Dance is one of the earliest and oldest known forms of entertainment and is a wonderful community activity. Best of all, everyone can enjoy it, regardless of their rhythm or natural aptitude.
Since 1982, Unesco has commemorated April 29 as International Dance Day, in response to an initiative of the International Dance Committee, an affiliate of the International Theatre Institute (ITI).
This day has been established with the intention of celebrating dance in all its forms and expressions, fostering love for this artistic discipline, making the work of dancers and choreographers visible, as well as celebrating cultural differences in the cultural scene.
This celebration takes place on April 29, in honor of the birth of Jean-Georges Noverre, an outstanding innovator and scholar of dance and the performing arts, widely recognized as the master and creator of modern ballet.
So, as International Dance Day is today, we’ve compiled a list of some classic dance movies you can stream. Let’s face it, dance is an awesome and addictive art. And, sometimes there’s nothing better than sitting in front of the TV watching people dance energetically.
Below are eight of the best dance movies of all time. Take a look and let us know which one is your favorite.
La La Land (2016)
Directed by: Damien Chazelle.
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone.
Written and directed by Damien Chazelle, La La Land pays homage to the golden age of Hollywood musicals.
This is the story of Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) and Mia (Emma Stone) who fall in love while pursuing their dreams in the entertainment industry. Mia works as a waitress as she dreams of becoming a successful actress. Sebastian, meanwhile, is an undeniably talented pianist trying to make his way in the world of jazz. In the midst of this competitive and heartbreaking world, Sebastian and Mia find solace in each other and in the rhythms of the city, which make them dance with joyful authenticity.
La La Land was a huge box office hit upon its release. The chemistry between Gosling and Stone received special praise, as did the film’s intricate and beautiful dance choreography.
The formidable cast includes John Legend, Rosemarie DeWitt, Finn Wittrock and J. K. Simmons.
La La Land can be streamed on Netflix and Max.
Magic Mike (2012)
Directed by: Steven Soderbergh.
Starring: Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Matthew McConaughey, Cody Horn, Olivia Munn, Matt Bomer, Riley Keough, Joe Manganiello, Kevin Nash, Adam Rodriguez, Gabriel Iglesias.
Directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by Reid Carolin, Magic Mike is a dance comedy-drama loosely based on the youthful experiences of actor Channing Tatum.
After the success of his starring role in Step Up, Tatum decided to change the tone of his next performance as a dancer. In this regard, the actor was inspired by his early days as a stripper to produce and star in Magic Mike, a revealing film about the male exotic dance scene.
Tatum brings to life Michael “Magic Mike” Lane, an enterprising man and professional exotic dancer living in Tampa, Florida. During the day, Mike does all sorts of odd jobs to make money, while at night he performs as a daring stripper.
Upon meeting Adam (Alex Pettyfer), a charismatic young man with a lot of potential, Mike senses his talent and decides to take him under his wing, teaching him the skills and tricks of the trade. However, Adam experiences a rapid and troubling addiction to substances and becomes involved in criminal activity and problems with clients. Both mentor and apprentice will discover uncomfortable truths that will cause them to rethink their lifestyles.
One of the most remarkable aspects of Magic Mike is that it does not show the world of striptease in a glamorous way, but instead focuses on the costs of an unstable lifestyle, where job security is non-existent and performers are intensely exploited.
The entire Magic Mike franchise can be streamed on Netflix and Max.
Billy Elliot (2000)
Directed by: Stephen Daldry.
Starring: Julie Walters, Gary Lewis, Jamie Bell, Jamie Draven, Adam Cooper.
There is no doubt that Billy Elliot is one of the most moving and heartfelt dance films from the UK and the world. Adapted from a play entitled Dancer, by Lee Hall, Billy Elliot centers on a stubborn little boy who finds a better life through ballet.
Billy Elliot (Jamie Bell) is an 11-year-old boy from a small town in England. One day, his father sends Billy to the gym to learn boxing. Instead, Billy signs up for a ballet class taking place nearby.
When news of Billy’s interest in ballet reaches the ears of his father and older brother, they try to put a stop to the whole thing, fearing that Billy’s life will be made miserable by the other boys if they find out he does ballet. But when Billy’s father finally sees his son’s genuine talent as a dancer, he decides to do everything he can to help Billy achieve his dreams.
Billy Elliot can be streamed on Amazon Prime Video.
Dirty Dancing (1987)
Directed by: Emile Ardolino.
Starring: Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey, Jerry Orbach, Cynthia Rhodes.
