Dance Movies?

[ShyDancer]

Does anyone know of any good ones that arent too popular or well known?
I love them and cant get enough, there are a few new ones on the way too ... Havana Nights which Im really looking forward to, and Shall We Dance? ..a remake starring Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez.

I have in my current collection....
Dirty Dancing
Flashdance
Footloose
Salsa
Center Stage
Strictly Ballroom

Know of any more I could add to it?

[pygmalion]

Check out dancersdreamland.com

More dance movies than you ever imagined could possibly exist. Really. Plus release dates for new movies coming to the theater and movies about to be released on DVD. An excellent site. :D

[TemptressToo]

Swing Kids (unless you don't like swing)
Save the Last Dance (ballet and um, urban/hiphop)
Pretty much anything involving the following actors/actresses...

Ann Miller--movies like "Easter Parade"
Fred Astaire
Ginger Rogers

Most of these older movies have some really good ballroom sequences and/or cute choreography from some of the best in the business.

And I LOVED Strictly Ballroom...I found it pretty funny. "You can't dance your own steps!"

[danceguy]

Isn't the Havana Nights movie premiering tonight? I'm there...now if I could only find a date to go with me...hmm...

SG

[pygmalion]

The web site says Feb 27. Unless there's a special sneak preview near you. I'll check my paper, but this weekend is not going to work for me at all. Tae Kwon Do tomorrow evening, salsa tomorrow night, garage sale Saturday morning, belt promotion Saturday afternoon, dance lesson Saturday evening. salsa Sunday night. Yikes! I'm busy until the 27th.

[SDsalsaguy]

Yes, DD's sight is probably the best source you can check out.

Just a few other thoughts though...

You list the upcoming remake of Shall we Dance? but not the original which was terific.

Also, in the subtitled genre, Dance of a Dream* (out of Hong Kong) is top, top notch. The dancing may not be the very best, but the job it does of capturing the lives and psychological elements of dancing is pure gold.

And, not subtitled but also set overseas, Billy Elliot.


[*Thanks to the long missing Pukpik for having loaned me this movie to check out]

[dancin_feet]

What about Fame? This is the movie that got me interested in dance. I could always relate to the dancers and musicians, but the actors didn't really klick for me.

And Leroy mmmmmm, can he move or what??

[pygmalion]

Oh my goodness! I saw an "Where are they now" TV show about him (on VH1, one of the US music networks)

Totally sad. He got into drugs, and now is trying to get his life together. He's living somewhere in Europe, doing dance/stage shows as an exotic dancer, parlaying his Fame experience into a decent living today. He doesn't look even remotely like the same person. Awful.

[dancin_feet]

Oh my goodness! I saw an "Where are they now" TV show about him (on VH1, one of the US music networks)

Totally sad. He got into drugs, and now is trying to get his life together. He's living somewhere in Europe, doing dance/stage shows as an exotic dancer, parlaying his Fame experience into a decent living today. He doesn't look even remotely like the same person. Awful.

Oh no! :o :shock: :cry:

[pygmalion]

Sad to say, yes, it's true. The artist's life is so hard. I'll try to find a link. VH1 may have that episode online, somewhere.

[pygmalion]

OMG! I googled him. Gene Anthony Ray (Leroy from Fame) died of a stroke November 19,2003. :cry: :cry:


I'm observing a moment of silence in his memory. May he rest in peace. :cry:

[dancin_feet]

RIP to Gene, my initial inspiration to dance. :cry:

[pygmalion]

He and the rest of the Fame crew inspired me and all my crazy performing arts high school friends. He will be missed. :cry: :cry:

[danceguy]

The web site says Feb 27. Unless there's a special sneak preview near you. I'll check my paper, but this weekend is not going to work for me at all. Tae Kwon Do tomorrow evening, salsa tomorrow night, garage sale Saturday morning, belt promotion Saturday afternoon, dance lesson Saturday evening. salsa Sunday night. Yikes! I'm busy until the 27th.

I guess my date with Pygmalion is out of the question then! :P

Swing Kitten? Salsachinita? Why don't any of you live a little closer!?!?!?! :oops:

Ahem...anyway I do recall one of my dance teachers saying it was playing today...but I do live in CA so maybe its premiering on a different day on the East coast.

