- 7 hours ago
Step into the ballroom and prepare to be swept off your feet! We're celebrating the most enchanting and iconic dance sequences from the world of period dramas. From grand Regency balls to passionate tangos and lively jigs, these cinematic and televisual moments have captured our hearts, sparking romance and revealing hidden tensions with every graceful step. Get ready for a dazzling display of choreography, passion, and unforgettable storytelling.
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00:06Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most iconic dance scenes
00:11in period dramas, both film and TV, from Bridgerton and beyond. Mild spoilers to come.
00:24Number 20. Queen Elizabeth and Robert Dudley. Elizabeth. This Cate Blanchett-led vehicle
00:29plays fast and loose with historical fact, but one aspect it did not scant was Elizabeth's romantic
00:35but fraught connection with her childhood friend Robert Dudley, played by Joseph Fiennes.
00:40Player Volta!
00:47In this iconic moment, after Elizabeth has become the queen, the indiscreet lovers dance the Italian
00:53Volta together for all the court to see.
00:55When may I see you in private?
00:59I'm private. Have you forgot, my lord? I'm queen now.
01:07Choreographed by Sue Lefton, this Volta is also not 100% historically correct. Still,
01:12the grace and elegance of this risky and risque dance is mesmerizing. The intimacy between these
01:18two star-crossed royal lovers is especially palpable. We love to see it.
01:23Number 19. Megan's Birthday Dance for Dawn. Mad Men.
01:26I think I've had just enough to drink that I'm ready to give my own present to the birthday boy.
01:33Zuby Zuby Zuby Zuby.
01:34This earworm of a 60s ditty composed by Bill Shepard and Alan Too is employed to brilliant
01:39effect in this critically acclaimed period drama.
01:48In this scene, Dawn Draper gets a surprise birthday dance from his secretary turned wife,
01:54Megan Calvey, in front of SCDP.
01:56Zuby Zuby Zuby Zuby Zuby Zuby Zuby Zuby Zuby Zuby Zuby Zuby Zuby Zuby Zuby Zuby Zuby Zuby Z
02:11revealing one on many fronts.
02:13Don's barely controlled discomfiture,
02:16Meghan's subtle show of power and confidence,
02:18and the riffs of their whirlwind romance.
02:20There is trouble in this paradise.
02:33Number 18, Anna Leon Owens and the King, The King and I.
02:41They dance also, like I see tonight in arms of man, not their husband.
02:46Why, of course.
02:47I would not permit.
02:48Who can beat Rodgers and Hammerstein when it comes to musical romance,
02:52or latent sexual tension for that matter?
02:54The film adaptation of their hit 1951 stage musical is A Handsome One,
02:59starring Deborah Carr as prim school teacher Anna,
03:01and Yul Brynner as her imperious employer, the King of Siam.
03:04But she will dance with a strange man, holding hands, etc.
03:07Yes, but not always a stranger, usually a very good friend.
03:11Good, then we're not together.
03:13You show me.
03:14Teach, teach, teach.
03:14After many cultural and personality clashes,
03:17Anna and the King have a friendly moment
03:19when Anna teaches him how to dance the polka.
03:22There's the iconic song, a charmingly choreographed dance,
03:25those beautiful costumes, and is it us,
03:28or are things becoming a bit too hot?
03:30You're seeing this too, right?
03:31Come.
03:33We'll do it again.
03:34Come.
03:35Come.
03:36Come.
03:36Come.
03:37Come.
03:38Come.
03:38Come.
03:38Come.
03:41Number 17, Edith Cushing and Sir Thomas Sharp, Crimson Peak.
03:45The candle flame will not be extinguished in the hand of the lead dancer.
03:49Now, that requires the perfect partner.
03:53Guillermo del Toro's Gothic Romance is a visually stunning film,
03:57and its dance scene is also one to remember.
04:00American heiress-turned-author Edith Cushing meets the dashing Sir Thomas Sharp,
04:04an English baronet-cum-inventor.
04:06In this scene, Sir Thomas leads a demonstration on how to dance a waltz,
04:10holding a candle to ensure proper technique.
04:13I've always closed my eyes to things that made me uncomfortable.
04:17It makes everything easier.
04:19I don't want to close my eyes.
04:22I want to keep them open.
04:23Obeying the principle that when Tom Hiddleston asks you to dance, you dance,
04:28Edith accepts his offer.
04:29Their waltz is all the more beautiful with the golden candlelight,
04:32and the intimacy between the two is believable.
04:35Let's just pretend they lived happily ever after, shall we?
04:57It's Catherine Zeta-Jones and Antonio Banderas in a close embrace.
05:02What more can you ask for?
05:03This oldie but goodie follows Alejandro,
05:06a bandit who is being trained by the original Zorro as his successor.
05:09The original Zorro is determined to avenge his wife's death
05:13and find his long-lost daughter Elena.
05:15Elena has now been raised as the daughter of the corrupt governor Don Rafael Montero,
05:19who first imprisoned Alejandro.
05:31When Alejandro meets Elena, they dance first an elegant waltz,
05:35then a passionate flamenco, and the dance says it all.
05:38Who knew Zeta-Jones and Banderas would work so well together?
05:52You can't go wrong with the OG of period romance.
05:56One of the most beloved adaptations of Jane Austen's classic novel
05:59has to be this 1995 BBC TV drama acclaimed for its fidelity.
06:04The choreography is perfect, with music by Carl Davis and choreography by Jane Gibson.
