When it comes to Disney movies, be you a casual watcher or a die-hard fan, there’s something for everyone.
Most of us have our favorites and for varying reasons, whether we admit said reasons or not. But did you know that some of them include ballroom dancing? Here are three you’ve probably heard of but may or may not have known had paired social dancing.
Beauty and the Beast
This one’s got it all: adventure, romance, betrayal, foreshadowing, Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Potts, singing, and of course, dancing. There are two ballroom dance scenes of note: the first time Belle and the Beast dance (random trivia: the Beast’s name is Adam, though it’s never mentioned in the movie) – a lovely waltz-esque song in 4/4 time (same as Rumba!) – and the second is at the very end when Belle and Adam dance a Viennese Waltz together.
- Tale As Old As Time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qtTPTxvoPA
- Ending Scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPjp5caC_BE
Sleeping Beauty
My favorite Disney, this one’s based on the ballet of the same title. Two interesting facts of note: the animators drew the waltz scenes using live ballroom dancers, and the last waltz seen in Sleeping Beauty was copied and used as the last scene in Beauty and the Beast.
- Ending Scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHB0o8G3sU8
Toy Story 3
The last of the beloved trilogy about the lives of children’s toys, Toy Story 3 has its own unique ballroom flare. There’s a Paso Doble scene which was choreographed and danced by Tony Dovolani and Cheryl Burke from Dancing With The Stars. It’s a really fun number! If you haven’t watched the movie, or want to see the dance scene again, here’s the link:
- Jessie & Buzz’s Paso Doble: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4PrhNFU4TU
- Making the Paso Doble Scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cl9RI4dXH2w
There are a whole lot of videos out there, both animated and live, that are either about ballroom dance (click here for more suggestions) or include ballroom dance. The hard part is finding them! So my challenge to you? Find your favorite movie with a ballroom scene and email me about it at ross@pugetsound.dance. I’d love to hear from you!
Written by: Ross, Communications Consultant for Arthur Murray Seattle
