Are you someone who can never turn down an invitation to join people on the dance floor? Or someone who can’t stop their hips from swaying when your jam comes up? If the answer to those questions is yes, we can safely assume you’re a dancer at heart. Over the years there have been many movies that have dancing as the main theme with an engaging story around it. So if you are in the mood to watch something that will keep you hooked while also making you groove, look no further. We have compiled a list of the best dance movies that you can watch right now. Get ready, cos you’re in for a treat!
Table of Contents
Best Bollywood Dance Movies
It’s only fair to assume that a country obsessed with music and dance sequences in their movies ought to have a few dance movies worth watching. A few? Try many! Here are some of the best Bollywood dance movies that will leave you wanting more.
Dil To Pagal Hai
You might know this film for the love triangle shown between Shah Rukh Khan, Karisma Kapoor, and Madhuri Dixit. But there’s more to the film than just that! This dance movie portrays the love lives of the members of a musical troupe that performs dance-based musical plays. Watch this film for the brilliant dance sequences choreographed by Shiamak Davar!
Available on: YouTube, AppleTV
ABCD – Anybody Can Dance
ABCD is arguably one of the best dance movies to come out of Bollywood. The film’s cast comprises the best Indian reality TV dance talents along with Ganesh Acharya and Prabhudeva. A passionate and talented choreographer takes a group of skillful but disoriented students under his wing to turn them into the best dance group in the nation.
Available on: Zee5, Netflix
Taal
Helmed by Subhash Ghai, this dance movie starring Aishwarya Rai, Akshaye Khanna, and Anil Kapoor has some amazing songs by AR Rahman and equally incredible dance sequences. You’ve gotta watch this movie for Aishwarya’s dancing skills and the beautiful choreography of songs such as ‘Ishq Bina’, ‘Taal Se Taal’, and more.
Available on: Amazon Prime Video
Aaja Nachle
You will never be disappointed watching a dance-based movie with Madhuri Dixit as the lead! The actress has exceptional dancing skills and is the undisputed dancing queen of Bollywood. Aaja Nachle revolves around Dia, who lives in the US, having severed all ties to her hometown. Upon learning that her dance guru is on his deathbed and the dance institution where she got trained is being demolished, she puts together a performance to gain support from local townsfolk.
Available on: Amazon Prime Video
Happy New Year
Happy New Year is one of those unique Bollywood dance movies that also has an intriguing plot to go with the musical numbers. Charlie, played by Shah Rukh Khan, has drafted a masterful plan along with his associates to settle scores with someone who helped wrongfully imprison his father. As part of the plan, the crooks need to enter a dance competition. The catch? None of them know how to dance. Charlie seeks the help of a local dancer, played by Deepika Padukone, to help them get ready for the dance competition.
Available on: YouTube, AppleTV
Sagara Sangamam
Sagara Sangamam isn’t a Bollywood film, but one of the best South Indian movies based on dance! This 1983 Telugu classic undoubtedly deserves a spot in our list of the best Indian dance movies. Balakrishna, played by Kamal Hassan, is an outstanding dancer with mastery in several classical dance styles. His talent is provided exposure by Madhvi, a rich young woman, who helps him secure participation at a prestigious dance festival. However, two days before the event, Bala’s mother passes away, leaving him devastated.
Available on: Voot
Best Dance Movies Hollywood
It’s not just Bollywood that produces the most engaging dance movies. These dance-based movies from Hollywood are entertaining enough to keep you glued to your screens too!
Step Up 2 – The Streets
If you are a fan of dance movies, there is every chance you have binge-watched the Step Up movie series at some point. Andie West, a teenage orphan who lives with her aunt, is part of a notorious street crew called the 410. Tyler, Andie’s neighbour, asks her to audition for the Maryland School of Arts so that she can turn her life around. It is there that Andie realizes that dancing is her calling in life.
Available on: AppleTV, YouTube
La La Land
Music, comedy, drama, and some amazing dancing make this Oscar-winning film so enjoyable. Set in the city of Los Angeles, aspiring actress Mia and jazz pianist Sebastian dream to make it big in Hollywood someday. But when success eventually comes knocking at their doors, it threatens to break their love apart.
Available on: AppleTV, YouTube
Saturday Night Fever
This 1977 classic is what brought the disco culture to the mainstream. Tony, played by John Travolta, is struggling to come to terms with the reality of family life. As an escape, he frequents the local disco where his moves make him the star of the show wherever he goes. He falls in love with Stephanie, played by Karen Gorney, who helps turn his life around.
Available on: AppleTV
Black Swan
A dance movie wrapped with an intense storyline is what makes Black Swan a compelling watch. Nina, a prodigious ballerina gets her first big break when cast as a lead in a production of “Swan Lake”. However, she now faces competition from a new dancer in Lily who promises to be everything that Nina isn’t.
