Passionate tango or sassy hip-hop: 10 best dance movies of all time

Directors’ love of dance dates back to the early days of cinema and continues to this day. Actors have long ago “learned” to talk, but conveying emotion through dance is still one of the most powerful and effective techniques in cinema. Goosebump-inducing tango Al Pacino from the drama “Scent of a Woman”, a fiery twist John Travolta and Uma Thurman from “Pulp Fiction” or dancing inimitable Celentano on a barrel of grapes in “The Taming of the Shrew” – these small episodes have become true gems of world cinema.

However, often dance from an important, but still an auxiliary instrument turns into the main character of the tape. Movies about dance are as different as they are: sad, lyrical, touching, energetic, driving … We have collected for you a selection of ten of the best films devoted to this spectacular and sensual phenomenon.

“Step Up”, 2006

Original title: Step Up.
Genre: Drama, melodrama.
Time: 1 hour and 44 minutes.

Musical melodrama with a touch of crime brought world fame to young Channing Tatum and was so liked by the audience that it was continued in the form of four more films. However, the first part was the most successful. Street bully Tyler Gage for another misdemeanor is sent to corrective labor in the Maryland School of Art. The guy gets close to student Nora Clark, who helps him discover his dancing talent. Thanks to dancing, Tyler decides to change his life and get stuck with a dark past.

“Burlesque,” 2010

Original title: Burlesque.
Genre: musical, drama.
Time: 1 hour and 59 minutes.

This movie is worth watching at least for the sake of an unexpected duet of Christina Aguilera and Cher. A young girl Ali (Aguilera’s acting debut) comes to Los Angeles from the provinces in pursuit of fame and gets a job at a burlesque club. The owner of the establishment, played by Cher, sees great potential in the new dancer and takes custody of her. Struggle with the outside world, internal intrigues and becoming a bright star – all this against the background of beautiful dancing on the edge of foul. The plot is uncomplicated, but two hours fly by like an instant.

“Desert Dancer”, 2014

Original title: Desert Dancer.
Genre: Drama.
Time: 1 hour and 44 minutes.

A little-known but definitely worth watching movie based on the biography of Iranian dancer Afshin Ghaffarian. The young man is fascinated by the magic of dance, but this art form is forbidden in his homeland. Mastering the skill with the help of videos from the Internet, Afshin finds like-minded people, together with whom he opens an underground studio, and then decides to create a dance show in the desert. His love for dancing turns deadly for Ghaffarian and abruptly changes his life. Interestingly, British and Russian filmmakers jointly participated in the creation of the movie.

“Let’s Dance”, 1995

Original title: Shall we dansu?
Genre: Drama.
Time: 2 hours and 16 minutes.

A poignant Japanese film about the magical power of dancing. 42-year-old Shohei Sugiyama can’t complain about his life: successful career, devoted wife, beautiful daughter. But the inner feeling of loneliness pushes the man to an unusual act. Sympathy for a beautiful stranger opens the hero a wonderful world of dance, thanks to which he finds happiness and harmony. In Russia, the American remake of this movie with Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez is more widely known, but the Japanese original still leaves a stronger impression.

“Grease, 1978

Original title: Grease.
Genre: musical.
Time: 1 hour and 50 minutes.

The charming John Travolta was dancing on the screen long before Pulp Fiction. This light musical from the director of “The Blue Lagoon” tells the story of carefree and cheerful American life in the 50s of the last century. The unpretentious love story of young people in the times of unbridled optimism and greased hair is accompanied by non-stop dancing and songs. A great way to cheer up a gloomy evening!

“Pina: A Dance of Passion,” 2011.

Original title: Pina.
Genre: musical, documentary.
Time: 1 hour and 43 minutes.

The multinational project is dedicated to the work of the outstanding German dancer Pina Bausch. Wim Wenders, a classic of European cinema, began filming while Bausch was still alive, and after her death he decided to see it through to the end. This is not a biographical film in the conventional sense, but rather a movie-emotion, inspired by the fantastic dances of the German. “Pina: Dance of Passion” captures from the first frames and proves that the art of dance can work wonders.

“The Ugly Coyote Bar,” 2000.

Original title: Coyote Ugly.
Genre: melodrama, comedy.
Time: 1 hour and 37 minutes.

Violet Sanford arrives in New York City hoping for a successful music career and finds a part-time job at the iconic night bar “The Ugly Coyote”. A modest and shy girl does not easily master in a peculiar institution, where the atmosphere of fun and promiscuity reigns. Despite the entourage of the picture, the director managed to make a rather deep movie that not only entertains, but also makes you think.

“Dirty Dancing”, 1987

Original title: Dirty Dancing.
Genre: melodrama.
Time: 1 hour and 40 minutes.

Perhaps the most famous dance movie ever made. The romantic story from the 60s tells about a naive girl from a well-to-do family nicknamed Baby. On vacation in a country hotel, she falls in love with professional dancer Johnny and becomes his partner. After this role, Patrick Swayze gained fame as one of the main beauties of Hollywood.

“Black Swan,” 2010.

Original title: Black Swan.
Genre: Thriller, Drama.
Time: 1 hour and 43 minutes.

The role of ballerina Nina Sayers, striving at all costs to play a black swan in a new production of “Swan Lake”, brought Natalie Portman “Oscar”. The tense and exciting plot unfolds in a theater setting and immerses the viewer in the behind-the-scenes of the rigid ballet world.

“Take the Lead,” 2006

Original title: Take the Lead.
Genre: Drama.
Time: 1 hour and 58 minutes.

The movie is based on a true story. Pierre Dulaine, a dance enthusiast, wants to infect difficult teenagers from an ordinary school in New York with love for this art, but they prefer hip-hop and don’t want to hear about ballroom dancing. Then the hero of Antonio Banderas learns a new direction for himself, and at the same time creates a unique dance style and makes the disadvantaged kids believe in themselves.