Aha! I just checked with our local cinema...and its playing tomorrow at 7:30 pm, i am there, date or no!

Hmm...a date would be nice though...I'll have to see if any of the cuties in my Salsa class would like to go with me. :wink:

[ShyDancer]

Thanks everyone!

I didnt realise Havana Nights was coming out so soon there! Im jealous! There is still no word on when it will be released down here...probably a few months away....... but like everything else I will wait patiently until its released on DVD over there and have it shipped over! And yes its usually long before we even get wind of it down here!

I have been trying to get a hold of the original Shall We Dance, but nowhere here has it :?

I totally forgot about Fame! I have seen it..but a long time ago, Will have to go rent it out!

[TemptressToo]

I kind of lump Fame into the whole Broadway show section. There are lots of Broadway shows that are very dance oriented...you've got everything from Riverdance to Cats that include dancing.

Oh, I remember one we might want to add...

Newsies (I was so in love with Christian Bale).

[dancersdreamland]

Check out dancersdreamland.com

More dance movies than you ever imagined could possibly exist. Really. Plus release dates for new movies coming to the theater and movies about to be released on DVD. An excellent site. :D

:oops: :oops: :oops: Awww...THANKS!!!

[dancersdreamland]

I have been trying to get a hold of the original Shall We Dance, but nowhere here has it :?

Have you checked your local library, yet? I actually stumbed upon the original "Shall We Dance" while browsing through my libraries movies...it's worth a try.

[DanceMentor]

I've got a membership going with http://www.netflix.com and I've been pretty happy with everything.

[dancersdreamland]

Yes, DD's sight is probably the best source you can check out. THANK YOU!!!! :banana:

Dance Movie Searchers
The direct link to the Main Movies section of the site is: http://www.dancersdreamland.com/movies.htm

Click on "Movie News" for the most recently released and coming soon movies.

Click on the various "Available on DVD/VHS" for movies that are now available.

Enjoy and please let me know if there are movies missing from the list! SD - I'll have to add "Dance of a Dream" next time I update.

[dancersdreamland]

Does anyone know of any good ones that arent too popular or well known?I have in my current collection....
Dirty Dancing
Flashdance
Footloose
Salsa
Center Stage
Strictly Ballroom

Know of any more I could add to it?

A few others you may want to try...
- Dance With Me (excellent ballroom)
- Girls Just Want To Have Fun (gotta love a young Sara Jessica Parker (Sex in the City), Shannon Doehrty (BH 90210))
- Honey (might still be in theaters...otherwise available later this year)
- Save the Last Dance (if you like Center Stage, you'll probably love this movie as well)
- Sing (don't let the title fool you...this is ALL dance)
- Tap (starring the late, great Gregory Hines)
- You Got Served (currently showing in theaters)

[pygmalion]

Tap had some great dance scenes in it. I actually saw that one in the movies long ago, and never since, so I don't remember all the details of what the movie was about. (I was on a date :oops: :lol: ) But the actors/dancers in it are legendary tap super stars, and it's definitely worth a look see. 8)

Edit: Don't, I repeat, don't expect there to be a plot for this movie. Even after many years, I remember that this movie had none. But it had some great dance scenes. And what is the little kid's name who plays in the movie? It won't come to me now, but he's a tap superstar on his own now, dreadlocks and all.

[pygmalion]

Ha! I found this at tapdance.org

Description: Gregory Hines, Sammy Davis, Jr. and some legendary hoofers star in a rousing dance showcase about a second-generation tapper and paroled jewel thief who's torn between the stage an returning to his lavish life of crime. A throwback to those classic MGM musical, costarring Suzzanne Douglas. Choreography by Henry LeTang and Gregory Hines. Written and directed by Nick Castle. 115 mins. (1989)


Comments: The sequence of tappers in the "Challenge" scene is: Arthur Duncan, Bunny Briggs, Jimmy Slyde, Steve Condos, Harold Nicholas, Sandman Sims and finally Sammy Davis, Jr. and Gregory Hines. The Shim Sham Girls in the nightclub scene are: Suzanne Douglas, Jane Goldberg, Dorothy Wasserman, Dianne Walker and Frances Neely. (PJC)]

The challenge scene is fabulous! Think all the legends of your favorite dance genre in one room and showing off for the pleasure of being able to. It's a must see. :D

[pygmalion]

Havana Nights premieres tomorrow. Anybody going?

