Top 10 Hardest Classic Hollywood Dances to Pull Off
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Date: 2023-11-21
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Comments and reviews: 30
mikeat2637
The Nicholas ARE the greatest tap dancers of all time. No one could match them, and when you add in Cab Calloway and Lena Horne, it's a surefire hit. Great movie. In an overall sense the sheer number of complicated dance routines done to perfection was at its best is Seven Brides For Seven Brothers. I watch it at least twice a year just for the sheer fun of it. Another film with some breathtaking dance routines is Flower Drum Song, with the dream sequence between Nancy Kwan and James Shigeta and the one at Sammy Fong's (Jack Soo) house. The movie the displayed the best of the Asian-American dancers of the time period. The Chinese communities in Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego had the most vibrant nightclubs and acts on the West Coast during the 1930's through the early 1960's.
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The Nicholas ARE the greatest tap dancers of all time. No one could match them, and when you add in Cab Calloway and Lena Horne, it's a surefire hit. Great movie. In an overall sense the sheer number of complicated dance routines done to perfection was at its best is Seven Brides For Seven Brothers. I watch it at least twice a year just for the sheer fun of it. Another film with some breathtaking dance routines is Flower Drum Song, with the dream sequence between Nancy Kwan and James Shigeta and the one at Sammy Fong's (Jack Soo) house. The movie the displayed the best of the Asian-American dancers of the time period. The Chinese communities in Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego had the most vibrant nightclubs and acts on the West Coast during the 1930's through the early 1960's.
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jozef
I always was a huge fan of Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly and others like THE Nicolas Brothers (and also women ofcourse) from that timeline (I'm 63 years old so DEUHHH, lol. The were amazing! Still are the TOP dancers in my opinion; -. Although nowadays there are also fab dancers, I will not deny that. But you must admid that the outfits of those days were beyond beautiful! TOP ROMANTIC TIMES (in terms of movies I mean. O and do not forget Gene Kelly ons rollerskates in XANADU, with Olivia Newton - John (she was my favo female singer/dancer/actrice of all times.
And how they did the animation with Jerry, just WAUW! Wizards they were before their time!
Thanks for the vid! XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Pinkie
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I always was a huge fan of Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly and others like THE Nicolas Brothers (and also women ofcourse) from that timeline (I'm 63 years old so DEUHHH, lol. The were amazing! Still are the TOP dancers in my opinion; -. Although nowadays there are also fab dancers, I will not deny that. But you must admid that the outfits of those days were beyond beautiful! TOP ROMANTIC TIMES (in terms of movies I mean. O and do not forget Gene Kelly ons rollerskates in XANADU, with Olivia Newton - John (she was my favo female singer/dancer/actrice of all times.
And how they did the animation with Jerry, just WAUW! Wizards they were before their time!
Thanks for the vid! XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Pinkie
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Joseph
For me, the far more memorable part of the Gene and Jerry dance (#8) is the sheer dedication by the ANIMATORS in making sure that Jerry had a reflection in the shiny floor. Kelly's reflection is so obvious that it's almost unnoticeable but just animating Jerry into the scene and NOT having a reflection would've been so easy to overlook. And this was done WITHOUT any computer assistance or techniques; Jerry's dancing was achieved by simply rotoscoping from Kelly's routine but matching the reflection and making it actually look REAL had to have been the true definition of painstaking.
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For me, the far more memorable part of the Gene and Jerry dance (#8) is the sheer dedication by the ANIMATORS in making sure that Jerry had a reflection in the shiny floor. Kelly's reflection is so obvious that it's almost unnoticeable but just animating Jerry into the scene and NOT having a reflection would've been so easy to overlook. And this was done WITHOUT any computer assistance or techniques; Jerry's dancing was achieved by simply rotoscoping from Kelly's routine but matching the reflection and making it actually look REAL had to have been the true definition of painstaking.
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lohphat
Note that in the tap numbers there are no taps on their shoes.
Studio floors were just painted concrete to support the heavy and noisy cameras. The floors were very slippery and the shoes are just simple canvas or leather soled.
You can freeze frame the footage and see for yourself. No metal present.
Taps were added back in later during looping sessions, usually by a member of the chorus. Gene Kelly famously would only do his own looping to his scenes as he felt it was more authentic.
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Note that in the tap numbers there are no taps on their shoes.
Studio floors were just painted concrete to support the heavy and noisy cameras. The floors were very slippery and the shoes are just simple canvas or leather soled.
You can freeze frame the footage and see for yourself. No metal present.
Taps were added back in later during looping sessions, usually by a member of the chorus. Gene Kelly famously would only do his own looping to his scenes as he felt it was more authentic.
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Mark
The whole Ginger Rogers Dancing-Backward-In-Heels thing isnt true at all. When she and Fred are dancing separately or minimally touching each other, then they both dance forward and backward equally. When theyre holding each other and Ginger has to move backward for more than a step or two, then physics takes over and Fred carries her while her feet are either lightly touching the floor or are in the air. Shes not bearing any weight at that point.
