10 Best Dance Movies Every Dance Fan Should Watch

More than just movement, dance is emotion, its storytelling, and it’s the energy, that’s brought to life, some of the best dance movies are pure and simple. You can experience this most intimately if you’re a dancer yourself, but even if you just love taking in powerful choreography, the search for the best dance movie can take you to some truly unforgettable films.

They serve up a heady mix of passion, music, and pure drama, and even if some are a bit corny (we’re looking at you, Flashdance), they’re all entertaining in one way or another.

In this post, we’ve rounded up 10 dance movies that every fan should see and that we think are must-watch films. They’ve certainly got us moving — and we hope they do the same for you.

From favorites with iconic choreography to contemporary works with innovative dance styles, these movies (for the most part) feature a blast of joyous energy. They’ll make you want to leap, twirl, and otherwise express yourself.

Step Up (2006)

Directed by: Anne Fletcher

A contemporary classic, Step Up is where the classical dance meets street style. Starring Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan, this movie kicked off a beloved franchise and showcased the power of dance and love. With its high-energy choreography and iconic soundtrack, it’s a must-watch for any passionate person about hip-hop and romance.

Dirty Dancing (1987)

Directed by: Emile Ardolino

Dirty Dancing is a film that is anything but forgettable. Set in the ’60s, it is part coming-of-age story, part dance spectacular, and totally a Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey vehicle. Their chemistry is brilliant, and the film culminates in one of the most iconic dance sequences in cinema history.

Black Swan (2010)

Directed by: Darren Aronofsky

For ballet fans who prefer a darker take on the art form, Black Swan is a hauntingly and beautifully rendered film about obsession, artistry, and perfection in ballet. The movie’s standout features — Natalie Portman‘s Oscar-winning performance and the stunning dance cinematography — place this film firmly in the realm of psychological thrillers rather than in your typical ballet movie.

Save the Last Dance (2001)

Directed by: Thomas Carter

This movie perfectly matches the worlds of classical ballet and hip-hop and tells the story of a young ballerina who finds her rhythm again through a new culture and a new love. It’s a heartfelt journey of healing, resilience, and dance as a universal language.

You Got Served (2004)

Directed by: Chris Stokes

You Got Served, one of the premier street dance films, takes viewers into the underworld of highly competitive dance crews. Renowned for its electrifying choreography and its intensity and dramatic presentation of the actual dance battles, the film has almost singlehandedly defined the contemporary street dance scene and has inspired a generation of young dancers.

Center Stage (2000)

Directed by: Nicholas Hytner

An inside view of existence at a leading ballet academy, Center Stage, shadows its principal characters as they strive to reach the next level in their lives and careers. When you talk about a behind-the-scenes look at professional ballet, what you really mean is that you are describing a world of obsessive dedication and sacrifice. These things are taken for granted in the ballet academy and the very high ballet company for which its students are auditioning at the story’s end.

Honey (2003)

Directed by: Billie Woodruff

Featuring Jessica Alba in the lead role, Honey follows the story of a kind-hearted woman whose loftier aspirations result in somewhat less fortunate outcomes for the local crew of dancers that surround her. Alba’s character, a Puerto Rican dance instructor named Honey, spends her days teaching dance to a group of young women and working in the offices of a new community center for local dancers, a sort of City Hall for Dancers. But after an explosion causes a close call for the young students, she decides to stay true to herself and work toward her dream of becoming a community-centered dance instructor for all sorts of young women.

Flashdance (1983)

Directed by: Adrian Lyne

An 80s dance staple, Flashdance has an indelible soundtrack and a legendary audition scene. Its story of a welder-dancer who dreams of ballet school—for days between her bursts of dance, independence, and determination—might just be the most empowering plot in all of 80s cinema.

Footloose (1984)

Directed by: Hebert Ross

A tale of a community where the act of dancing is prohibited? Footloose takes that idea and spins it into a yarn that is rich with heart, rebelliousness, and one of the most unforgettable dance-closing credits sequences in recent cinema history. It’s a youth-empowerment story about claiming one’s right to express oneself through the act of dance.

La La Land (2016)

Directed by: Damien Chazelle

Although it’s not a conventional film about dance, La La Land employs the art of dance to take its enchanting, love-struck story to the next level. It has moments of pure choreography genius.

From potent urban street battles to artful, ballet-like performances, each of these movies has something unique to contribute to the dance vernacular. Any of these best dance movies will put a smile on your face and likely inspire you to bust a move.

What is your favorite dance movie? Feel free to comment below and let us know your top pick. And be sure to pass this list along to anyone else you know who loves dance as much as we do!

See Also: Top villains who stole the show and when the music made the movie