That's Dancing!

That's Dancing! is a charming 1985 film that fuses genres and generations portraying the power, precision, and fluidity dance can demonstrate. Directed by former tap dancer Jack Haley Jr., the movie showcases coastal jumps from ballet to tap dancing, from hip hop to movie musicals, creating a comprehensive spectacle that underscores the role of dance in expressing emotion, storytelling, and human experience.

The charm of That's Dancing! is also rooted in it being anchored by an ensemble of stellar personalities. The hosts include the ballet luminary Mikhail Baryshnikov, the vaudeville-born comic and dancer Ray Bolger, the versatile entertainer Sammy Davis Jr., along with Gene Kelly and Liza Minnelli. Having these iconic personalities not just narrating, but also guiding the audience through the rituals of dance collectively amalgamates into an appealing spectacle. It tangibly underscores each commentator’s unique personal relationship and passion for the art form, rendering authenticity to the narration.

The film takes viewers on a visually stunning journey through the history of dance on film. From the roaring twenties to the vibrant eighties, it houses a vast array of dance styles and personalities, offering something for everyone. While it unarguably safeguards the highlights of deceased dance legends like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, it also appreciates contemporary talents of the time like the breakdancing movement in the 1980s.

That's Dancing! remains an ambitious, affectionate tribute to the form that was wonderfully universal yet deeply personal. The film is innately celebratory, stingily allowing the desire to educate about dances to interfere with the pure joy of the performances. Segments of ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary and street dance, and music from various eras create a visual mixtape of expression set to rhythm.

The cinematic tapestry experienced in That's Dancing! helps to fundamentally understand the evolution of dance in cinema, mirroring significant time-specific trends and societal changes. At the heart of all these sequences is a palpable love for the craft. Brought to life from the archives are scenes from the great Busby Berkeley's inventive flapper-era choreography, Gene Kelly's athletic interpretation of dance, and the elegance of Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn, to the raw energy of Bill "Bojangles" Robinson and the Nicholas Brothers.

That's Dancing! is more than a catalogue; it is a time-travelling dance floor under a crystalline mirror ball, reflecting the essential moments from the history of dancing. From The Red Shoes, Singin' in the Rain, The King and I, West Side Story, and many more, the film smartly showcases these sequences not just as isolated moments, but as relevant pieces of a puzzle, revealing shifting techniques, trends, and the evolution of the understanding of the mechanics of human movement.

Along with expected Hollywood footage, the film also includes a range of dance sequences from different cultural backgrounds, further implying the universality of dance. Significant screen time is dedicated to the spectacular technicolor sequences from Indian cinema, featuring the vivacious Bollywood style dance. Poignant moments from Russian ballet also make welcome appearances in between the predominantly American features.

In terms of structure, the film embeds the whole discourse in a quasi-documentarian approach, drawing a balance between wide retrospectives, snippets of interviews, film clips, and individual introductions delivered marvellously by the hosts. Each segment is meticulously chosen and curated, ensuring the breadth and depth of dance representation, keeping you engaged and yearning for more.

That's Dancing! ultimately offers a cinematic treat for both dance and movie enthusiasts alike. The film successfully mingles the magical world of Hollywood with the impressive prowess of classical and modern dance forms, serving as an affectionate reminder of the immutable bond between cinema and dance. It wonderfully crystallizes the art and industry of dancing in film, allowing us to appreciate the newest pop and lock as much as the traditional plié.

Even if you don't know a pirouette from a pas de deux, That's Dancing! invites you to marvel at the spectacle of bodies in motion, a moment caught in time, a story told without words. It is a film that will move you, in every sense of the word, if you just allow yourself to ride on the rhythm. So step right in, and let the magic of That's Dancing! sweep you off your feet.