Did A TV Show or Movie Spark Your Interest In Dancing?

[Phil Owl]

Did any of us here start dancing under the influence of a movie or TV show?

[dTas]

Nope! way back when it was my GF at the time that got me started. she's long gone now but the dancing lives on! :D

[Sagitta]

Nope. I don't remember anymore, but definitely not a movie or TV show... :oops: :)

[madmaximus]

Many many moons ago, I saw championship ballroom dancing (not sure anymore if it was the PBS thing). I was so astounded at seeing an exquisitely performed Natural Telemark (the change in position and direction was such a fascination) that I decided to take some lessons. Had a long hiatus, then returned to it.

madmaximus

[motardmom]

I was motivated by an easy Phys Ed credit in high school. :lol: :lol:

[Angelo]

No

[Nammerz]

I have to admit that the movie "Swingers" helped influance me to take lessons. It's not really a dance movie, but one of the ways the main star of the movie eventually gets the girl is by dancing with her. All his friends that watched had no idea he knew any of that stuff and they were impressed also.

It's kind of been an inspiration for me in a couple of ways. I guess I'm shooting for the same sort of thing because I keep my dancing as a secret from my friends also and would rather surprise them if it ever came up. Oh, and get the girl of course.

[Swingolder]

If only I looked like and could move like "the girl in the yellow dress" in Contact - which got my vote. It is an excellent show!

[pygmalion]

Yes and yes and yes. American Bandstand when I was little, followed by Championship Ballroom dancing on PBS for years, made wanting to learn high on my wish list. The movie that pushed me over the edge (in a good way,) was Shall We Dance -- the original. The quickstep had me literally up and dancing around the house, even though I couldn't. :oops: That's what decided me... that, and the fact that I identified with the geeky protagonist. If he could do it, why not me?

[Danoo]

nope
i started by a simple birthday party :lol: :lol:

[Lucretia]

A night at Nice (French Riviera) gave me the idea to learn Salsa. :oops:

A two meter tall black man.
With shoulders wide as the door of a barn
With a bright sparkling smile
brought me up on the dancefloor.

I was in heaven
he danced like a god.

I can now see why he dumped me after one dance :lol:

It took me six whole years before I started the project.....

/luc

[Dance.teacher.in.training]

I always loved dancing when i was a little girl, just liked making a spectacle of myself!

But saying that Dirty Dancing made me want to start learning other styles, Latin, Ballroom etc, i liked the fact I could have a handsome bloke swishing me off my feet!

[bordertangoman]

THE TANGO LESSON - film by Sally Potter and featuring Pablo Veron

[DWise1]

There should have been a "None" in addition to the "Other" choice.

I was feeling the need for something that my wife and I could do together. Combined with a company Christmas party we went to five months prior where everybody else was out dancing and I was stuck sitting all alone at our table. We along with my wife's colleagues were at a Cuban restaurant because a guy they all knew was one of the flamenco dancers. Overheard her talking with a friend and mentioning that she had "always" wanted to learn salsa. Since I had just read in our company newsletter that they had started teaching salsa right after work, I piped in with that news and suggested we try it and she agreed.

Mind you, this was after I had a well-confirmed 25-year reputation of being completely devoid of any sense of rhythm and completely incapable of ever possibly learning to dance. Now four years later I've been called a "natural-born dancer".

[elegance]

"The Sound of Music"!

I didn't take up dancing until much later, but that sowed the seeds. The image of couples dancing around a ballroom...

[Big10]

Any fans of "Soul Train" around here? I remember being a kid in the 1970s and really looking forward to the recording artists and the dancers. My parents never did much dancing around the house (actually I don't think I ever saw them dance in public until my 30th birthday party a few :P years back) -- so that was my first consistent exposure to any sort of dancing.

[and123]

Did any of us here start dancing under the influence of a movie or TV show?

I loved to watch Dance Fever, and worshipped the Solid Gold dancers. Didn't actually start ballroom/latin training until almost 20 years later though.

Melissa
(unlurking) 8)

[Spitfire]

Actually yes. I had wanted to do so anyway, but Urban Cowboy hastened my desire to learn country swing which lead to my interest in other dances as I was doing so.

[pygmalion]

Did any of us here start dancing under the influence of a movie or TV show?

I loved to watch Dance Fever, and worshipped the Solid Gold dancers. Didn't actually start ballroom/latin training until almost 20 years later though.

Melissa
(unlurking) 8)

Hi and123!!!! Welcome.

Solid gold! I'd forgotten all about that show. Good stuff. The dancers were incredible, if I remember correctly. The only part I didn't like was when the hosts sang. Neither Dionne Warwick nor Marilyn McCoo appealed. *shakes head*

[Phil Owl]

Did any of us here start dancing under the influence of a movie or TV show?

I loved to watch Dance Fever, and worshipped the Solid Gold dancers. Didn't actually start ballroom/latin training until almost 20 years later though.

Melissa
(unlurking) 8)

Hi and123!!!! Welcome.

Solid Gold! I'd forgotten all about that show. Good stuff. The dancers were incredible, if I remember correctly. The only part I didn't like was when the hosts sang. Neither Dionne Warwick nor Marilyn McCoo appealed. *shakes head*

Holy vocal horrors Batman!!! Yup I remember Solid Gold too. The dancers sure were good but like you said, the host vocalizing, SHUDDER, William Shatner could do better (at least it would've been funny).

