From iconic movie moments that defined dance scenes to unforgettable choreography that became cultural touchstones, we're diving into the most memorable dance sequences that changed cinema forever. Get ready for a journey through the most electrifying, groundbreaking, and jaw-dropping dance moments in film history!
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00:00Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the moments a movie dance
00:11went from great to unforgettable.
00:22Number 10.
00:23Box The Power – Do The Right Thing
00:32Spike Lee's incisive masterpiece plays its opening credits over a gorgeously shot dance
00:37sequence showcasing star Rosie Perez.
00:40Perez, who was a soul-trained dancer, is outfitted in various revealing outfits as she dances
00:45to public enemies' Fight The Power.
00:48Her energetic and suggestive hip-hop moves are hypnotic enough.
00:52One of these costume changes sees her dressed as a prizefighter who boxes with the camera.
01:02This takes the entire dance and the movie itself to a whole new level.
01:06It's not just cheeky, it's an announcement.
01:09Like Perez, this is the moment you realize this movie is going to confront its audience.
01:22Number 9.
01:23Dancing on the Railing – The Breakfast Club
01:31Teenagers thrown together at Saturday detention find common ground in their problems and in
01:35their music.
01:36Mid-movie, the five newfound friends dance with reckless abandon across the entire school
01:41library to a synth-tastic 80s rock track by Carla DeVito.
01:46The sequence is full of equally hilarious and cool moves that all feel like acts of
01:51adolescent rebellion.
01:52Who didn't dream of treating their high school like a jungle gym sometimes?
01:56Their individual dances all showcase who they are, but then they begin dancing precariously
02:01on a railing together as one.
02:03To be fair, it looks a little dangerous, but that's why it's punk rock.
02:13Number 8.
02:14Surrounded by Diamonds – Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
02:24Marilyn Monroe is inarguably one of the most iconic sex symbols in American movies.
02:29From her platinum blonde glow to her unmistakable voice, she's responsible for many of mid-century
02:34cinema's most indelible images.
02:36In Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, she pokes fun at her character's love of expensive jewels.
02:41Dressed in a shocking pink dress and surrounded by men circling her with diamond brooches,
02:56bracelets and rings, she grasps at the sparkling items like dangling meat.
03:00If you want to know just how much it impacted the culture, there are over 70 years of references
03:05to pour over.
03:13Number 7.
03:14Time Warp – The Rocky Horror Picture Show
03:27Brad and Janet's car breaks down in the middle of a dark forest, happening upon a
03:31castle that's straight out of a gothic nightmare.
03:33They're greeted by the servants Riff Raff and Magenta.
03:36Thus begins the trippy Time Warp number.
03:39These two are weird enough, but then the first chorus hits.
03:42They throw open the doors to reveal they aren't alone.
03:56An entire motley crew of odd and vaguely threatening conventioneers has converged on the place
04:02for a good old-fashioned dance party.
04:04For the first time, we really get a full view of the absolute weirdness this movie has in
04:08store for us.
04:20Number 6.
04:21Splits Down the Stairs – Stormy Weather
04:30Famed dancers Fayard and Harold Nicholas had a long career in entertainment, from vaudeville
04:36to Hollywood.
04:37The culmination of their work may be this incredible sequence from 1943's Stormy Weather.
04:42Full of the fanciest, fiercest footwork you'll ever see, the brothers tear through the jump-and-jive
04:48number at a 10 the whole time.
04:50But the craziest part is the climax.
04:52The brothers literally leap down a staircase, one over another, and land in a split each
04:57time.
05:07The fact that they're still standing, let alone dancing after that, is wild.
05:12Song and dance legend Fred Astaire even called it the best dance number ever seen on screen.
05:18And he would know.
05:29Number 5.
05:30The Batusi – Pulp Fiction
05:41In the middle of Quentin Tarantino's legendary crime movie, John Travolta and Uma Thurman
05:46take a dance break at a 50s-inspired restaurant.
