We're still amazed that they pulled off these classic Hollywood dances. For this list, we’ll be looking at solo, two-person, and group numbers that require serious skill to perform.
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00:00 "Hey pops, keep that beat a beat. I feel a rhythmic brainstorm coming on."
00:05 Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the top 10 hardest classic
00:11 Hollywood dances to pull off.
00:12 "Will you try?"
00:13 "If you show me."
00:14 "I'll show you."
00:15 "I'll try."
00:17 For this list, we'll be looking at solo, two-person, and group numbers that require
00:21 serious skill to perform.
00:23 Which dance made you fall on your face the first time you tried it? Be sure to let us
00:27 know in the comments below.
00:31 Number 10. Make 'Em Laugh - Singin' in the Rain
00:34 Do not try this one at home.
00:36 "You start off by pretending you're a dancer with grace. You wiggle 'til they're jinglin'
00:41 all over the place. And then you get a great big custard fly in the face. Make 'em laugh,
00:47 make 'em laugh, make 'em laugh."
00:49 Donald O'Connor grew up in Vaudeville, started dancing as a toddler, and continued performing
00:54 into his 70s. In this routine, his character, Cosmo, tries to cheer up his friend Dawn,
01:00 played by Gene Kelly, who is pining after a woman.
01:03 "Just slip on a banana peel, the world at your feet. Make 'em laugh, make 'em laugh,
01:08 make 'em laugh."
01:09 O'Connor had plenty of chances to show off his dancing skills throughout his career,
01:13 but his comedic chops and acrobatic abilities truly shine in this wild number. He and the
01:19 crew managed to shoot the performance in a single day, and afterward, O'Connor's whole
01:23 body was in pain. When he returned to the studio two days later, he discovered the original
01:29 film had been ruined, and he had to do the entire thing again.
01:33 "Make 'em laugh, make 'em laugh, make 'em laugh."
01:46 Number 9. Why Can't You Behave? (Kiss Me Kate)
02:04 Anne Miller and Tommy Rall were both well-known on the 1950s musical scene, and what starts
02:08 as Miller's Lois bemoaning the gambling habits of Rall's Bill Calhoun becomes a shining example
02:14 of both their talents in action. Truly, this scene takes the idea of a lover's spat to
02:19 new heights. The flirtatious energy of the couple adds extra charm to a number that gives
02:37 each dancer an opportunity to show off. Rall, in particular, impresses here. Not only can
02:42 he keep up with Miller's signature lightning-fast feet, but he ups the ante with his own enviable
02:48 acrobatic abilities. The two are so well-matched that it's no wonder she can't stay mad at
02:53 him.
03:02 Number 8. Jerry and Jean (Anchors Away)
03:06 In this fantasy sequence, Jean Kelly teaches a young king how to find happiness. The star
03:18 has to dance and act alongside a cartoon character who isn't actually there, more than 40 years
03:24 before Who Framed Roger Rabbit came out. Coupled with some insanely athletic jumps and spins,
03:29 only a dancer of Kelly's caliber could pull off this performance. It's so memorable that
03:45 showtune aficionado Seth MacFarlane saw fit to parody the scene in an episode of Family
03:50 Guy, with Stewie subbing in for Jerry the mouse. They do say imitation is the sincerest
03:56 form of flattery.
04:05 Number 7. Cheek to Cheek (Top Hat)
04:08 Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire danced together many times throughout the 1930s and 40s, but
04:13 this romantic duet is one of their most beloved for good reason. The scene starts out with
04:31 a simple slow dance. It then transitions to a series of more complex synchronized moves
04:36 that represent the complicated feelings the characters are developing for each other.
04:53 The grace and fluidity in the performance is gorgeous. Even if you're talented enough
04:58 to pull it off, you still have to find a partner who can keep up. And remember, one of you
05:03 has to do everything backward and in heels.
