Top 10 Over the Top Dance Scenes in Movies
#10: Dancing in the Rain “Step Up 2: The Streets” (2008)
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“Step Up 2: The Streets” rises to the level of its predecessor through its innovative take on dance scenes. This time, they take the choreography outside for an impressive routine in the rain. Through various solo and group routines, this cast of performers proves they’re ready for anything. It’s all the more dangerous when you consider the prospect of slipping at any moment. The dampness doesn’t stop them as their hip-hop and breakdancing moves look extraordinary in the less-than-ideal conditions. Most dancers would have let the weather calm down first, but they make the scene all the better for throwing caution to the wind.
#9: “Super Trouper” “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” (2018)
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There’s a chance that “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” is even better than the original with moments like the end performance of “Super Trouper.” Starting with a show-stopping Cher solo, this sequence starts off on a high note and only climbs from there. The scene slowly adds the entire cast in glittery outfits that make any previous costumes look tame. By the time everyone arrives with their own microphone, the singing ensemble takes to the dance floor in style. Each character meets with their younger counterpart in a lovely sendoff that breaks the fourth wall.
#8: Cooper’s Ballet “Center Stage” (2000)
For the end of “Center Stage,” the characters participate in a sequence that celebrates traditional and radical forms of dance. It begins with a classical ballet setup, but there’s much more in store than the usual pirouettes. With Cooper’s arrival the scene changes. Everything is intended to subvert the rigid nature of elite dance troupes. From an intimate moment on a bed to a dynamic movement between three core performers, this is not the same old song and dance. Some could say it’s too much, but this remix manages to blossom without the constraints of a typical production. Finally, the last part lets a Jamiroquai song send the dancers off with a bang.
#7: “Xanadu” “Xanadu” (1980)
“Xanadu” doesn’t always rank highly among other musicals, but it definitely has a charm to it. The title number in particular scratches an itch for its fun-loving vibes and catchy music. Olivia Newton-John sings this underrated song that uses disco and pop to its fullest extent. As legend Gene Kelly establishes the set piece, things immediately get interesting with jugglers and lots of rollerskates. Kelly is no stranger to rollerskating either, as he previously tap-danced with them in a classic number from “It’s Always Fair Weather.” The lighting, set design, and choreography are all working together in a routine that’s bathing in early-80s sheen. Audiences weren’t initially compelled by this material, but it’s scenes like this that crown “Xanadu” as a cult film.
#6: “Springtime for Hitler” “The Producers” (1967)
Mel Brooks doesn’t disappoint in this deliberately outrageous number at the center of “The Producers.” Not afraid of being offensive, the writer and director deals with Hitler and the Nazis in a non-traditional, satirical way. This musical sequence asks viewers to confront their notions about WWII and beyond. Every moment seems more ridiculous than the next, as a fashion show seems to happen with oversized outfits. It even goes so far as to have dancers goose step and form a swastika with their formations. Always in favor of a little anarchy, Brooks entertains in a shocking statement that kick-started his film career.
#5: “Step in Time” “Mary Poppins” (1964)
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“Mary Poppins” ranks among the most magical Disney musicals of any era. One of its fantastical sequences doesn’t even include its trademark animation, keeping all of the action atop London rooftops. Dick Van Dyke’s Bert and his fellow chimney sweeps dance and tumble around in an unexpectedly enjoyable scene. Many of the dancers even attempt death-defying stunts, jumping between buildings with an effortless pace. The context of the entire number and the fact that it’s being done by chimney sweeps makes it all the more absurd in the best possible way.
#4: “Another Day of Sun” “La La Land” (2016)
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Being a throwback Hollywood musical, “La La Land” needed a stellar opening to show that it offered more than your average movie experience. Filmmaker Damien Chazelle chose to make Los Angeles as much of a character as the main stars, letting nameless citizens take the initiative in this establishing scene. The director turned a traffic jam into an elaborate number that utilizes many different extras on a real LA freeway. The camera moves alone are impressive, not to mention the tireless and painstaking choreography from a host of dancers. After a live band, some car-top parkour, and endless infectious energy, it all culminates with a fantastic shot of all the performers on top of their cars.
#3: “That’s How You Know” “Enchanted” (2007)
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In “Enchanted,” Amy Adams’s Giselle finds herself lost in the reality of New York City. This doesn’t stop her from breaking into spontaneous musical numbers. While walking in Central Park, the heroine ends up inciting a song and dance sequence that involves many locals. Adams’s exuberant energy guides the scene along with great fanfare, working opposite the grounded performance from Patrick Dempsey. It makes you believe that an entire crowd of people would actually come together in a large ceremony. Embracing the absurdity and comedy of it all, “That’s How You Know” highlights the unexpected magic of music in movies.
#2: “The Feeling of Love” “The Happiness of the Katakuris” (2001)
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Who knew a paper airplane with a message on it could be so inspiring? It starts a chain of events from which Japanese filmmaker Takashi Miike engineered a beautifully eccentric music set piece in “The Happiness of the Katakuris.” This is a scene that is both bizarre and undeniably entertaining. The dancing and singing might not be professional level, but the performers more than make up for it with their dedication. Both the set design and the extras change on a dime as the actors enter a wedding sequence and later go into a dream vortex world. Miike’s genius direction invites the viewer to laugh through all the confusion in a scene that defies explanation. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. The Happy Dance, “500 Days of Summer” (2009) After Being With Summer, Tom Takes a Happy Stroll & His Life Turns Into a Musical Choreographed Dance, “She’s All That” (1999) The Most Talented High School Dancers Ever Take the Floor to Show Each Other up in Style “I Don’t Dance,” “High School Musical 2” (2007) A Baseball Diamond Turns Into a Tense Duet in This Favorite From the Hit Disney Series “No Dames!” “Hail, Caesar!” (2016) Channing Tatum Lights up a Barroom With a Group of Sailors in This Hollywood Homage
#1: Barn Dance “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” (1954)
“Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” is a classic Hollywood film with all the bells and whistles of the great musical era. The centerpiece of the movie revolves around the titular characters gathering for a barn-raising. What begins as a normal affair quickly descends into a test of wills. The brothers become overly competitive to the point of leaving the dance floor for more unexpected surfaces. This includes trying to balance on a spinning log and other gymnastic feats. Turning the sequence into an Olympic challenge, director Stanley Donen realized one of the best dance scenes in a memorable MGM release.
