With the dark nights still upon us in the UK, what better excuse to load up your favourite dance film and snuggle down for the evening. There are many iconic dance films, both classic and current, and throughout the genres – there’s definitely something for everyone.
Perhaps the most classic dance movie of them all is The Red Shoes (1948); choreographer Matthew Bourne’s version launched at Sadler’s Wells last month. It tells the story of aspiring ballerina Vicky, who is taken under the wing of an impresario. He turns her into a star, and she dances the lead in his ballet of the Hans Christian Anderson fairytale, The Red Shoes – where a young woman may not stop dancing whilst she wears the shoes. When Vicky falls in love with a composer, the impresario dismisses her from the company. She dances The Red Shoes one last time before tragedy strikes.
Flash Dance (1983) is yet another iconic film about dance, with a fantastic soundtrack to boot. Welder and exotic dancer Alex wants to be a trained dancer, but unfortunately is too afraid to audition for a professional school. With the help of her boyfriend, she eventually picks up the courage and is successful at gaining entry. With Irene Cara providing the title track it is a definite must for any dance movie night. Alongside this are the music video style dance sequences, which was being explored for the first time on MTV when this film was made.
Still in the eighties is Dirty Dancing (1987); Frances is taken to a sleepy resort for summer. There she meets Johnny, the resort dance instructor, and they fall in love. They plan to dance together at the end of summer season celebration but they face opposition from Frances’ father who thinks Johnny is too old for his daughter. Thankfully she disobeys! 2000 sees another rebellion in Billy Elliot, about young boy from a miner’s family. He must overcome family difficulties and social stigma to pursue his passion for dance, eventually taking up at place at the Royal Ballet School.