Top 10 Most Underrated Dance Scenes in Classic Musicals
#10: “Shall We Dance?” “The King and I” (1956)
Top 20 Most Underrated Dance Scenes in Classic Musicals
Though the most known song from this classic is most likely “Getting to Know You”, there are some other gems to be enjoyed in the 1956 film. The story covers many Western and Eastern culture clash moments, as well as some romantic liaisons. The King is, of course, reluctant to accept any form of change, and makes this clear throughout, only to finally understand in the end. In the memorable number “Shall We Dance?”, Anna explains to the King how Western women are courted, and the two express their inner emotions through the secretive, yet much telling, medium of dance.
#9: “Cool” “West Side Story” (1961)
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This modern retelling of “Romeo and Juliet” gives us many songs for fond memories, yet some really great sequences fly slightly under the radar. Towards the end of the film, the Jets and the Sharks are headed to the ultimate confrontation, as the two gangs wish to take each other down once and for all. The Jets are shown getting aggressively riled up, until one of their members talks everyone down to keeping their cool, and not charging in like bulls. What follows is a rapid dance number, in which the Jets redirect their anger into their moves, and it’s really… well, cool!
#8: “Kansas City” “Oklahoma!” (1955)
“Oklahoma!” depicts an old-fashioned midwestern town, complete with cowboys, ranch hands, belles and their mamas and papas. The townspeople don’t often find themselves traveling elsewhere, and when cowboy Will Parker returns from the bustling metropolis of Kansas City, the townsfolk gather to hear his tales. Will’s big city tales lead into a demonstration of the latest big city dance moves, including the two-step and ragtime, as he tries to convince his audience of the appeal of these new dances. The scene is high-energy as well as comical, and endlessly entertaining. The box social scene including the “Farmer and Cowman” barn dance comes in a close second.
#7: “The Rich Man’s Frug” “Sweet Charity” (1969)
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Down on her luck dancer-for-hire Charity Hope Valentine (what a cool name, right?) dreams of the bigtime, and getting out of her current predicament. As she moves from her current lower class workplace venue (widely known for “Hey Big Spender” number) to attending a high-class nightclub, she witnesses the differences in culture. This is well-introduced by “The Rich Man’s Frug”, in which the nightclub guests dance with elegance and a touch of hedonism, all while maintaining that special brand of 1960s hip. With the legendary Bob Fosse at the helm, the choreography can’t go wrong.
#6: “Jumpin’ Jive” “Stormy Weather” (1943)
In 1943, 20th Century Fox released one of the two musicals featuring African American casts that year, “Stormy Weather”. The film features a variety of numbers, as it depicts the protagonist’s hope to become a professional dancer. Such big names like Lena Horne, Fats Waller, and this entry’s composer, Cab Calloway, appear in the film. In the “Jumpin’ Jive” number, Calloway and his orchestra provide the music for the astonishing Nicholas Brothers, as the duo tap up a storm all over the place. The number is impressive, energetic, passionate, and amazingly, was purportedly achieved in a single take. And we didn’t even mention that “splits down the stairs” sequence towards the end!
#5: “Who’s Got the Pain?” “Damn Yankees” (1958)
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Americans love their baseball, and 1958’s “Damn Yankees” represents this pretty well. It tells the story of an ordinary man who makes a deal with the devil to lead his favorite baseball team (the perpetually losing Washington Senators) to victory. The most recognized scene is, of course, “Whatever Lola Wants”. Another impressive, yet often overlooked number is “Who’s Got the Pain?”, in which fans of the Senators celebrate their impromptu road to victory. Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon take the stage to perform a dance number reminiscent of vaudeville. It’s energetic, humourous and lots of fun. Good luck getting that tune out of your head!
#4: “Born to Hand Jive” “Grease” (1978)
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Almost every song from “Grease” is easily recognizable to anyone who’s ever been to any sort of karaoke night. However, there are still a few underrated numbers. The “Hand Jive” performed during the televised school dance is catchy as well as entertaining. There’s a lot going on in the scene, amidst the overzealous competition. Every main character gets their moment of dance, some followed by moments of drama. However, the dancing is contagious, and much like the in-film audience, it’s tempting to join in in any way possible. John Travolta’s dance with Olivia Newton-John is reminiscent of the disco days, and the exhausting energy doesn’t stop throughout the entire scene.
#3: “The Best Things Happen While You’re Dancing” “White Christmas” (1954)
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There’s just something about Christmas-themed musicals! In “White Christmas”, we see the film’s two protagonists, played by Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye, struggle to launch their production company following World War II. Their journey, of course, includes romantic interests. Though the film does contain some timeless gems such as “Choreography” and “Mandy”, sometimes the more gentle, understated numbers are best. Danny Kaye and Vera-Ellen perform “The Best Things Happen While You’re Dancing” with such elegance and grace. The song speaks of expression through dance, and how it’s much stronger than regular communication for relaying emotions, which is a constant theme in classic musicals in general.
#2: “Barn Dance” “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” (1954)
Yeah, we’re definitely not recommending this one for its absurdly awful depiction of gender roles and behaviour. After all, the titular “seven brides” are kidnapped by the “seven brothers” and held in a cabin over the winter. In typical old-fashioned style, however, they all fall in love and get married in a mock-shotgun wedding. We’re focusing on the absolutely incredible dance numbers! When the brothers venture into town for a barn dance, they encounter the aforementioned brides-to-be and fall in love. However the ladies are spoken for, and a brawl ensues between the menfolk. The fight begins through dance, as the stuffy suited townsmen stiffly dance, only to have their ladies taken by the rough woodsmen brothers who dance more freely and wildly. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “Doll on a Music Box” / “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” (1968) A Wind-Up Doll Brought to Life “Alley Dance” / “My Sister Eileen” (1955) Bob Fosse and Tommy Rall Show Off Their Skills “Take Off with Us” / “All That Jazz” (1979) A Depiction of the Grueling Audition Process “Be a Clown” / “The Pirate” (1948) Gene Kelly Joins the Nicholas Brothers Ballet Sequence, “The Red Shoes” (1948) A Beautiful, Emotional Balletic Interlude
#1: “Moses Supposes” “Singin’ in the Rain” (1952)
This classic musical is filled with iconic song and dance numbers. Alongside the grandiose nature of some of these scenes are many underrated gems. There were quite a few choices for this one, such as “Make ‘Em Laugh”, and “Beautiful Girl”. However we went with the hilarious and tongue-twisting “Moses Supposes”. The film depicts the transition between silent films and “talkies”, and this scene has the lead actor, Gene Kelly, learning eloquent speech from a stuffy professor. Kelly and his musical buddy and partner, Donald O’Connor, make a farce of the lessons, and begin to dance and sing around the shocked professor. It’s an amazing two-man dance sequence we’ll never forget!