05:49They whip out some of the great novelty dances of the era, doing the twist, the jerk, and
05:54this classic piece of choreography, which was invented for, of all things, the Batman
05:59TV series.
06:05Travolta does the Batusi at one point, where a dancer makes a moving V sign over their
06:09eyes.
06:10Thurman responds with her own version of the move.
06:13What makes it so great is that they are just so locked in here.
06:16Their dance is a defining cinematic moment.
06:19And if you break out the Batusi at a party, people know exactly what you're referencing.
06:31Number 4.
06:32Sliding In – Risky Business
06:45From the first beat, this one was an instant classic.
06:49Tom Cruise stars as a high school senior left alone in his well-to-do family's home, so
06:53he does what anyone would do.
06:55He strips down to his tighty-whities, pops his collar, and lip-syncs for his life to
07:00Bob Seger's old-time rock and roll in his empty living room.
07:07The opening moment, with a half-dressed Cruise sliding effortlessly into frame, immediately
07:12lets you know this is going to be really, really goofy.
07:15It's also totally relatable at the same time.
07:18That smooth entrance has been paid homage and parodied ever since.
07:30Number 3.
07:31Splashdance – Flashdance
07:43Critics didn't exactly love this 80s dance flick upon release, but its sexy, seductive,
07:48and flashy dance scenes made it a crowd-pleaser.
07:51This scene sees Alex doing a slinky and bracing number set to He's a Dream by Shandy Cinnamon.
07:57Structured largely in silhouette, French performer Marine Jahan stands in for the
08:02movie's real lead, Jennifer Beals.
08:04The greatest moment comes halfway through when Alex pulls a lever that unleashes a torrent
08:08of water onto her arched, dancerly body.
08:20She completes the number, soaking wet and in a very revealing leotard, as the patrons
08:25of the nightclub gaze at her.
08:33Number 2.
08:34The Streetlamp – Singin' in the Rain
08:36It's been called the best movie musical of all time.
08:47Look no further than the title number to see why.
08:49Gene Kelly stars as Don Lockwood, a silent film actor who's in love with an aspiring
08:54actress.
08:56He's so head over heels that not even the rain can stop him from singing about it.
09:07As Kelly dances through the city street set and studio-provided rainfalls all over him,
09:13he makes it look easy.
09:14At a pivotal moment, he jauntily hops on a streetlamp and continues crooning.
09:19The moment has been immortalized in posters, promotional materials, and even a Disney World
09:24ride.
09:32Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
09:36Pose!
09:37Pose!
09:38Pose!
09:39– Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion
09:40You know this is going to be crazy when they just stop mid-dance to Pose.
09:53The Shake Shack – Grease
09:55Danny and Sandy shake their stuff on a carnival ride.
10:03Defying Gravity – Royal Wedding
10:05Fred Astaire just starts dancing on the walls without warning.
10:15Pointing and Jumping – Save the Last Dance
10:19This section of Julia Stiles' audition number became a meme years after the movie came out.
10:35Black Swan – Natalie Portman's tortured ballet dancer transforms into the ballet's
10:41cursed black swan.
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11:11Number 1.
11:12The Lift – Dirty Dancing
11:21Sensitive bad boy dance instructor Johnny and sheltered but curious middle-class girl
11:25Baby don't immediately have their technique down.
11:28They attempt their climactic lift earlier in the film, but they just don't trust each
11:33other enough yet.
11:34In the movie's triumphant final number, set to the award-winning I've Had the Time
11:38of My Life, Jennifer Grey jumps joyously into Patrick Swayze's arms.
11:43And it's pure movie magic.
11:52If someone knows nothing else about the movie, they know about The Lift.
11:56But it's probably best if you don't try to recreate it yourself.
11:59Just ask Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling.
12:11Have you ever recreated one of these moments at home?
12:14Let us know in the comments.