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The whole Ginger Rogers Dancing-Backward-In-Heels thing isnt true at all. When she and Fred are dancing separately or minimally touching each other, then they both dance forward and backward equally. When theyre holding each other and Ginger has to move backward for more than a step or two, then physics takes over and Fred carries her while her feet are either lightly touching the floor or are in the air. Shes not bearing any weight at that point.
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Mark
For people who actually studied dance, none of these are difficult actually, especially with multiple takes when filming instead of a live performance. Granted, its not what you do but how you do it and many things back then were simpler (eg > gymnastics routines, cheerleading, etc) compared to today's choreography.
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For people who actually studied dance, none of these are difficult actually, especially with multiple takes when filming instead of a live performance. Granted, its not what you do but how you do it and many things back then were simpler (eg > gymnastics routines, cheerleading, etc) compared to today's choreography.
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Rene
Nickolas Brothers yes Gene Kelly yes, but where's Cagney. he should have been third on the top of the list. He was like no other. like a graceful puppet on a string. I never seen anyone with a style like his he tapped down piano stairs and off the walls. So light on his feet as if in flight. Agape love
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Nickolas Brothers yes Gene Kelly yes, but where's Cagney. he should have been third on the top of the list. He was like no other. like a graceful puppet on a string. I never seen anyone with a style like his he tapped down piano stairs and off the walls. So light on his feet as if in flight. Agape love
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Momkat's
Dedication. The heels the women wore for the most part were not spikes but slightly less aching dress pumps. I still can't fathom dancing even in those! OMG, my toes!
Then we have the guys in Stormy Weather. The splits on the stairs are Flippin Awesome and give me hurts you know where.
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Dedication. The heels the women wore for the most part were not spikes but slightly less aching dress pumps. I still can't fathom dancing even in those! OMG, my toes!
Then we have the guys in Stormy Weather. The splits on the stairs are Flippin Awesome and give me hurts you know where.
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Charles
I would definitely have Eleanor Powell's Fascinating Rythm dance from the Lady Be Good movie in the top ten. And perhaps close to number one. Fred Astaire said she was the only dancer he felt intimidated by because she was so good. Her performance in that movie is a good example.
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I would definitely have Eleanor Powell's Fascinating Rythm dance from the Lady Be Good movie in the top ten. And perhaps close to number one. Fred Astaire said she was the only dancer he felt intimidated by because she was so good. Her performance in that movie is a good example.
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Alan
Rats. a whole ten minutes before you finally used the incredibly over used word iconic. I was actually enjoying the video until then What a pity. Btw, Roger Rabbit was not at all the first film to mix live action with animation. That honor goes to Disney's 1946 Song of the South.
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Rats. a whole ten minutes before you finally used the incredibly over used word iconic. I was actually enjoying the video until then What a pity. Btw, Roger Rabbit was not at all the first film to mix live action with animation. That honor goes to Disney's 1946 Song of the South.
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NiteMoves2010
Not only Backwards and in heels. but with 40-60 pounds of costume on. Fred had it easy! Got to see Ann Miller and Mickey Rooney in a live production of Babes in. towards the end of their careers in the 1984 in San Francisco. joyful performances!
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Not only Backwards and in heels. but with 40-60 pounds of costume on. Fred had it easy! Got to see Ann Miller and Mickey Rooney in a live production of Babes in. towards the end of their careers in the 1984 in San Francisco. joyful performances!
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Jan
I would have been tempted to add Be a Clown with Gene Kelly and The Nicholas Brothers from The Pirate. It's incredibly athletic and difficult. What about Step in Time from Mary Poppins? But you certainly picked some great ones for your list!
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I would have been tempted to add Be a Clown with Gene Kelly and The Nicholas Brothers from The Pirate. It's incredibly athletic and difficult. What about Step in Time from Mary Poppins? But you certainly picked some great ones for your list!
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Tyler
I was surprised that Debbie Reynolds's big dance number from The Unsinkable Molly Brown didn't make the list. They filmed it in one single take, and one of the dancers even fainted from the intensity of it. Truly remarkable!
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I was surprised that Debbie Reynolds's big dance number from The Unsinkable Molly Brown didn't make the list. They filmed it in one single take, and one of the dancers even fainted from the intensity of it. Truly remarkable!
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fanjoy
You said Who Framed Roger Rabbit 1988 but you forgot the original Mary Poppins 1964 with Dick Van Dyke and the penguin waiter dance number. In the that one the artist had to draw the penguin in after the dancing was done.
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You said Who Framed Roger Rabbit 1988 but you forgot the original Mary Poppins 1964 with Dick Van Dyke and the penguin waiter dance number. In the that one the artist had to draw the penguin in after the dancing was done.
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fanjoy
I never tried any of them. I have enough trouble putting one foot in front of the other. And landing in a split position after a jump like that makes my knees hurt even more. Ill keep both feet on the ground thanks!
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I never tried any of them. I have enough trouble putting one foot in front of the other. And landing in a split position after a jump like that makes my knees hurt even more. Ill keep both feet on the ground thanks!