[danceguy]

Yes! My Salsa class is having a little outing to go watch it together. I'm hoping for a little dancing in the lobby myself! :D

[etchuck]

I probably missed this but I was wondering if anyone has seen The Tango Lesson yet, and your thoughts about it?

[TemptressToo]

What about Chicago...I'd consider that a dance movie.

[pygmalion]

Yipes. Renee Zellweger was SO SKINNY in that movie. I heard she gained like forty pounds for Bridget Jones II. Should be inetersting to see her go from a size what? zero or two, I guess to an eight or ten. Hmm. The things these people do for their art.


I loved the tango scene where all the women were singing their laments about what got them put in jail. Great dancing, and acting too, if you ask me.

[dancin_feet]

What about a Chorus Line? Loved that movie, seen it on stage as well.

I thought that Catherine Zeta-Jones really outperformed Rene Zellweger in Chicago. Wasn't even a close contest for me as to who was the best performer. But then, that's my opinion...... Others obviously thought differently seeing as Rene got an award for that movie. :?

[Pacion]

Catherine Zeta Jones got an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Maybe if she had played the role Renee Zellweger played, she would have won the Oscar for Best Actress there too? I don't understand exactly how a role is decided as "Best Actress" or "Supporting Actress". There have been times when I thought a role was the main character only for it to be nominated as "Supporting" and vice versa. Either way, CZJ still won an Oscar for the role she played :D

As for what actors/actresses do for their art? Yes! From recollection CZJ had just had her first baby, was like 40-50lbs overweight and she lost that for Chicago. Then we also had Signorney Weaver and Demi Moore (I think) who shaved off their hair for the roles they were going to play at the time :oops:I gather that Linda Hamilton did several months of combat type training, including how to use some of those guns/rocket launchers she used in Terminator (I believe the movie was). Therefore, you can see her physical progression from "soft" to a very muscle bound one. Halle Berry also had intense training for her role as Jinx in the James Bond movie. I have forgotten who it was, but there was another actress whose character was required to horse ride. She had never been on a horse before. She says she lied, got the role and then worked very hard to become a competent horse rider. For them, it is "part of the job" if they want to get the roles.

[dancersdreamland]

I probably missed this but I was wondering if anyone has seen The Tango Lesson yet, and your thoughts about it?

I LOVED this movie. It bounes back and forth between three different languages and can at times be difficult to follow, but the passion of the dance is FANTASTIC!!!!

[TemptressToo]

I went and saw Dirty Dancing Havana Nights last night with some of my dance buddies. The dancing was pretty awesome...the plot was not. And that last very cheesy line, "I'm taking you with me, I'm keeping you here with me..." or whatever, gag me with a straw.

And Patrick Swayze...looked so OLD. Of course, he is old...but still.

Nothing will ever compare to the original. :wink:

[pygmalion]

Has anybody seen this one? Dance of a Dream. Acted in Cantonese and Mandarin, subtitled in traditional Chinese and English. The review looks pretty bad, movie-wise, but it supposedly has a bunch of dancing in it.

http://www.nixflix.com/reviews/danceofadream.htm

[SDsalsaguy]

I've seen this movie and, actually, I really like it!

If you watch it for the dancing itself you will be disappointed, but as far as capturing many of the ongoing subtexts often involved--in dancing, dance studios, and dance instruction--it is very insightful.

[pygmalion]

I wonder if my local Blackbuster has it. Since they changed management a couple years ago, the foreign films have all but disappeared. :cry:

[dancersdreamland]

Has anybody seen this one? Dance of a Dream. Acted in Cantonese and Mandarin, subtitled in traditional Chinese and English. The review looks pretty bad, movie-wise, but it supposedly has a bunch of dancing in it.

http://www.nixflix.com/reviews/danceofadream.htm

Never heard of it...I'll have to see what I can find out and add it to my movie list. Thanks for the tip!

[pygmalion]

Cool. 8)

Hi DD. Long time, no see. I hope all's well. :D

[dancin_feet]

Oldie but one of my favourites is Brigadoon with Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse.

