Top 10 Broadway Songs That Make Us Want to Dance

“In the Heights”
The working class neighborhood of Washington Heights is shocked to learn a local bodega has sold a winning lottery ticket. “96,000” sees the cast of characters rapping and waxing poetic about what they would do if they won that much money. Building to a percussive and joyous excitement, the neighbors come together in a shared dance about the power of dreams and investing resources back into the community. Explosive when it first appeared on Broadway, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s mix of hip-hop music had New York audiences dancing in the aisles in a way they never had.

“Grease”
One of the set pieces of this nostalgic, 1950s-set musical comedy is the dance contest in the second act. Danny, Rizzo, and the other Rydell students compete in an increasingly energetic and crude marathon of novelty dances and peak high school drama. “Born to Hand Jive,” performed is a huge showcase for an entire ensemble of dancers, and we just want to join them. It’s easy to get carried away by the craziness that’s usually happening during the song. If you ever want to throw a wild, retro dance party, this bop has to be on the playlist.

“Chicago”
Are you even a musical theater fan if you haven’t at least tried to replicate Bob Fosse’s slinky, sharp arm choreo and failed miserably? The director-choreographer’s original production of this musical cemented it as a classic of music, murder, and movement. In its final sequence, Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly finally make their stage debut as a duo. “Hot Honey Rag” is an instrumental jazz track full of tinkling pianos, funky horns, and a thumping beat. It makes you feel like you’re in a Prohibition era speakeasy. Don’t be surprised if it makes you start hoofing it up like a true flapper.

“Anything Goes”
Reno Sweeney is not a role for the faint of heart. You have to sing, smile, and tap dance for your life. In this Cole Porter show’s title number, she leads an ensemble of fellow passengers on a cruise ship in a breathless extravaganza of old-fashioned musical comedy entertainment. This is a song that’s not exactly entry level, dancing-wise, but it’s hard not to want to give it a shot. They all look like they’re having so much fun, even though in reality it’s probably one of the hardest musical numbers to pull off. But that’s why this show has been revived so many times. Whether it’s the fast and furious tapping or the patter of the lyrics, the energy is off-the-charts.

“West Side Story”
This number has looked pretty different over the years. In the stage show, Anita performs it as a duet with Rosalia, as they argue the virtues of America. The movies divide the argument by gender lines, seeing the Sharks and their girlfriends engaging in the debate. What remains the same is that it’s a vehicle for great choreography. Inspired by the Latin music sounds of Puerto Rico, “America” is a fluid and rollicking song that builds to a stunning and sweeping climax of dance. When we hear composer Leonard Bernstein’s toe-tapping, Huapango-inspired rhythm, it’s hard not to tap our feet.

“Six”
Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss’ blockbusting historical musical is designed to be a crowd-pleaser. Reinterpreting the story of King Henry VIII and his ill-fated wives as a pop fantasia full of modern music and feminism, “Six” takes big sonic swings. “Haus of Holbein” could be its most uptempo song. Mixing German styles with house music beats, Henry’s search for a fourth spouse becomes a techno banger narrated by the company of wives. Some stagings even see the cast’s costumes glowing in the dark and essentially turning the place into a club. Who knew a Broadway theater could sound like an underground European rave?

“Legally Blonde”
How do you make an already iconic scene all the better? The “Legally Blonde” musical turned Elle Woods’ famous secret for catching men’s attention into a whole number that has her and her sorority sisters teaching us how to do this signature move. Elle and her Delta Nu crew essentially turn into a girl group as they try to give Paulette a little confidence. “Bend and Snap” is groovy, funky, and it delivers a whole lot of attitude. Because it’s basically a series of instructions, it almost feels like you’re being invited to join in on the lesson.

“Mamma Mia!”
If there’s one thing you can say about the ABBA jukebox musical, it’s that it’s sure to put a smile on your face. Faced with three men she knew in her past, Donna is in need of a pick-me-up. Her pals remind her who she is, and the entire show basically stops. If you’re an ABBA fan, you already know it’s hard not to shake it to “Dancing Queen.” Once you add an ensemble of dancers and some absolutely stunning Broadway performers, it’s impossible to sit still. Maybe the real dancing queen was the one in us all along.

“Wicked”
Fiyero’s first act song isn’t just an explanation of his life’s philosophy. It’s a rousing song that shakes up the entire show. “Dancing Through Life” introduces his worldview to the audience, and it’s hard not to agree with him once he gets everyone twirling and flying across the stage. Whether it’s in the original Broadway production or the 2024 film, the number is a huge highlight because it’s such a departure from the rest of the “Wicked” score. Like Fiyero himself, “Dancing Through Life” has a contagious and almost hypnotic energy that compels us to join in the fun.

“Hairspray”
Like the title makes clear, this jam-packed, lengthy finale is a runaway train of exuberant joy, boundless optimism, and the feeling that something big you don’t want to miss is happening. The song sees the pleasantly optimistic crusader for equality, Tracy Turnblad, hijacking the set of a dance show and ringing in a revolution of racial integration in mid-century Baltimore. Reminiscent of “River Deep — Mountain High,” “You Can’t Stop the Beat” is a boisterous pastiche that reflects the early to mid-60s pop sound. It’s a tune that comes at you fast and dares you not to get up and join the movement.

Did you make it through our list without dancing? Tell us in the comments.