The heat is on and so is the music. Here we’re counting down the top 10 dance battles from films and we’re looking for the best of the lot so, get on your dancing shoes and brace for the most rhythmic countdown ever!
- Grease (1978)
Dance Style – Hand Jive
The Story: Perhaps not the most famous song from musical classic Grease, the Hand Jive dance battle takes place during the Rydell High school dance, which is subsequently shown live on a TV show hosted by DJ Vince Fontaine.
Watch as Danny and Sandy (played by John Travolta and Olivia Newton John) nearly secure first place, when the ambitious Cha Cha DiGregorio (Annette Charles) schemes her way in to take the prize.
- Bring It On (2000)
Dance Style – Cheerleading
The Story: More a cheer-battle than a dance battle, this cheerleader movie is all about two rival cheerleading groups battling it out to be the best.
- West Side Story (1961)
Dance Style – Communicative Dancing
The Story: The story here is a tale of rival gangs in the Upper West Side neighbourhood of New York City and their fight for supremacy. The scene includes one-half of the rival battle, the Jets, as they set off in their own territory performing their own routines when they encounter rival gang the Sharks who subsequently show off their own elaborate strength through trying to outmanoeuvre the Jets through dance.
- Step Up 3D (2010)
Dance Style – Hip-Hop
The Story: In this final battle, Luke and his crew, the House of Pirates battle with the House of Samurai led by Julien who is a former Pirate
- Stomp the Yard (2007)
Dance Style – Street Dance
The Story: A tale of rival university fraternities; Theta Nu Theta and Mu Gamma Xi. Squaring off in the national competition that has perennially been in the Gamma’s hands, it comes to a head in the final scene in which the Gammas try and get one over on the Theta’s by stealing a move which was originally the Theta’s. However, the Gamma’s don’t count on DJ who performs a victorious twist in order to defeat the Gamma’s and win the Theta’s the national prize.
- Step Up 2: The Streets (2008)
Dance Style – Hip-Hop
The Story: The sequel to 2006’s Step Up, this dance movie focuses on the efforts of wannabe dancer Andie West to pursue a career as a street dancer. In this dance battle she takes on the original Step Up star Channing Tatum!
- Street Dance (2010)
Dance Style – Ballet vs Hip Hop
The Story: An inner city London street dance crew find themselves sharing rehearsal space with ballet dancers at a dance school. Watch this “battle” as both groups of dancers show off their skills!
- Take the Lead (2006)
Dance Style – Tango
The Story: The final dance in this contest is the Tango, and underdog dance Sasha (played by Jenna Dewan, star of the first Step Up film) surprises with a tantalising tango featuring not one, but two partners.
2. Strictly Ballroom (1992)
Dance Style – Paso Doble
The Story: A typical ‘never-say-die’ ending here in which, at the Pan-Pacific Grand Prix, sabotage is afoot but not before Scott and Fran complete their paso doble performance. Not so much a battle with another dancer but a battle against the corrupt establishment in the film!
- Step Up (2006)
Dance Style – Ballet and Hip Hop Fusion
The Story: Not exactly a dance-off but this scene from the first Step Up movie is all about dancers Tyler and Nora (played by real-life couple Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan) trying to figure out each other’s dance styles and come up with a routine that makes the best of both!
