Dance in film

Purpose of the list

This article lists movies featuring recognizable dance forms, demonstrating them, shedding light on ther origin, or being the base of a plot.

This article is not about Dance film, which is a separate genre. It is also not about Musical films, although they often contain significant amount of dancing. However they are a specific form of art in itself, therefore their listings generally pertain to the articles specifically related to the topic of musicals. This by no means prevent musicals from including here, but they are required to meet the outlined criteria. Fred Astaire's and Gene Kelly's filmographies may significantly contribute to these lists.

Movies with plot based on dance

• Assassination Tango (2002), starring Robert Duvall, Rubén Blades and Kathy Baker, directed by Robert Duvall
• Dance with Me (1998), starring Vanessa Williams and Chayanne. plot based on Latin dancing.
• Dirty Dancing (1987) - plot based on club/performance partner dancing
• The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle - about Vernon and Irene Castles.
• Shall We Dance? (1937) a Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers musical with lots of dance, including ballet, the most memorable being dance on roller skates.
• Shall We Dance? (1997) - plot based on ballroom dance in Japan (Dansu wo shimashô ka? (1996, Japan)).
• Strictly Ballroom - plot based on competitive ballroom dance.
• Dancers Movie starring Mikhail Baryshnikov, about a ballet company.
• White Nights Movie Starring Mikhail Baryshnikov about a Russian dancer who wants to defect
• Save the Last Dance 2000Movie starring Julia Stiles as a girl who wants to study as a professional dancer.
• Center Stage 2000 Movie about the students of the American Ballet Academy. Surprisingly true to life although poor script.
• Bring it On 2000 Movie starring Kirsten Dunst, about cheerleading.
• Tango (1998), starring Cecilia Narova and Mía Maestro, directed by Carlos Saura Here is an exciting video clip of this movie online
• The Red Shoes Film classic with dance editing far ahead of its time, starring Moira Shearer and based on the fairytale.
• The Tango Lesson (1997), starring Sally Potter and Pablo Verón, directed by Sally Potter
• Singin' in the Rain Movie starring Gene Kelly

Movies with memorable dance scenes

• Assassination Tango
• Flying Down to Rio - Carioca dance and more
• Never on Sunday - scenes of Greek line dancing.
• Scent of a Woman - Al Pacino as blind Colonel dances Argentine Tango.
• The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1921), Rudolph Valentino dancing Tango
• The Sound of Music - has a scene of Ländler danced; however choreographed in an American ballroom way, rather than in an authentic Austrian folk way.
• Zorba the Greek - the origin of Sirtaki.