Movies About Dance

From Directors: Stanley Donen, Gene Kelly, starring Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds, Jean Hagen
Rated G

Singin' in the Rain is a musical romantic comedy from 1952 directed by Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly. Set in 1920s Hollywood, the plot follows the relationship between a famous silent film star, Don Lockwood (played by Kelly), and aspiring actress Kathy Selden (Debbie Reynolds). When the studio decides to transition to "talkies," Don and Kathy must work together to make the transition a success. Together, they must overcome obstacles such as Don's shallow, self-centered girlfriend (played by Jean Hagen) and the studio's reluctance to embrace the new technology. Along the way, they are supported by Don's friend Cosmo (Donald O'Connor) and a chorus of singing and dancing extras. Despite the odds, Don and Kathy's collaboration produces a popular and critically acclaimed film, and the two finally find love and happiness in the end.

From Darren Aronofsky, starring Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, Winona Ryder
Rated R

Black Swan is a psychological thriller directed by Darren Aronofsky. It tells the story of a ballet dancer, Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman), who is pushed to her mental and physical limits when she is cast as the lead in a production of Swan Lake. Struggling with her insecurities and an overbearing mother, Nina must fight to keep her grip on reality as she attempts to perfect her technique and become the perfect ballerina. As she draws closer to opening night, Nina finds herself in a dangerous battle with a mysterious rival, and her own psyche, as she tries to become the Black Swan. This film explores the incredible dedication and commitment needed to reach the highest levels of achievement, and the cost of striving for perfection.

From Mark Sandrich, starring Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Edward Everett Horton, Erik Rhodes
Rated Not Rated

Top Hat is a romantic comedy film released in 1935, directed by Mark Sandrich and starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The story follows a dancer named Jerry Travers, who accidentally follows a beautiful woman, Dale Tremont, to a London hotel. Dale believes Jerry is the guest she is expecting, millionaire Horace Hardwick, and the two eventually fall in love. Meanwhile, Horace's jealous wife Madge discovers Jerry and Dale's relationship and hires a private detective to investigate them. During the course of the film, Jerry and Dale must dodge Madge's attempts to keep them apart and eventually prove to her that he is not Horace. Along the way, Jerry and Dale perform a number of dance numbers that have since become iconic. In the end, Madge sees the error of her ways and relinquishes her attempt to keep Jerry and Dale apart.

From Stephen Daldry, starring Jamie Bell, Julie Walters, Jean Heywood, Jamie Draven
Rated R

Billy Elliot is a 2000 British dance drama film directed by Stephen Daldry, about a young boy named Billy Elliot (Jamie Bell) who discovers his interest and passion for dance in the face of a family struggling with the financial hardship of the British miners' strike in 1984. After defying his father's wishes, Billy enrolls in a prestigious ballet school, where he discovers a talent he never knew he had. With the guidance of his dance teacher, Mrs. Wilkinson (Julie Walters), Billy struggles to overcome his family's objections and his own inner conflict to fulfil his dream of becoming a professional dancer. Along the way, he finds an unexpected connection and inspiration in his boxing teacher, Mr. Braithwaite (Gary Lewis). With the help of both his mentors, Billy works to prove his own self-worth and redefine the idea of success.

From Levan Akin, starring Levan Gelbakhiani, Bachi Valishvili, Ana Javakishvili, Kakha Gogidze
Rated Not Rated

And Then We Danced is a 2019 Swedish drama film directed by Levan Akin. The film follows Merab, a passionate dancer whose life is thrown into disarray when a talented new dancer, Irakli, joins his traditional Georgian dance troupe. As Merab and Irakli battle for the lead role, their friendship and love develops against the backdrop of Georgian society and family traditions. Merab must fight his own deep-rooted beliefs while navigating a forbidden and socially unacceptable attraction. The film explores themes of self-discovery and identity in a culture that seeks to stifle them. Ultimately, Merab must decide between a safe path for his future and one that risks everything but could bring him true freedom.

