The Original Broadway Recording Cast
Frock Flicks FAQ
What Is Frock Flicks?
Support Frock Flicks
Advertise on Frock Flicks
Articles by Era
Fifteenth Century
Sixteenth Century
18th-Century Quest
Articles by Theme
Screen Queens
Top 5 Friday
Snark Week
Frock Flicks Guide
Frock Flicks POV
Forgotten History
Tangential but Interesting!
Collect Them All
Yet 5 Different Top Dance Scenes
By Trystan L. Bass on March 13, 2020 in Top 5 Friday
We're each allowed to have our own views on things around here at Frock Flicks, so while Sarah had her Top Five Dance Scenes in Historical Costume Movies and Kendra had Top 5 Dance Scenes: A Different Take, now it's time for my top five dance scenes. Since I'm the one who started the 'shaddap I love musicals' tag, my picks are all from musicals, listed chronologically!
"Skip to My Lou" from Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)
OK, it's not much of a dance, per se, but I love the concept here that a bunch of supposed teenagers and college kids are partying by playing instruments and dancing in their parent's parlor. Also, I love Judy Garland!
"Make 'em Laugh" from Singin' in the Rain (1952)
In one of the very best movies for dancing ever made, I chose the one that always brings a smile to my face. Donald O'Connor put himself in the hospital for four days after filming this epic piece of physical comedy, and I think it was worthwhile.
"Ascott Gavotte" from My Fair Lady (1964)
Less dancing than a perfect bit of stage choreography, but this is my list so I'm including it. Every bow, head turn, parasol open, each little movement is perfectly timed to the music.
"He's My Friend" from The Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964)
Debbie Reynolds can do no wrong, and in this tour de force, it takes two men to keep up with her, even though she's in a beaded gown and heels.
"Waiter's Gallop / Hello, Dolly" from Hello Dolly! (1969)
I can't find a YouTube clip of the best part where the waiters are dancing with trays and going up and down the stairs. But it happens around this part of the flick. Hate on Babs all ya want, synchronized servers is a hoot!
What's your favorite dancing scenes from a historical costume musical?
Tagsdance dance revolutionDebbie ReynoldsJudy Garlandshaddup i love musicalsvideos
TBT: Byron (2003)
MCM: Bill Nighy
Trystan L. Bass
A self-described ElderGoth, Trystan has been haunting the internet since the early 1990s. Always passionate about costume, from everyday office wear to outrageous twisted historical creations, she has maintained some of the earliest online costuming-focused resources on the web. Her costuming adventures are chronicled on her website, TrystanCraft. She also ran a popular fashion blog, This Is CorpGoth, dedicated to her "office drag."
Roxana March 13th, 2020
Personally I'm a big fan of the tap number in White Nights. Also the Masquerade number in Phantom of the Opera and any dance number ever done by Debra Paget 😀
Colleen March 13th, 2020
I was a huge fan of the Waiter's Gallop as a kid. My youngest sister took pity on me one day about a month ago when Hello Dolly was on Hulu (no longer there, I think), and let me watch it. It didn't hold up. My favorite dance number is Moses Supposes.
Andrew. March 13th, 2020
You have some of my favorites listed above. I would also add "Cool, Considerate Men" from 1776 (1972); the barn raising dance from "Seven Brides For Seven Brothers" (1954); "Shall We Dance" from The King and I (1956); and "From This Moment On" from Kiss Me Kate (1953).
Ms. Natalie March 13th, 2020
Yes, to all of these!!!! I could watch them over and over.
Susan Pola Staples March 13th, 2020
What about Singing in the Rain scene in movie with same name, An American in Paris ballet montage, and Waltz with Eva and Che from Evita. Also the ones you mentioned. And last but not least the Drwam ballet from Oklahoma!.
Claudia Trent March 13th, 2020
I would have included three other scenes from "Singin in the Rain" – 1) Kelly, O'Connor and Reynolds in their "Good Mornin" number; 2) Kelly's "Singin in the Rain" number (one of the most joy-filled dance numbers I have seen); and Kelly and Cyd Charisse's sexy dance number in the ballet sequence.
Frannie Germeshausen March 13th, 2020
Add "Moses Supposes" . . . oh heck the entire movie! I love it so.
M.E. Lawrence March 13th, 2020
Every moment of "Singin' in the Rain" is sublime or close to it. And I would NEVER hate on Barbra Streisand. I adore her–she showed me, a gawky teenage girl with a big nose, that humor and style and talent are beauty. A favorite star-is-born moment (along with Angela Bassett as Tina):
Now there was a movie with really bad anachronistic hair and make-up.
Lynne Connolly March 13th, 2020
Fred and Ginger are my movie dancing idols. From their first big number The Continental, to the last in The Berkleys of Broadway, it's all magic. I love Let's Face The Music and Dance, and Pick Yourself Up and… oh, I could do six just from the few movies they made!
Forgot to put in the links! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c08wiEyVuak
thedementedfairy March 13th, 2020
Here's Dolly and Louis and the waiters [poor vid quality though] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcbw0GETjZw&list=RDmcbw0GETjZw&start_radio=1
Tannit March 13th, 2020
I don't suppose Footlight Parade counts as a historical costume movie? The Busby Berkeley water number is EPIC.
Alexander Sanderson March 14th, 2020
Oh, so many from Funny Girl! Especially- 'Roller-Skate Rag/Blue Over You' and 'His love made me Beautiful'… hilarious! Also 'Smells Like Teen Spirit/Entertain Us' from Moulin Rouge!!!
I grew up with a father who loved and still loves Barbra, so I've seen just about every single film she's ever made. And for some reason, totally forgot about "Blue Over You" in Funny Girl.
Nzie March 14th, 2020
all great choices. :-) I need to rewatch Meet Me in St Louis; it was a childhood favorite. :-) I also love White Nights for great dance scenes. It's a dance movie with a Cold War/espionage-ish gloss to it and I'm here for it, although it's not a frock flick.
MoHub March 14th, 2020
No Fosse?
Leave a Reply to Colleen	Cancel reply
Find an Article:
© Copyright 2007-2020 Frock Flicks, Trystan L. Bass, Kendra Van Cleave, & Sarah Lorraine Goodman. All rights reserved. DISCLAIMER: Frock Flicks claims no credit for images featured on this site unless noted. Visual content is copyrighted to its respective owners, and inclusion here is under fair use for criticism, comment, and news reporting purposes. If you own the rights to content here and wish it removed, please contact us. Privacy Policy