[dancersdreamland]

Cool. 8)

Hi DD. Long time, no see. I hope all's well. :D

Thanks, pygmalion...all is well. Just hecticly busy with life. I'm trying to make more time to get to the Forums and to dancing. It just doesn't seem to be working that way. Oh well...time will eventually sort itself out.

BTW...happy belated bday!

[pygmalion]

:kissme: Thanks DD. See you soon. :D 8)

[ShyDancer]

Anyone seen Burn The Floor??

I just bought it on DVD and well...WOW!!!

I was blown away. It was awesome, thats what I want to do! I want to dance like them....maybe Im too old now, I would have had to start dancing at 2 with the coordination I have!

And I have found myself a new love...Jason Roditis (PWOAR! ) :oops: :oops:
Now I really cant wait for the World Ten Dance, He and his partner are doin the floorshow :D

[peachexploration]

Anyone seen Burn The Floor??

I just bought it on DVD and well...WOW!!!

I was blown away. It was awesome, thats what I want to do! I want to dance like them....maybe Im too old now, I would have had to start dancing at 2 with the coordination I have!

And I have found myself a new love...Jason Roditis (PWOAR! ) :oops: :oops:
Now I really cant wait for the World Ten Dance, He and his partner are doin the floorshow :D

Yes, I have it as well. My favorite is the Samba at the end. :D

[dancersdreamland]

Anyone seen Burn The Floor??

I absolutely LOVE this show!!! My favorite dance is the second number...a kind of funked out street dance cha-cha...I think.

Anyway, if someone reading this hasn't yet seen Burn th Floor....go get it RIGHT NOW!!!! You'll love it.

...

....

...What are you still doing reading this? Go get the movie! :D

[pygmalion]

I confess I haven't seen it yet. :oops:

And I'm still sitting here, typing, not running out to rent the DVD. I truly ought to be ashamed of myself. :oops: :lol:

[dancingdragon]

Anyone seen Burn The Floor??

I just bought it on DVD and well...WOW!!!

I was blown away. It was awesome, thats what I want to do! I want to dance like them....maybe Im too old now, I would have had to start dancing at 2 with the coordination I have!

Yeah, I fell the same way :cry: I've seen that DVD, it's awesome! My BF is addicted to it, he watches it at least once a week. I love the part where they dance with the clothes frames thingees, it's kinda spooky and weird at the same time.

Now I really cant wait for the World Ten Dance, [Jason] and his partner are doin the floorshow :D

Yesterday at Ballroom class the idea was mooted of travelling over to Melbourne for that. One of the instructors is really keen to see it. It's in mid-December right? It sounds amazing. Maybe I will see you there ShyDancer! I've always wanted to go to Melbourne.

[dancin_feet]

Burn the floor is the best. I even saw the show when it came out here. Absolutely brilliant. I watch it when I need dancing inspiration .......

[ShyDancer]

Yesterday at Ballroom class the idea was mooted of travelling over to Melbourne for that. One of the instructors is really keen to see it. It's in mid-December right? It sounds amazing. Maybe I will see you there ShyDancer! I've always wanted to go to Melbourne.

Melbourne is a great place 8) 8)

It would be a great thing to see, Im pretty sure MadamSamba said she wanted to go too.

There is a website somewhere with all the info....

ok here www.worldchampionshipaustralia.com

You can check out the event travel site too..there is a link on the WCA page, for great hotel and ticket deals.


Might see you in Melb :wink:

[ShyDancer]

I confess I haven't seen it yet. :oops:

And I'm still sitting here, typing, not running out to rent the DVD. I truly ought to be ashamed of myself. :oops: :lol:

I hope you have gone out and rented (if not bought :wink: ) it by the time you read this!
You are truly missing out on a wonderful show. :D :D

I have been checking the website regulary in the hope that the show returns to Australia! Ill be the 1st in line to buy tickets 8)

[pygmalion]

Ehem... :oops: :oops:

[MacMoto]

Has anyone here seen the DVD of Latin Madness the off-Broadway show?

[ShyDancer]

No, havent heard of it...

...look out google here I come!

[MacMoto]

Latin Madness (musical) webiste: w w w.latin-madness.com/latinmadness2.htm

I saw the info on DVD at w w w.salsafever.co.uk/shopping/, but you can also buy it from the Latin Madness site and also Descarga Latina Dance Company's website.

[pygmalion]

Cool. Gotta check it out. 8)