Forget the so-so acting and formulaic plots — there is a long and illustrious history of great dance moments captured on film. Be it Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire tap dancing, John Travolta doing the disco, Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Gray practicing lifts in the water, or Julia Stiles fusing ballet and hip hop, everyone has a favorite dance scene that they have tried to memorize and perform. After the jump, we have compiled our favorite dance scenes from film in chronological order. We’re willing to bet you won’t stay in your chair for long.
1. 42nd Street (1933)
2. Top Hat (1935)
Jump to 3:24 to see the breathtaking ballroom scene between Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers.
3. The Little Colonel (1935)
4. Swing Time (1936)
5. The Red Shoes (1948)
6. Singing in the Rain (1952)
7. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)
8. It’s Always Fair Weather (1955)
9., 10., & 11. West Side Story (1961)
12. Mary Poppins (1964)
13. The Sound of Music (1965)
14. The Turning Point (1977)
15. Saturday Night Fever (1977)
16. Grease (1978)
17. Fame (1980)
18. Annie (1982)
19. Flashdance (1983)
20. Footloose (1984)
21. White Nights (1985)
22. A Chorus Line (1985)
23. Girls Just Want To Have Fun (1985)
24. Dirty Dancing (1987)
25. Strictly Ballroom (1992)
26. Pulp Fiction (1994)
27. Showgirls (1995)
28. Center Stage (2000)
29. Moulin Rouge (2001)
30. Chicago (2002)
31. Billy Elliot (2000)
32. Save the Last Dance (2001)
33. You Got Served (2004)
34. Stomp the Yard (2007)
35. Slumdog Millionaire (2008)