Featuring high-energy choreographed scenes and upbeat musical numbers,everyone loves a gooddance movie. Although the late 1970s may have begun the movement, ’80s dance movies perfected the subgenre and thrust it into the mainstream. The trend hit its peak in the mid-’80s when dance films weren’t just dominating the big screens, but also the airwaves. Some of the decade’s best-selling albums were dance movie soundtracks, and some would go on to win major awards at the Oscars and Grammys.
While the 1980s were nearly oversaturated with dance movies, there are still some that have stood the test of time. Influencing not only cinema but ‘80s culture, the best ‘80s dance movies are the ones that still have fans singing along and dancing ‘til they drop.
Bringing together musical film legend Gene Kelly and singer Olivia Newton-John,Xanaduis a musical fantasy adventure that defined ‘80s music and culture. Newton-John plays Kira, a muse of Olympus sent to Earth to inspire Sonny (Michael Beck), an artist, and the two of them strike up a forbidden romance.
The film’s soundtrack album was a huge hit, earning double platinum status.
WhileXanaduwas panned by critics and declared a box office failure, the film’s soundtrack album was a huge hit, earning double platinum status.
Kelly “Special K” Bennett is a classically trained dancer who meets breakdancers Ozone and Turbo in Venice Beach. The three decide to start their own dance trio, as Turbo and Ozone teach Kelly their special set of moves. They later enter into a dance competition and blow away the judges with their nontraditional style.
Although the script didn’t impress the critics,the dance scenes inBreakin’are mind-blowing, and the film helped introduce breakdancing to the general public as a legitimate style of dancingthat takes serious skill and commitment.
The sequel toSaturday Night Fever,Staying Alivestars John Travolta, reprising his role as Tony Manero. Now living in Manhattan, Tony hopes to make it big as a Broadway dancer but soon finds himself in a love triangle with his girlfriend, Jackie, and another dancer named Laura. Though the movie was critically panned, it still managed to break box office records, and the soundtrack earned both Golden Globe and Grammy nominations.
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Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo
Cast
Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo follows the dance crew from the original film as they unite to save a community center from a greedy developer’s plans to replace it with a shopping mall. This sequel continues to explore the vibrant street dance culture and community spirit of the 1980s.
The sequel to the film released just months earlier,Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloocoined a modern pop culture lexicon termand created a celebrated cliché story concept at the same time. The three core breakdancers Special K, Ozone, and Turbo return, going up against a corporate developer who wants to demolish a community rec center to build a shopping mall. Complete with dance battles and a happenin’ hip-hop soundtrack,Electric Boogaloois an icon that must be seen to be believed.
Featuring award-winning songs (“Say You, Say Me” by Lionel Richie and “Separate Lives” by Phil Collins),White Nightscombines ballet and tap dancewith tense political drama. Russian dancer Nikolai ‘Kolya’ Rodchenko (Mikhail Baryshnikov), who defected to the U.S., finds himself trapped when his plane crashes in Siberia. He is forced to partner with tap dancer Raymond Greenwood (Gregory Hines), who defected to the Soviet Union. Together, the two men team up to plan their escape as they form a lasting friendship.
Not only does the film feature impressive dance performances from Hines and Baryshnikov, but their acting is also top-notch.
Aliens, tentacled monsters, and rock ‘n’ roll —Voyage of the Rock Alienshas it all. A group of aliens lands on Earth in a guitar-shaped spaceship in search of rock and roll, and naturally, they find it at a local high school. The alien leader, ABCD, falls head over heels in love with Didi, but Didi’s rocker boyfriend Frankie won’t stand for his interstellar shenanigans.This musical B-movie spoof is hilariously and delightfully absurd, featuring tons of ‘80s fashion and rocking ‘80s music.
In this sequel to the hit 1978 musical, Stephanie, leader of the Pink Ladies (a game Michelle Pfeiffer), falls for a mysterious motorcyclist with a hidden identity known as Cool Rider (Michael Caulfield). It turns out that the Cool Rider is actually a British exchange student, Michael, who is in love with Stephanie but fears she won’t love him for who he is. Although the movie initially failed to live up to its predecessor,Grease 2had some awesome songs, andhas since gained a large cult following over the years, with newfound appreciation for the campy movie musical.
Though she might be “just a steel town girl,” Alex Owens (Jennifer Beals) has big dreams of being a dancer. She hopes to attend a local prestigious dance academy, but her lack of experience and education bar the way. She falls in love with Nick, the owner of the steel mill where she works, who encourages her to pursue her goals.
Although critics didn’t love the movie,Flashdancegave the music world some of the most defining songs of a generation, and one of popular cinema’s most memorable visuals in a scene with Alex being doused by a bucket of water.
12Tap (1989)
Directed by Nick Castle
Yetanother dance movie on the list with legendary tapper Gregory Hines,Tapis a riveting drama that showcases the actor’s amazing talent. Just released from prison for burglary, Max Washington (Hines) struggles with what direction his life will now take. He reunites with his old flame, Amy, whose father, Little Mo, runs the dance studio that was once owned by Max’s father. Also featuring Sammy Davis, Jr. in his final feature film,Tapshows Hines at his best, both in his dance skills and acting ability.
Named for the popular Cyndi Lauper song, this dance movie stars Sarah Jessica Parker and Helen Hunt in one of their earliest film roles.Parker is Janey, the daughter of a strict military father, who secretly enters a TV dance competition. With the help of her friend, Lynne, Janey sneaks out to practice with her dance partner, Jeff, with whom she falls in love. The movie is a fun nostalgic trip for Gen-Xers, and the upbeat soundtrack has viewers wanting to dance along.
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