When it comes to romantic dancing, some movies go all out, and you'll find there's no shortage of ballroom dance scenes in cinema. Some are instructive and teach you about ballroom dancing. Others are so beautiful that they inspire professionals and novices alike. And still others let you indulge your heart's desire to see your favourite dances performed by some of the biggest stars on the silver screen.
We've scoured all of the streaming platforms and movie collections to find the most romantic movie ballroom dance scenes of all time. Keep reading to discover incredible dancing on the big (or small) screen and find your new favourite ballroom dance scenes that stole the show.
1. Dirty Dancing
Dirty Dancing is a can't-miss dance movie classic featuring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey. While it has incredible dancing throughout the film, there's no more iconic dance than their performance for the end-of-the-season talent show.
Baby and Johnny are expressing the love and trust in their relationship through their dancing, hypnotising the whole room as they look on from the side. The scene (and entire film) reaches its climax at the end with the final dance and the legendary lift that so many ballroom dancers still emulate today.
2. Silver Linings Playbook
While not necessarily a dance movie, a ballroom dance competition becomes an exciting sub-plot in this film about mental health and healing through unexpected relationships. This comedy-drama stars Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence and follows the unlikely pair as they train to compete in a ballroom dance competition.
Even though she is reluctant to enter the dance floor, Pat (played by Bradley) drags Tiffany (played by Lawrence) out in front of the audience. The two perform a highly unconventional routine, featuring lifts that don't quite land and taking inspiration from both modern and hip-hop influences.
Still, the dance is a success, as it marks the commitment between the two leads and progress in their healing.
3. Shall We Dance?
Shall We Dance was made in 1996 and remade in 2004, both following the same premise. In this tale, an unhappy man, John Clark, decides to shake things up by signing up for ballroom dance lessons in hopes of achieving a new perspective.
In the 2004 remake, Richard Gere plays John. He keeps his new dancing hobby a secret from his wife, and she begins to grow suspicious. There are numerous romantic dances throughout the movie, with one of the most notable being when Gere is struggling as he's rehearsing for the finale.
Jennifer Lopez plays the dance teacher, and she steps in to help John re-think the Rumba as vertical love-making. It makes him take on the dance in a whole new way.
4. Dance with Me
Dance With Me is a 1998 romantic dance drama starring Vanessa Williams. The story follows dancer Ruby (Williams), a dance teacher who works at a studio, and Rafael, a young man working in the studio.
As they prepare for a dance competition in Las Vegas, issues arise, causing the couple to separate. Ruby performs her piece for the match with a new partner while watching Rafael in the audience. Afterwards, she heads to an after-party for the contestants.
It's there that Rafael surprises her, leading her onto the dance floor for one final performance that all the onlookers admire. This scene is pulsing with romance and passion.
5. Mad Hot Ballroom
Mad Hot Ballroom is a documentary film that follows the true journey of ballroom dance instructor Pierre Dulaine as he teaches inner-city kids the magic of dance.
Including just one scene or dance in this roundup wouldn't be fair. This film contains countless inspirational ballroom dances between young kids developing self-confidence.
While the movie itself is a bit gritty, the warm and fuzzy feelings don't stop when viewing any of the dance scenes in Mad Hot Ballroom. This movie served as the inspiration for a fictionalised retelling of the story in the film Take the Lead.
6. Strictly Ballroom
Strictly Ballroom dives deep into the world of competitive ballroom dancing. This 1992 Australian rom-com features Scott, struggling with the cut-throat field when he finds himself pressured to pair with another star after losing his partner.
Instead, Scott zeros in on Fran, a talented but unassuming potential partner. When Scott and Fran dance, however, no one can look away. They prove that the passion and connection between two ballroom dancers can be more critical than skill alone.
The two characters are completely engrossed in the moment, never breaking eye contact and ignoring all else around them. Does it get more romantic than that?
7. Take the Lead
Take the lead is a 2006 film thatfollows the true story of a dance teacher running an educational program in New York City's impoverished schools.
Starring Antonio Banderas as the lead, there's a scene in which Banderas and a dancer demonstrate a professional ballroom dance, showing them just how athletic and sexy it can be.
When this movie came out, ballroom dancing was losing influence to the Hip Hop scene. This scene was an impactful force in bringing back some of the attention to the ballroom style.
8. Top Hat
Top Hat is a 1935 classic film starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. It features one show-stealing scene that involves Jerry Travers struggling to woo Dale Tremont, forcing him to pull out all the stops to win her affection.
After a sweet serenade doesn't do it, Jerry and Dale perform a ballroom number that focuses on them as the centre of the universe while the rest of the world fades away.
While this Top Hat scene isn't quite as dramatic as some of the ballroom dances in other movies, the sincerity of the romance here earns this title a spot on the list.
Final Thoughts
Romance is alive and well, especially in the dances throughout these films. Whether you're looking for a movie strictly about ballroom dancing or want to browse some of the more classic dance films, our list is your perfect starting place.
If the films here have inspired you to try a few new moves on the dance floor, make sure you have the shoes to do it! Check out Supadance for the finest selection of dance shoes made for dancers.