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Kathleen
The move Tap where Sammy Davis, Jr, one of the Nicholas, several gentlemen schooling Gregory Hines.
Michael Baryshnikov (sorry about the spelling on Baryshnikov first name)and Gregory Hines in White Nights.
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The move Tap where Sammy Davis, Jr, one of the Nicholas, several gentlemen schooling Gregory Hines.
Michael Baryshnikov (sorry about the spelling on Baryshnikov first name)and Gregory Hines in White Nights.
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Ariana
I think also Mary Poppins step in time would have been a real classic to have too so high energy and you just couldn't help but want to join in and become a chimney sweep! But fantastic picks all classics!
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I think also Mary Poppins step in time would have been a real classic to have too so high energy and you just couldn't help but want to join in and become a chimney sweep! But fantastic picks all classics!
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Michael
There's a stunning, though incredibly choreographed sequence from a Fred Astaire movie called Walking the Dog. It's not flashy, but the coordination of both the human and canine performers is amazing.
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There's a stunning, though incredibly choreographed sequence from a Fred Astaire movie called Walking the Dog. It's not flashy, but the coordination of both the human and canine performers is amazing.
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segoi11
I've seen most of these movies so when people were raving about the dancing in La La Land, I was pretty upset. Compared to the dancers here, the dancing in La La Land was subpar (in my opinion.
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I've seen most of these movies so when people were raving about the dancing in La La Land, I was pretty upset. Compared to the dancers here, the dancing in La La Land was subpar (in my opinion.
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Dan_Gaming_Fan
Too Darn Hot is one of my favorite dance numbers of all time, but impossiblefor me tobever pull off. Anne Miller had some serious talkent. I've never seen anyone move their feet so fast.
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Too Darn Hot is one of my favorite dance numbers of all time, but impossiblefor me tobever pull off. Anne Miller had some serious talkent. I've never seen anyone move their feet so fast.
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Marty
This was done in 1 take. The Nicholas brothers were in a class of their own. Check out the Pirate with Gene Kelly and Judy Garland. The dancing with Gene and Nicholas Brothers is awesomely great.
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This was done in 1 take. The Nicholas brothers were in a class of their own. Check out the Pirate with Gene Kelly and Judy Garland. The dancing with Gene and Nicholas Brothers is awesomely great.
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GRTV
Why does everyone always miss including Cyd Charisse. A magnificent dance routine in It's Always Fair Weather. A musical film criminally overlooked. So annoying. Also the film Cabin In The Sky.
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Why does everyone always miss including Cyd Charisse. A magnificent dance routine in It's Always Fair Weather. A musical film criminally overlooked. So annoying. Also the film Cabin In The Sky.
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Jeff
Loved them all but I think I would have added Fred Astaire dancing with inanimate objects around the room and bringing them to life like a dance partner (he did this in more than one movie.
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Loved them all but I think I would have added Fred Astaire dancing with inanimate objects around the room and bringing them to life like a dance partner (he did this in more than one movie.
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EZB
Cheek to Cheek: another thing that made it hard was that the feathers from Gingers dress kept coming off and making Fred sneeze (at least according to the story he liked to tell about it.
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Cheek to Cheek: another thing that made it hard was that the feathers from Gingers dress kept coming off and making Fred sneeze (at least according to the story he liked to tell about it.
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Len
Between the Hollywood musical years of 1930 to 1970. there are AT LEAST 30 or 40 great dance routines that could be included. It was a truly amazing period of great song&dance.
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Between the Hollywood musical years of 1930 to 1970. there are AT LEAST 30 or 40 great dance routines that could be included. It was a truly amazing period of great song&dance.
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The
Family guy didn't parody it. Parody implies they brought something to the material to provide additional context or subversive meaning. The word you're looking for is stole.
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Family guy didn't parody it. Parody implies they brought something to the material to provide additional context or subversive meaning. The word you're looking for is stole.
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Gerald
Gene Kelly was such an amazing dancer that he could dance effortlessly on those old steel wheel roller skates. Most people couldn't even skate on them, let alone dance.
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Gene Kelly was such an amazing dancer that he could dance effortlessly on those old steel wheel roller skates. Most people couldn't even skate on them, let alone dance.
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Frederick
Oconors( Donald)dance step on roller skate. That he did in another movie was better than gene and me and my sister and I performed top hats dancing Creek to Creek
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Oconors( Donald)dance step on roller skate. That he did in another movie was better than gene and me and my sister and I performed top hats dancing Creek to Creek
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Kal
I still don't know how Fred Astaire danced with the coat rack in the gym in Royal Wedding. Maybe not so impressive to watch, but imagine trying to duplicate it.
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I still don't know how Fred Astaire danced with the coat rack in the gym in Royal Wedding. Maybe not so impressive to watch, but imagine trying to duplicate it.
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roadtravel
According to your video, I guess Tommy Roll should be ranked among the top 3, may well be ranked at number 2 right just below the Nicholas Brothers.
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According to your video, I guess Tommy Roll should be ranked among the top 3, may well be ranked at number 2 right just below the Nicholas Brothers.
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