Top 10 Dance Numbers in 2000s Movies
#10: “I Don’t Dance” “High School Musical 2” (2007)
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The “High School Musical” franchise has some truly iconic dance sequences, from “Stick to the Status Quo” to the more underrated “Can I Have This Dance.” However, one of the most technically impressive numbers comes from the second movie. “I Don’t Dance” is a baseball number, where Ryan and the drama kids face off with Chad and the jocks. Director/choreographer Kenny Ortega said he “always loved the merging of sport and dance” especially with those who weren’t used to combining the two. This plays into the message of the baseball scene–that trying new things can lead to something great. It’s also nice to see Ryan get his time to shine.
#9: “Jai Ho” “Slumdog Millionaire” (2008)
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Upon first glance, this hard-hitting Danny Boyle movie might appear to be a far cry from Bollywood, despite its Indian setting. However, the filmmakers cite Indian cinema as one of their main influences. The rags to riches trope, and the fantasy and montage sequences pay homage to the Bollywood tradition. As does the final dance scene at the train station. “Slumdog Millionaire” has a lot of darkness in it, but at the end of the day, it’s a fairytale. It ends with the two star-crossed lovers getting their happily ever after, and what better way to celebrate that than with dancing? Despite “Jai Ho” essentially being a credit sequence, it remains one of the movie’s most memorable moments. It’s fun, feel-good and totally unexpected.
#8: The Final Tango “Take the Lead” (2006)
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The noughties was the golden age of the dance movie, and “Take the Lead” managed to do something different with it: use the standard urban setting and gave it a ballroom twist. Based on a true story, the movie follows a dance teacher, Pierre, who offers ballroom lessons to the troubled teens at the local high school. In the final competition, Sasha and the boys decide to mix things up a bit. The guys have been fighting over her throughout the movie, but this time they all work together. Turning the tango into a trio might get them disqualified, but this chemistry-fuelled routine was totally worth it.
#7: The Angry Dance–You Know the One “Billy Elliot” (2000) A young Jamie Bell stars as the eponymous Billy, in the breakout British movie that became a hit musical. In 1980’s North East England, dancing wasn't something that boys did. But Billy has a talent and he’s not prepared to give up on his dream. In this scene, a family argument breaks out and Billy’s frustration builds. This might not be a musical, but the angry tap dance that follows is impromptu and… very public. Billy dances through the streets, channeling his rage and frustration through dance. The upbeat music, Bell’s fierce, heartbreaking acting turn and the simple ferocity of the dance itself are a killer combination. The scene became the movie’s most memorable image.
#6: “That’s How You Know” “Enchanted” (2007)
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When Princess Giselle climbed out of a manhole and into New York City, she brought plenty of Disney magic with her. One of her gifts is the ability to induce ordinary American citizens to burst out in spontaneous song and dance. The central park scene, where Giselle sings “That’s How You Know” is one of the best scenes in the whole movie. Playful, colorful and inventive, this sequence is pure musical theater. From the elders on park benches to the steelband that started it all, everyone gets to join in. It’s loads of fun and almost impossible not to smile through it.
#5: The Showcase “Step Up” (2006)
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The original “Step Up” is probably the most iconic dance movie of the 2000s (and there are a lot to choose from.) Its memorable dance routines and the unbeatable chemistry between the leads make it stand out from the crowd. The movie builds to Nora’s senior showcase at the dance school. Although we see snippets of the routine throughout the film, the final product still blows us away. The choreography is stunning and it fits seamlessly with the music. Based on that performance, it’s easy to imagine Nora would have her pick of dance companies and Tyler would bag his scholarship.
#4: The Dance in the Rain “Step Up 2: The Streets” (2008)
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While the finale of the first “Step Up” is a school showcase, the second movie takes dancing back to the streets, per the title. Andie and her band of dance school misfits create their own crew and enter an illegal competition. Their final number literally takes place out in the street. Andie’s old crew, the 410, are their rivals and set the bar high with a dynamic and complex routine. It looks like they’re the better dancers, but the MSA crew have a crucial advantage…the rain makes everything look so much cooler! The power doesn’t just come from the sequence itself, but also from the whole atmosphere of the moment.
#3: “You Can’t Stop the Beat” “Hairspray” (2007)
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Every song and dance sequence from “Hairspray” is big, bright and beautiful, but “You Can’t Stop the Beat” has to be our favorite. At the beginning of the film, The Corny Collins Show is segregated. However, when Seaweed’s sister, Little Inez, unofficially enters the live TV dance competition, she wins by a landslide of call-in votes. The winner gets to be head dancer, so The Corny Collins Show officially becomes integrated. In the final moments, everyone gets on the floor to join in and celebrate, from John Travolta’s Edna to Queen Latifah’s Motormouth Maybelle. The feel-good finale is full of fast, fun dance moves and will totally make you want to join in on the festivities.
#2: Cooper’s Ballet “Center Stage” (2000)
Dance movies often love to mix the classical with the contemporary. But in “Center Stage,” this fusing of styles creates some tension. Star dancer Cooper and company director Jonathan clash when Cooper decides to choreograph a ballet to a rock and pop soundtrack. There’s quite a bit of relationship drama going down too, since Cooper’s ex, Kathleen, left him for Jonathan. The story of the dance, of course, explores this love triangle. Even out of context, though, it’s something special. The three principal roles in the number are all played by professional ballet dancers and the quality of both the routine and the movements themselves is beautiful to watch. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. The “Thriller” Line Dance, “Thirteen Going on 30” (2004) Jenna Gets the Party Started with a Nostalgic Classic Tom’s Celebratory Dance, “500 Days of Summer” (2009) His Dreams Came True, Alright The “I Believe” Routine, “Honey” (2003) The Kids Perform Their Big Charity Number "El Tango de Roxanne,” “Moulin Rouge” (2001) The Argentinian Teaches Tango To The Classic “Police” Song. The Final Battle, “Stomp the Yard” (2007) It’s Gamma vs Theta in This Epic Face-off
#1: “Cell Block Tango” “Chicago” (2002)
There was a time when movie musicals seemed to be a thing of the past; media that was considered old-fashioned and corny. But then came the 2002 release of “Chicago.” The film was directed by Bill Condon with choreography by Rob Marshall based on Bob Fosse’s original Broadway production. Fosse’s work was full of dark comedy and spectacular set pieces, and the Oscars started rolling in. The “Cell Block Tango” scene is, without a doubt, the movie’s stand out dance number. Beginning with individuals telling their own stories through song and dance, it ends in a large-scale chorus routine. The number is funny, unnerving and thrilling by turn. This is musical storytelling at its best.