Available on: Disney+ Hotstar
Billy Elliot
While not specifically a Hollywood movie, Billy Elliot is a British coming-of-age film set in North East England during the UK miners’ strike. Young Billy Elliot, son of a coal miner, dreams of pursuing ballet as a career choice, hoping to turn professional one day. What stands in the way of his dreams is his father who wants to pursue something traditionally masculine and enrolls him to learn boxing at a nearby gym. Will Billy’s dream ever take flight? Watch to find out!
Best Dance Movies On Netflix
Streaming dance movies to the device of your choice has never been easier. Thanks to Netflix, you can now watch these amazing dance-based movies anytime and anywhere.
Yeh Ballet
Yeh Ballet is a heartwarming tale of two young, gifted dancers and the prejudice they face for wanting to pursue the elegant dance form of ballet. Nishu and Asif, two gifted but underprivileged teens in Mumbai are spotted by a ballet master who wants to help them realize their dancing dreams.
Into The Beat
Into the Beat is one of the best dance movies on Netflix about a young talented dancer and the big predicament she finds herself in. Katya comes from a family of renowned ballet dancers and also has the ambition to continue the family tradition by becoming a ballerina herself. However, when she discovers the exciting new world of hip-hop, she is forced to choose between both genres.
ABCD 2
Also known as Anybody Can Dance 2, this film revolves around two childhood friends who form a dance troupe. After being accused of cheating on a reality show, they set out to regain their lost pride and glory.
Best Romantic Dance Movies
How do you make a dance-based movie better? Just sprinkle a little love story over it and you get the best of both worlds! These romantic dance movies are the perfect examples that the combination of the two works well.
Dirty Dancing
When talking about the best dance movies, it’s hard to look past Dirty Dancing. Johnny Castle, played by Patrick Swayze, is a dance instructor at the Catskills resort where Frances is vacationing with her family. Frances falls in love with Johnny in no time, mesmerized by his passion for dancing. However, Frances’ father utterly disapproves of their relationship causing a rift between the two.
Available on: Amazon Prime Video
West Side Story (2021)
Based on the renowned 1957 musical of the same name, the movie is an amazing visual experience with its vibrant dance numbers and catchy music. Tony and Maria are two teenagers in love, living it out on the Upper West Side in Manhattan. The neighbourhood however is a battleground for two gangs – the Sharks and the Jets, both wanting to stake their claim on the turf. With Tony and Maria both belonging to the opposing gangs, will their love be able to survive the war?
Available on: Disney+ Hotstar
Moulin Rouge!
Set in 1899, Moulin Rouge! revolves around Christian, a young writer, who travels to Paris to document the capital’s growing culture of drug abuse and prostitution. During his research, he visits Moulin Rouge, a nightclub that featured the most exotic dancers. He falls in love with Satine who was widely regarded as the star of the club. A jealous club patron Duke, who is also in love with Satine, completes the love triangle.
Available on: Disney+ Hotstar
Best Dance Movies On Amazon Prime
When it comes to dance movies, Amazon Prime has an impressive library of movies that fit the genre. All you need is a subscription and a bucket of popcorn to enjoy these movies.
In The Heights
Unsavi, a bodega owner in Washington Heights, dreams of one day saving enough money to go back to the Dominican Republic and revive his father’s business. His ladylove Vanessa works as a beautician next door who Unsavi is always trying to woo. Every day is a celebration on the streets of Heights with music, dance, and only positive vibes in the air.
Footloose (2011)
Footloose easily makes it to the list of the best dance movies on Amazon Prime. Life is hard for teenage Ren McCormack as he finds himself starting a new life in a city where rock-n-roll, as well as dancing, are illegal. He falls in love with local girl Ariel and vows to bring back music and dance to the town again.
Suspiria
Set in the 1970s, the story follows Susie, a young ballerina, who has left her home in the US to pursue her dream of learning dance at the renowned Helena Markos Dance Academy. She is welcomed to the school with news of an ex-student that had been found murdered. A series of unfortunate incidents leads Susie to believe that there is more than meets the eye.
Step Up : Revolution
The Step Up franchise is known to up the ante whenever it comes to dance movies. Step Up Revolution is the 4th movie in the series that revolves around Sean and Emily, both extraordinary dancers. Sean is the leader of a dance crew that is famous for its flash-mobs while Emily practices to become a professional. The plot thickens when it’s revealed that Sean’s crew is launching a protest against Emily’s dad who plans to redevelop the neighbourhood for financial gains.
Ready to watch these amazing dance movies?
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Featured Image: IMDb
