet. I commenced ballet classes that same year and over the years have taken class for about 20 years of my life. I adored Norma Shearer, also I think the colour, the vibrancy and glamour and absolute emotional intensity of this film sets it apart from the rest. I have seen it about 30 time over a long period.
Oh dear I meant Moira shearer in my comment regarding The Red Shoes
I love Centre Stage, despite its totally cheesy plot, and thought Mao’s Last Dancer was fantastic. I’d love to see The Turning Point, but have never been able to find a DVD of it.
Not classic ballet, but what about A Chorus Line? A real challenge, a lot of reality and a delight to watch.
I have many favourites. Turning Point, Sweet Charity, Brigadoon and Carousel. I would like to see a collection of the dance scenes from the movies and their music. I have often thought about it and now the Sydney Symphony has done it with Rogers and Hammerstein and I was unable to go to see the nights performance. The movie Benjamin Button with Brad Pitt moved me so much when Cate Blanchett dance the scene on the beach from Carousel. I have not seen Centre Stage. When you see these movies now some scenes could be shortened but still they make good viewing
My absolute favourite dance movies are Red Shoes, I had a huge argument with a school mate that she realloy did die – I was convinced, not sure how old I was, but better than that I think is the Tales of Hoffmann with Moira Shearer, Robert Helpmann and Massine. I just love it.
Others are Singin’ in the Rain & An American in Paris and West Side Story.
I love White Nights featuring Michail Baryshnakov. I watch the dance sequences over and over.
Absolutely, without a doubt, The Red Shoes. It never fails to move me, and Moira Shearer is so stunning. Such a classic.
Strictly Ballroom (amazingly) because I am a ballet nut. But I watched that repeatedly. I’m sure it was Paul Mecurio. God he is so adorable. I loved how it just ‘took the piss’ out of our whole dance culture (and I’m allowed to say that) I’ve been part of this whole crazy thing for (mmm…. let me see) 42 years now.
Where is ‘A Chorus Line’? One of my very fav dance films.
I watched Stepping Out a few weeks ago on a grainy reproduction and loved it. Loved it because the class sequences were so like our tap dancing classes in a chilly community hall on Friday nights. Our weekly lessons and rehearsals culminate in an annual ‘spot’ in the local drama group’s theatre restaurant. The creative process always produces a polished result. The Tap Cats get a great reception and we have such a great time! Many thanks to our teacher, Annette.