The dance film list

Are you looking for the best dance films to spend one or more evenings watching films and TV series dedicated to this theme? You are in the right place! 

Here's a list of dance films just for you! We have selected the titles of the most beautiful films about dance that have partly made cinema history and that have dance as the absolute protagonist...

1. Saturday Night Fever (1977) 

Of all dance films, our dance film list could not but begin with 'Saturday Night Fever'.

The protagonist lives in a council house in Brooklyn. During the day he works as a clerk and in the evenings he goes wild performing on the dance floor with his friends. Tony tries to reconcile his passion for dancing with his unfriendly partner, Stephanie, with whom he partners during performances.

With the city of New York as a backdrop, dancing for Italian-American Tony Manero becomes an instrument of moral and social redemption. The city's violence, including beatings and tragic incidents, is not long in coming and Tony realises he must change his life.

John Travolta's moves on the dance floor and the film's soundtrack made it one of the most successful musical films of all time, a real cult film that has left a permanent mark on the history of cinema.

2. Flashdance (1983)

A second film about dance is 'Flashdance', the protagonist is Alex Owens, an 18-year-old dance enthusiast, who works as a welder during the day and performs as a dancer in a club at night. His greatest dream is to enter the Pittsburgh Dance Academy and that is why his training continues unabated. However, when she goes to the school to register for an audition, anxiety and a sense of inadequacy prevail, so Alex renounces her opportunity. A sudden love will change her radically, opening her up to new opportunities. 

Flashdance is a classic example of the somewhat naive spirit typical of the era, and, with its morals, invites you to follow your dreams with grit and tenacity and never give up in the face of difficulties.

3. Dirty dancing (1987)

How about a film about dance and love? All this can be found in Dirty Dancing.

Dr Houseman, together with his family, consisting of his wife and two daughters, Baby and Lisa, goes on holiday to a beautiful hotel. In a reality where social differences are still very much felt and despite the expectations her parents would have for her, Baby feels hopelessly attracted to dance and, regardless of cultural differences, becomes infatuated with Johnny, a dance instructor who enlivens the evenings at the resort and introduces her to the world of dance. 

During dance lessons, the two become increasingly close, a bond that could cost the dancer his job. An unfounded accusation, in fact, causes the plot to take an unexpected turn...

4. Footloose (1984)

Looking for a film about dancing and love? The right film for you is Footloose.

For family reasons, Ren McCormack left Chicago, where he was romping with friends and indulging in rock stunts, and has just arrived in the small town of Bomont. Here, that 'healthy' youth therapy, rock, is banned by a municipal law and is defended to the bitter end by the pastor of the local church.

Ariel, the pastor's daughter, falls in love at first sight with Ren, who, in turn, tries his best to bring dancing and rock music back into the law in the village, which is paternalistically dominated by her repressive father.

5. Billy Elliot (2000)

A must-see dance film is 'Billy Elliot'.

Billy is 11 years old, motherless since the age of 10 and lives with his father Jackie, brother Tony and grandmother. Forced by his father to practise boxing, he discovers in himself a great passion for ballet, which, however, clashes with the prejudices of the time that see ballet as an encouragement to homosexuality and, in the latter, a disgrace. 

However, Billy does not give up and, while his father urges him to take boxing lessons at the gym, he starts taking dance lessons to join the Royal Ballet School, London. When his brother and father discover the truth, the situation becomes complicated. Fearing that Billy will be considered gay, both Jackie and Tony are outraged at the prospect of him becoming a professional dancer. 

One day, however Jackie catches Billy dancing at the gym and realises that her son is really gifted, So he decides to do whatever it takes to help him realise his dream.

6. Honey (2003)

Looking for a film about hip hop dancing? We have selected 'Honey' for you.

Honey Daniels has a dream in her drawer: to become a hip hop dancer and choreographer. Thanks to her determination, she always finds the strength to realise her ambitions, despite the doubts of those around her about her future success in the competitive world of dance.

Honey's days are dividedhttps://www.romydance.it/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/perfect-ceramics-for-plates.jpgo between auditions, hip hop lessons to neighbourhood kids and working as a bartender at night, invariably ending up on the club dance floor. One night, in the very club where she works, she is noticed by Michael Ellis, a famous television director, who offers you an unmissable opportunity: participate in a major music video clip.

From then on Honey's career takes off: all the most famous hip hop artists want her to choreograph their music videos, including the famous rapper Missy Elliott. Success is now assured, but when she refuses Michael's advances one night, he begins to scorched earth her.

7. Step Up (2006)

Another hip hop dance and love film not to be missed is 'Step Up'.

Following a party, brothers Mac and Skinny Carter and their friend Tyler Gage enter the Maryland School of Arts theatre, damaging many of the props. When a security guard arrives, Tyler helps the two escape, taking responsibility for the vandalism. The boy is sentenced to 200 hours of community service, which must be performed at the school. 

While working as a caretaker, he happens to observe a dance class in which Nora Clark, a student preparing for a professional dance performance, is present. When her dance partner, Andrew, sprains an ankle, Nora finds herself without a partner for her performance and Tyler offers to help her, demonstrating his enormous capabilities and thus managing to convince Nora that he is the perfect partner for her. Between one step and the next, the two end up falling in love but life continues to present them with new challenges.

8. Dancing for a Dream (2008)

Looking for a film about hip hop dance? Then Dancing for a Dream is the right film for you.

Lauryn, orphaned of both parents, has to run the family workshop with her brother Joel but his true passion is dance and, despite all the chores to be done, she always finds time to train. The goal is to attend auditions for the prestigious Chicago School of Music and Dance and build a future as a dancer. The hope, however, is short-lived: the audition is abruptly interrupted by the examiner, who prefers far more feminine movements than hip-hop. 

With her dreams shattered, Lauryn must return to Glenwood, but receives an unexpected offer from Dana, a dancer and waitress, who offers her a job as a bookkeeper in a burlesque club. The environment does not convince her, but there is little room for choice, so Lauryn decides to accept. Her passion for dance is hard for her to repress and Russ, the club's deejay, is the first to notice.

9. The Black Swan (2010)

Looking for recent dance films? We have selected 'Black Swan' for you.

Nina Sayers is a very talented dancer, but mentally and emotionally unstable due to her morbid relationship with her mother Erica. The latter, a mediocre former dancer who never managed to make a career, appears envious of Nina's talent and treats her like a child. Nina, seemingly so happy, but with self-destructive tendencies, is chosen by artistic director Thomas Leroy to star in Swan Lake.

For the part, however, she clashes with a classmate, Lily, who is less talented than her, but endowed with a passion that makes her just the 'Black Swan' that Nina cannot be. Nina's life is turned completely upside down, her dream of being a prima ballerina is hanging by a thread and Her devotion to ballet no longer allows her to distinguish truth from fiction.

10. New York Academy (2016)

The latest dancing film we have selected is 'New York Academy'. The protagonists of this film are Ruby, a brilliant ballet dancer and Johnnie, a talented violinist. 

One day Ruby, while in the New York underground, is entranced watching Johnnie play and suddenly two crews of hip hop dancers start dancing to her notes, accidentally bumping into her and causing her to fall. To help her up, the young musician gets distracted and someone steals the precious instrument his grandfather had given him. The girl feels terribly guilty and borrows a violin from the school where she studies. When she gives it to him, however, he reacts in anger and pushes her away, accusing her of being just another shallow rich girl. In reality, Johnnie cannot denounce the robbery he has suffered because he is an illegal citizen living illegally in the United States. It is then that Ruby has an idea: will ask the musician to participate with her in a dance and music competition with a large sum as a prize. He will then finally be able to obtain a visa.