From Baz Luhrmann, starring Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor, John Leguizamo, Jim Broadbent
Rated PG-13

Moulin Rouge! is a romantic musical set in the Montmartre Quarter of Paris, France in 1899. The lead character, Christian, is a young writer from England who has come to Paris to pursue a career in the Bohemian world of Montmartre. He meets and falls in love with a beautiful courtesan, Satine, who works at the Moulin Rouge cabaret. They are both desperate to escape their destinies, but their love is forbidden by the Moulin Rouge's ruthless impresario, Harold Zidler. The story follows Christian and Satine's struggle to find love amidst the decadence of the cabaret and their efforts to escape the corrupting influences of the Paris underworld.

From Directors: Jerome Robbins, Robert Wise, starring Natalie Wood, George Chakiris, Richard Beymer, Russ Tamblyn
Rated Approved

West Side Story is a musical movie directed by Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise, released in 1961. It is an adaptation of the classic musical of the same name, and tells the story of two rival gangs in 1950s New York City – the Jets, a white gang, and the Sharks, a Puerto Rican gang. The story follows Tony (Richard Beymer), a former Jet, and Maria (Natalie Wood), the sister of the Sharks' leader, Bernardo (George Chakiris). The two fall in love, but their newfound relationship only furthers the violence between the two gangs. The film culminates in a dramatic dance-off before Tony is killed by Bernardo in a fight. The movie features classic songs from the musical such as “Maria,” “Tonight,” “Somewhere” and “America.” West Side Story was nominated for 11 Academy Awards and won 10, including Best Picture.

From George Stevens, starring Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Victor Moore, Helen Broderick
Rated Passed

Swing Time is a classic romantic comedy directed by George Stevens in 1936. It stars Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers as two performers who are in love but can't seem to make it work due to their own issues. Astaire plays a gambler who needs to make $25,000 in order to marry the woman he loves. He meets Rogers, a dancer and musician, who helps him get the money. However, their love is tested when Astaire falls in love with another woman. In the end, their love prevails and they are married. The film features the classic song "The Way You Look Tonight" and is considered one of the best Astaire and Rogers films of the era.

From Noah Baumbach, starring Greta Gerwig, Mickey Sumner, Adam Driver, Michael Zegen
Rated R

From Marilyn Agrelo, starring Heather Berman, Emma Therese Biegacki, Eva Carrozza, Evangelina Carrozzo
Rated PG

From Stanley Donen, starring Jane Powell, Howard Keel, Jeff Richards, Russ Tamblyn
Rated Approved

From Randal Kleiser, starring John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing, Jeff Conaway
Rated PG

From Vincente Minnelli, starring Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron, Oscar Levant, Georges Guétary
Rated Passed

From Baz Luhrmann, starring Paul Mercurio, Tara Morice, Bill Hunter, Pat Thomson
Rated PG

From Rob Marshall, starring Renée Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, Taye Diggs
Rated PG-13

From Alan Brown, starring Ryan Steele, Reed Luplau, Catherine Miller, Kimiye Corwin
Rated TV-14

From Emile Ardolino, starring Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey, Jerry Orbach, Cynthia Rhodes
Rated PG-13

From Bob Fosse, starring Shirley MacLaine, John McMartin, Ricardo Montalban, Sammy Davis Jr.
Rated G

From Herbert Ross, starring Anne Bancroft, Shirley MacLaine, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Tom Skerritt
Rated PG

From Michael Damian, starring Jane Seymour, Thomas Doherty, Kika Markham, Ace Bhatti
Rated PG

From John Badham, starring John Travolta, Karen Lynn Gorney, Barry Miller, Joseph Cali
Rated R

From Luca Guadagnino, starring Chloë Grace Moretz, Tilda Swinton, Doris Hick, Malgorzata Bela
Rated R

From Taylor Hackford, starring Mikhail Baryshnikov, Gregory Hines, Jerzy Skolimowski, Helen Mirren
Rated PG-13

From Nicholas Hytner, starring Amanda Schull, Ethan Stiefel, Sascha Radetsky, Christine Dunham
Rated PG-13

From Liz Friedlander, starring Antonio Banderas, Rob Brown, Yaya DaCosta, Alfre Woodard
Rated PG-13