10 Great Dance Movies
"Strictly Ballroom" (1992) The stars of "Strictly Ballroom," Baz Luhrmann's debut, aren't eye candy in the traditional sense, but they're so great together you end up rooting for them anyway. The story is set in Australia's competitive ballroom dancing scene, and the hero, Scott (Paul Mercurio), has just been pummeled at a contest for ... dancing his own steps. Gasp!

His partner leaves him, and the only suitable replacement turns out to be mousy Fran (Tara Morice), a pimply, bespectacled beginner. They understand each other, though, and together fight the tyranny of the dance community, revealing the secret that Scott's parents have held for so long. Parts of this movie are shot in faux-documentary style, and Luhrmann's eye for lurid colors and angles beautifully plays up the creepy, touching insanity of people who take spangles and feathers very, very seriously. The key quote here: "A life lived in fear is a live half-lived." (Everett Collection)


"Strictly Ballroom" (1992) The stars of "Strictly Ballroom," Baz Luhrmann's debut, aren't eye candy in the traditional sense, but they're so great together you end up rooting for them anyway. The story is set in Australia's competitive ballroom dancing scene, and the hero, Scott (Paul Mercurio), has just been pummeled at a contest for ... dancing his own steps. Gasp!

His partner leaves him, and the only suitable replacement turns out to be mousy Fran (Tara Morice), a pimply, bespectacled beginner. They understand each other, though, and together fight the tyranny of the dance community, revealing the secret that Scott's parents have held for so long. Parts of this movie are shot in faux-documentary style, and Luhrmann's eye for lurid colors and angles beautifully plays up the creepy, touching insanity of people who take spangles and feathers very, very seriously. The key quote here: "A life lived in fear is a live half-lived." (Everett Collection)


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