05:22 Number 6. Too Darn Hot (Kiss Me Kate)
05:26 Showgirl Lois Lane rolls in like a heatwave to audition for a role in Fred Graham and
05:30 Cole Porter's new show. And the temperature only goes up once her feet get moving. Anne
05:45 Miller was known for her crazy fast tap dancing, and this is one of the finest examples of
05:49 what she could really do. She leaves no corner of the screen unscorched as she ranges around
05:55 the set with effortless ease. Meanwhile, a rhythmic section of the piece really allows
05:59 the audience to appreciate her speed and clarity. In a movie filled with strong performances,
06:17 this number is a highlight, and one that few people would be able to replicate even half
06:22 as well. Needless to say, Lois gets the part.
06:29 Number 5. Begin the Beguine (Broadway Melody of 1940)
06:34 Although they were two of the most popular dancers in Hollywood throughout the 1930s,
06:38 this is the only movie that Eleanor Powell and Fred Astaire danced in together. And while
06:43 they share the stage several times throughout, this climactic scene features the most intense
06:48 and intricate choreography. These are two masters of rhythm, playing with synchronization
07:04 and syncopation like they're composing a piece of music. Powell and Astaire are so
07:08 perfectly matched in terms of talent that they often seem to be generating a single
07:13 result. Even in alternation, it's hard to tell where one ends and the other begins.
07:31 Their smooth footwork and easy demeanors could almost fool you into thinking this comes easily,
07:36 but no one is likely to ever match these titans of tap.
07:46 Number 4. The Lindy Hop (Hell's a Poppin')
07:55 You might think this footage has been sped up, but it hasn't. They're really moving that
07:59 fast. Whiney's Lindy Hoppers were a group of professional swing dancers who came out
08:04 of the Harlem Renaissance. During their heyday, the group toured Europe and the U.S. and appeared
08:09 in multiple films. In this scene, some deliverymen are dropping off a set of instruments and
08:14 can't resist testing them out. Other service workers around the property hear them, and
08:24 soon the party gets going. The Lindy Hop remains a popular type of swing today, and its influence
08:29 can be seen all over Hollywood.
08:43 Number 3. Barn Dance (Seven Brides for Seven Brothers)
08:48 These rugged young men have come down from their mountain home to go a-courting with
08:51 the help of their new sister-in-law, Millie. At the Barn Dance, this quickly turns into
08:56 a competition with the men of town to impress a group of eligible young ladies. High-energy
09:06 dance moves, acrobatics, and feats of strength all play a role in this jubilant scene. Tommy
09:12 Roll makes another appearance and gets to show off his incredible balance and coordination
09:17 yet again. But of course, with brothers like Jacques D'Amboise and Russ Tamblyn, it seems
09:22 like just another family trait. The town suitors really stood no chance here. The girls and
09:41 the audience alike are swept off their feet by this decisive display of dance.
09:54 Number 2. I Like Myself (It's Always Fair Weather)
09:58 Gene Kelly had so many iconic performances in his career, it's hard not to put them
10:03 all on our list. His character Ted's life hasn't gone the way he thought it would, but
10:23 when a beautiful and successful young woman falls for him, he realizes he might not be
10:28 such a bad guy after all. His feelings inspire this song and tap performance, which Kelly
10:43 incredibly performs on roller skates. Although it's not his most recognizable dance, it's
10:49 definitely one of his most challenging. It seems like there was nothing this star couldn't
10:54 do.
11:24 Number 1. Jump and Jive (Stormy Weather)
11:41 From the moment their tap shoes hit the stage, they're doing moves that most of us could
11:45 only dream of attempting. And it just gets wilder from there. Born in 1914 and 1921,
12:04 respectively, Fayard and Harold Nicholas were entirely self-taught in the arts of singing
12:09 and dancing. They started performing professionally as children, and proved well into their 60s
12:14 and 70s that they were still superstars on the dance floor. The Nicholas brothers might
12:19 have been the greatest tap dancers of all time, and this dance break is one of the most
12:24 impressive ever put to film.
12:33 Do you agree with our picks? Check out this other recent clip from Ms. Mojo. And be sure
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12:49 Thanks for watching!
12:58 (upbeat music)