Dirty Dancing is a 1987 American romantic film written by Eleanor Bergstein, produced by Linda Gottlieb and directed by Emile Ardolino.
Set in the 1960s, the film follows Frances “Baby” Houseman (Jennifer Grey), who falls in love with a mysterious dancer named Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze) while vacationing with her family at a resort.
Taking advantage of Swayze and Grey’s real-life skills, Dirty Dancing offered some of the most realistic dance sequences of most 1980s dance films.
Like several feature films that debuted at the time, the film’s soundtrack endured after its release, never losing any relevance. It should be added that the production’s mythical song The Time of My Life won an Oscar.
Dirty Dancing can be streamed on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu and Sling TV.
Flashdance (1983)
Directed by: Adrian Lyne.
Starring: Jennifer Beals, Michael Nouri.
Flashdance is a romantic and dance drama directed by Adrian Lyne and starring Jennifer Beals as Alex Owens, a passionate young woman who aspires to become a professional dancer.
Although rejected by critics at the time, Flashdance became an unexpected box-office success and captured the public’s imagination. For its part, the soundtrack, composed by Giorgio Moroder, spawned several hit songs, including Maniac (performed by Michael Sembello) and the Oscar-winning Flashdance…. What a Feeling (performed by Irene Cara).
Flashdance is best remembered for its water dance sequence, which has been recreated countless times. According to critics, the “MT music video” style of the dance sequences had a significant effect on the making of 1980s blockbusters such as Footloose, Purple Rain and Top Gun.
Flashdance is available to stream on Netflix, Paramount+ and Hoopla.
Grease (1978)
Directed by: Randal KStarring.
Starring: John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing, Eve Arden, Frankie Avalon, Joan Blondell, Edd Byrnes, Sid Caesar, Alice Ghostley, Dody Goodman, Sha Na Naleiser.
To tell the truth, few Hollywood musicals have managed to capture the public’s attention as enduringly as 1978’s Grease, an undisputed classic. Following the success of Saturday Night Fever, John Travolta starred in this film that injected a little fun into the dance features of the 1970s.
Based on the 1971 theatrical production of the same name created by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, Grease tells the story of Danny Zuko (John Travolta), a local drifter, who is only concerned with picking up girls and impressing his friends with anecdotes of a sensual nature. But unbeknownst to his buddies, Danny begins a relationship with sweet Sandy Olsson (Olivia Newton-John) and develops genuine feelings for her.
Friends and enemies get in the way of the romance, and as a result, misunderstandings between Sandy and Danny are not long in coming. The young lovers must overcome all sorts of obstacles to achieve their “happily ever after.”
Grease can be seen streaming on Netflix and Max.
West Side Story (1961)
Directed by: Robert Wise, Jerome Robbins.
Starring: Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Russ Tamblyn, Rita Moreno, George Chakiris.
Directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins, with a screenplay by Ernest Lehman, West Side Story is based on the 1957 hit Broadway musical and manages to convey the same emotion and drama as the theatrical performance.
In it, Tony (Richard Beymer) falls in love with the radiant Maria (Natalie Wood) despite the fact that the two come from opposite sides of a brutal turf war between the Sharks and the Jets. As you can imagine, betrayals and shifting loyalties are the order of the day as Tony and Maria try to find a way to be together despite their backgrounds.
Over the decades, West Side Story has been considered to embody the essence of the classic Hollywood musical and laid the foundation for excellence in its genre. Notably, the production inspired by William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet won 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Direction.
The dancing may be just one part of West Side Story, but the choreography tells a story just as powerful as the music and dialogue.
West Side Story is available streaming on Max, The Roku Channel, Hoopla, Tubi TV, Pluto TV, Freevee, and Disney+.
Singin’ In The Rain (1952)
Directed by: Gene Kelly, Stanley Donen.
Starring: Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor, Debbie Reynolds, Jean Hagen, Millard Mitchell, Cyd Charisse.
Directed, choreographed and starring big screen legend Gene Kelly, Singin’ In The Rain takes place in the late 1920s, when Hollywood undergoes a radical change with the advent of sound.
The plot revolves around Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly), a silent film star, trying to adapt to the world of talkies. Aided by his friend Cosmo Brown (Donald O’Connor), Don pursues the magnetic Kathy Selden (Debbie Reynolds) and courts her with lively song-and-dance routines that have gone down in history.
Singin’ In The Rain is much more than an outstanding display of dance, offering equal parts humor and heart. The film was a modest success when it was released. Today, however, it is often considered one of the best musical films ever made.
Singin’ in the Rain can be streamed at Max.