In what is probably one of the most impressive opening numbers ever captured on film, one of the drivers on the congested Los Angeles highway decides to pass the time by dancing. She is soon followed by dozens of other disgruntled, yet talented, drivers.
Filmed on location on an actual highway ramp in L.A, the number took about four months to shoot and used 30 dancers to perform the film’s opening song, “Another Day of Sun.” Who knew that traffic could be so entertaining?
The Ballet Performance in “An American in Paris”
While some of us can barely keep up with songs that are less than four-minutes-long, screen legends Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron managed to perform a 17-minute-long dance routine in the film, “An American in Paris.”
The scene follows the couple as they dance and sing their way through elaborately painted sets of Paris. Estimated to have cost almost half a million dollars, the scene was ambitious, to say the least. Its undeniable influence on dance and cinema makes it considered one of the most revered dance sequences in history.
Fred Astaire Dancing on the Ceiling in “Royal Wedding”
In the 1951 film, “Royal Wedding” Fred Astaire is so enamored with his girlfriend that he can’t help but dance on every surface, even the ceiling! Known as one of the most famous dance solos ever captured on camera, this ceiling dance has inspired singers like Lionel Richie!
The groundbreaking scene was made by building the set inside of a revolving cage that rotated 360 degrees as the camera was still, giving the illusion of the famous dancer being able to dance on the ceiling and walls of the room!
Slow Dance in “Romy and Michele’s Highschool Reunion”
Who can listen to Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” without thinking of this memorable scene in “Romy and Michele’s Highschool Reunion”? When their covers as post-it moguls are blown and their plan to impress their former classmates doesn’t work out, the two realize that they’ve already achieved the impossible — they have each other.
The two former outcasts join fellow outcast Sandy Frink in a slow dance to the ‘80s hit. With its fluid dance moves and a message about true friendship, it’s no wonder this scene is so memorable.
Jack and Rose Dancing in “Titanic”
From Jack and Rose floating in the frigid ocean to the sketching scene, the epic blockbuster film “Titanic” has provided us with some of the most famous scenes in movie history. One of the most memorable scenes is when Rose joins Jack in a raucous party hosted by the “third-class” passengers.
Rose looks so happy to be spinning around in Jack's arms as they dance and stomp to traditional Irish music. The giddiness and energy of the scene make audiences feel like they are right there with the characters on the doomed ship.