As for me, it was the original Dance Fever that was the final prodding to get me to take dance lessons.

[Phil Owl]

Did any of us here start dancing under the influence of a movie or TV show?

I loved to watch Dance Fever, and worshipped the Solid Gold dancers. Didn't actually start ballroom/latin training until almost 20 years later though.

Melissa
(unlurking) 8)


Welcome to our world and123!! It was Dance Fever that got me to take dancing lessons, circa 1984, a decision I have NEVER regretted!

Here's a couple websites I just found about the Solid Gold dancers:

http://www.sgdanceconnection.com/

http://www.geocities.com/sgdancers/sgdancers.html

[pygmalion]

Holy vocal horrors Batman!!! Yup I remember Solid Gold too. The dancers sure were good but like you said, the host vocalizing, SHUDDER, William Shatner could do better (at least it would've been funny).

:lol: :lol: :lol: William Shatner? I do believe his rendition of Moon River is the worst of all time. :lol: :lol:

[pygmalion]

Any fans of "Soul Train" around here? I remember being a kid in the 1970s and really looking forward to the recording artists and the dancers. My parents never did much dancing around the house (actually I don't think I ever saw them dance in public until my 30th birthday party a few :P years back) -- so that was my first consistent exposure to any sort of dancing.

Soul Train was THE event of Saturday afternoons when I was little. (My big brother and sisters were very corny people. :lol: :lol: 8) )

Seriously, though, they watched the dance moves, the styles, the haircuts, the soul train line, you name it. Soul Train was HUGE, culturally, and in the dance world -- at least my little corner of it, at the time. 8)

Whatever happened to Don Cornelius, btw? He was gone for quite a while, with some mysterious illness, if I remember correctly. Then along came a bunch of guest hosts, then permanent hosts. No word on good old mister "love, peace and soul!!" He was the man! 8)

[Phil Owl]

Any fans of "Soul Train" around here? I remember being a kid in the 1970s and really looking forward to the recording artists and the dancers. My parents never did much dancing around the house (actually I don't think I ever saw them dance in public until my 30th birthday party a few :P years back) -- so that was my first consistent exposure to any sort of dancing.

Soul Train was THE event of Saturday afternoons when I was little. (My big brother and sisters were very corny people. :lol: :lol: 8) )

Seriously, though, they watched the dance moves, the styles, the haircuts, the soul train line, you name it. Soul Train was HUGE, culturally, and in the dance world -- at least my little corner of it, at the time. 8)

Whatever happened to Don Cornelius, btw? He was gone for quite a while, with some mysterious illness, if I remember correctly. Then along came a bunch of guest hosts, then permanent hosts. No word on good old mister "love, peace and soul!!" He was the man! 8)

Try here:

http://www.soultrain.com/st/story.html

[pygmalion]

Hmm. No mention of what kept him away from the show for a while (mid to late seventies, if I remember correctly) but at least he's alive and well and successful. He was definitely the man!! Front man back then, but behind the scenes and doing well, extremely well, it seems. Good. 8)

[DancePoet]

When I was young I enjoyed watching ice dancing comps featured during Olympic coverage. I vaguely recall seeing at least one dance comp on T.V., probably PBS, and watching Fred Astaire, Ginger Rodgers, and Gene Kelly in some old films. I also enjoyed Gregory Hines tap dancing in White Knights. And the one that really did it for me was Scent of a Woman where Al Pacino does a tango (I look back now and it wasn't that good), but then I procrastinated for a long time. The Tango Lesson and Assassination Tango inspire me now. Along with both "Shall We Dance Movies.

[chachachacat]

Yes! "Top Hat " with the one and only Fred Astaire!! And Ginger Rogers in that fabulous feather gown! I saw it on the big screen as a youngster, and was enthralled. That's for Ballroom dancing.
As for ballet, I think I was born to dance. I had little red and yellow 45's of the Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy from Nutcracker. My mom took ballet, and as soon as I saw my first ballet as a tot, I loved it and couldn't wait to be a ballerina.
Sadly, I couldn't start ballet ($) until high shcool, so I was never a ballerina.
But I have realized my Ginger Rogers dream, and even had my own Fred Astaire for one wonderful decade.

[Swingolder]

I guess I am surprised there aren't more votes for Contact! I know a lot of people don't have the chance to see Broadway shows, but I first saw it on PBS during one of their pledge weeks a couple of years ago. Don't ever miss a chance to see it!

[chachachacat]

My sister and I used to watch Soul Train every Saturday, standing up and dancing along to learn the latest moves.
Sooooouuuul train!

[ShyDancer]

Dirty Dancing.

Only now do I realise poor old Baby isnt as good as I once thought she was :lol:
But I still adore the movie!

[salsachinita]

Definitely.

"Salsa!" with Robby Rosa (hair do et al :wink: ....'tis was the 80s)

That was when I realised that the music I love could also be danced that way!

Then earlier: "Girls just wanna have fun" with Sarah Jessica Parker & Helen Hunt. It lived out our highschool dreams for my best friend Betty & I; it became our fantasy to be dancers.....