The Red Shoes

As you may or may not know, the all-time epitome of dance movies, The Red Shoes, has just recently been re-released, with new color enhancement. (And it's gorgeous!) In honor of this fantastic movie (located on our New Release wall), here is a list of what are (in my humble opinion) the all-time greatest dance movies, all available at our MacArthur store.

White Nights-Mikhail Barishnokov and Gregory Hines star in this political drama set in Russia in 1985. Barishnokov plays a dancer who defected from Russia and has the misfortune to be in a plane that crashes on Russian soil, leaving him trapped. He is housed in Siberia with Raymond (Hines), a Vietnam draft dodger who tap dances for his meager living. Together they manage to escape the Soviets and perform some great numbers along the way. Great pick for those who love dance movies but want something with a little more substance than say, Step Up 2 the Streets.

Dirty Dancing- Who doesn't love this classic dance flick? Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Gray star in this legendary film about upper-middle-class teenager Baby Houseman (Gray) who is swept off her feet (literally and figuratively) by the charming dance teacher Johnny (Swayze). You'll be singing and dancing along with them as they have the time of their life at a resort in the Catskills.

Center Stage-This film is the traditional classic dance movie personified. Jody Sawyer (Amanda Schull) is a dance hopeful who is admitted to the prestigious American Ballet Company training academy. She experiences failure, love, and heartbreak as she struggles to find her place in the dance world. With fantastic dance sequences and a strong supporting cast (including Zoe Saldana, Susan May Pratt, Peter Gallagher, and New York City Ballet star Ethan Stiefel), this is a film you should definitely check out!

Hairpsray-Not just a dance flick but a full-on musical, this re-make of the hit 80's movie is sure to warm your heart. Tracy Turnblad (played by Nikki Blonsky) has a big dream to dance on the Cornie Collins Show-a dream that's almost bigger than her. Eventually, she charms her way into the show and into the hearts of the citizens of Baltimore and becomes a local celebrity. But she's not done yet-she uses her fame to help fight for civil rights. With an all-star cast, including John Travolta (as Tracy's mother!), Christopher Walken, Amanda Bynes, Michelle Pfieffer, Queen Latifah, and Zac Efron, this is a film you can watch over and over with the whole family.

Ziegfeld's Follies-Though not entirely a dance film, this collection of classic vignettes includes musical numbers, comedy sketches, and beautiful dance numbers. With some of early cinema's biggest stars, including Fred Astaire, Lucille Ball, Judy Garland, and Lena Horne, this film is a must-see for fans of movies musicals.

Holiday Inn-Starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire, this classic family film about a hotel only open on holidays is sure to make you smile. With a soundtrack filled with well-known songs, such as "Easter Parade" and "White Christmas" and dance sequences featuring Fred Astaire and Marjorie Reynolds, this film is a great selection to watch with the family.

-Posted by Colleen