O International Dance Day celebrated on April 29, exists to remind people of the importance of this art, which, in addition to bringing joy, also brings health benefits.
The date was chosen by the Dance Committee of the UNESCO International Theater Institute — United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization — as it was the birth of French dancer and choreographer Jean-Georges Noverre, who left extensive work on expressiveness in movements.
With choreography or just following the music, the important thing is to move your body.
To get inspired and maybe even learn some new steps, the CNN selected 10 films that bring the art of dancing to the big screen.
From classics from the 1980s and 1990s, to more recent features that cover other subjects with dance as a backdrop, use these two hours sitting on the couch to appreciate the art of moving your body.
10 themed films to celebrate Dance Day:
1. “Saturday Night Fever” (1977)
Young Tony Manero (John Travolta) works in a paint store, but only sees meaning in his life when he goes out dancing at night. When he meets Stephanie (Karen Gorney), the two decide to sign up for a dance competition together.
The film is available on Prime Video and in Telecine or for rent in Google Play.
2. “Flashdance” (1983)
Starting with classic dance films, this film follows young Alex Owens (Jennifer Beals), a beautiful young woman who works as a welder during the day and a dancer in a bar at night. With the support of her boss, Nick Hurley (Michael Nouri), she decides to pursue her dream of entering a ballet conservatory.
The film is available on Telecine or for rent in Apple TV+ and in Google Play .
3. “Footlose” (1984)
A big city teenager, Ren McCormak (Kevin Bacon) moves to a country town where dancing and dance music have been banned. He decides to rebel against the ban and shake things up in the small town.
The film is available on Netflix and in Telecine or for rent in Apple TV+, at the Google Play and in Prime Video.
4. “Dirty Dancing” (1987)
Young Baby (Jennifer Gray) spends her vacation with her parents at a resort, where she meets Johnny (Patrick Swayze), the hotel's dance instructor. The two fall in love and the romance is fueled by dancing.
The film is only available to rent on Apple TV+, at the Google Play and in Prime Video.
5. “Dance with Me?” (2004)
Despite loving his wife, Beverly (Susan Sarandon), and their children, lawyer John Clark (Richard Gere) feels there is something missing from his routine life. One night, returning from work, he decides to sign up for a dance class when he sees the beautiful teacher Paulina (Jennifer Lopez).
The film is available on Telecine or for rent in Apple TV+ and in YouTube .
6. “She Dances, I Dance” (2006)
Tyler Gage (Channing Tatum) is a troubled young man who is forced to do community service at an art school. There he meets Nora (Jenna Dewan), a ballerina who needs his help to mix hip-hop steps with classical ballet.
The film is available on Netflix, at the Telecine and in Prime Video or for rent in Apple TV+.
7. “Burlesque” (2010)
Ali (Christina Aguilera) is a small-town girl with dreams of becoming a star. She decides to leave her life behind and move to Los Angeles, where she gets a job as a waitress at the Burlesque nightclub, run by Tess (Cher).
The film is available on Prime Video or for rent in Apple TV+ at the YouTube and in Google Play .
8. “Black Swan” (2011)
In this psychological horror, talented ballerina Nina (Natalie Portman) begins to lose her sanity as she threatens to lose the lead role in Swan Lake to a seductive rival ballerina (Mila Kunis).
The film is available on Star+.
9. “Las Insoladas” (2014)
Six friends united by dance class will participate in a salsa competition. As they sunbathe on the terrace of a building in Argentina, they discuss how their biggest dream would be to spend their holidays in a paradisiacal place.
The film is available on Star+ and for rent in Apple TV+.
10. “Feel The Beat” (2020)
Dancer April (Sofia Carson) decides to return to her hometown after failing on Broadway. At home, she agrees to train a group of children for a competition.
The film is available on Netflix.
Source: CNN Brasil
I’m Robert Neff, a professional writer and editor. I specialize in the entertainment section, providing up-to-date coverage on the latest developments in film, television and music. My work has been featured on World Stock Market and other prominent publications.