06:09In this scene at the Netherfield Ball, Mr. Darcy asks Elizabeth to dance,
06:14which she grudgingly accepts.
06:15If you're not otherwise engaged, would you do me the honor of dancing the next of me, Miss Bennet?
06:20Why, I had not.
06:24Thank you, yes.
06:26The stately Regency dance goes well,
06:28with Darcy and Elizabeth's witty but increasingly tense conversation.
06:32We each have an unsocial, taciturn disposition.
06:34I'm willing to speak unless we expect to say something that will amaze the whole room.
06:39This is no very striking resemblance of your own character, I'm sure.
06:42The metaphorical gloves come off when Elizabeth prods Darcy on his behavior towards Mr. Wickham.
06:47This is a stunningly well-choreographed battle of wits,
06:50as engrossing as it is consequential.
06:52Also, just kiss already.
07:11It can be difficult to showcase the music of previous generations,
07:15what with our recency bias and preconceived notions.
07:18But this film really captures the youthful energy and verve of the 30s big band and swing era.
07:24We follow German youth as they get their groove on to Benny Goodman,
07:28defying the Nazi regime's racist ideas on acceptable dances.
07:32Go, Thomas! You're the king of highlands!
07:39They dance here to Louis Prima's 1936 composition Sing Sing Sing,
07:43famously arranged as a big band showcase by Benny Goodman.
07:46Athletic choreography, great costumes, an immortal big band standard,
07:51and a high-spirited rebellion against Nazis.
07:54What more can we want, really?
08:09Austin's unfinished work nevertheless found its way to the small screen in 2019.
08:14Your mileage may vary on the miniseries' fidelity to Austin,
08:18but one thing is for sure.
08:19The series has one terrific dance scene.
08:22At the titular developing seaside resort,
08:24Charlotte Haywood finds herself clashing with handsome wildcard Sidney Parker.
08:28It's what people do. It dances. It's not a dance.
08:30And they should rather not.
08:32No.
08:34It's only...
08:35There are so many other ladies here that you could ask.
08:38But I don't want to dance with them.
08:40Their stately but dynamic pair dance is rife with unspoken tension,
08:43as Charlotte and Sidney's latent attraction to each other comes to the fore.
08:57Their budding relationship is an interesting addition to Austin's work,
09:01and one we won't soon forget.
09:13Number 12. Emma Woodhouse and George Knightley
09:16Emma
09:16In this classic Austin novel,
09:18wealthy heiress Emma Woodhouse decides to play matchmaker,
09:21though her matches end up backfiring on her splendidly.
09:24She's also slow to realize her deeper feelings for her down-to-earth brother-in-law, George Knightley.
09:29In this scene, she asks to dance with Mr. Knightley,
09:32who, it turns out, also cherishes secret feelings for her.
09:36With whom will you dance?
09:39With you.
09:42If you will ask me.
09:44The grace of the dance,
09:45the lingering physical contact,
09:47the intriguing lack of gloves,
09:49it is period romance at its finest.
10:00If these two didn't realize they were in love before this moment,
10:04they certainly know it now.
10:14Number 11. Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler
10:17Gone with the Wind
10:18I don't care what you expect or what they think,
10:20I'm going to dance and dance.
10:21Tonight, I wouldn't mind dancing with Abe Lincoln himself.
10:23When it comes to epic romance,
10:26this blockbuster film delivers it and so much more.
10:29A recently widowed Scarlett O'Hara
10:31attends a charity bazaar in Atlanta,
10:33where gentlemen bid on a dance with a lady.
10:35There, she causes a great scandal
10:37when she accepts a dance with the roguish Rhett Butler,
10:40even though she is supposed to be in mourning.
10:42Enough courage you can do without a reputation.
10:44Or you do talk scandals.
10:46Both bold, unconventional, and passionate,
10:49Rhett and Scarlett prove they are truly made for each other
10:52in their vivacious waltz.
10:53If only Scarlett would finally give up her nostalgia
10:55for the Old South,
10:56er, her love for Ashley.
10:58We'll always want more than flirting from this couple.
11:01Scarlett O'Hara,
11:02you'll take that southern belle simple off your face.
11:05Someday I want you to say to me
11:07the words I heard you say to Ashley,
11:09well, I love you.
11:11Number 10.
11:12Natasha Rostova and Andrei Bolkonsky
11:14War and Peace
11:15You know that enormous novel by Leo Tolstoy
11:18that's been looming over fans of literature
11:20for over a century?
11:21Don't worry,
11:21there are plenty of screen adaptations.
11:23The story features a number of romances.
11:26However,
11:27that of Andrei and Natasha
11:28is central and most passionate.
11:30This is felt in the 2016 miniseries
11:33when the two dance a waltz.
11:42Natasha anxiously watches
11:44as all the young ladies are chosen
11:45and is visibly nervous
11:47when Andrei walks over
11:48to ask her to dance.
11:49May I request the pleasure of a dance
11:51with your daughter, Natalia?
11:53Of course.
11:54She'll be delighted.
11:55The moment is magical
11:56and the two are clearly
11:58falling in love during the waltz
11:59as they appear,
12:00despite countless other couples,
12:02to be the only two on the dance floor.
12:10Number 9.
12:11Daphne Bridgerton
12:12and Simon Bassett
12:13Bridgerton
12:14In the widely popular show Bridgerton,
12:16Daphne and Simon forge
12:17a secret alliance
12:18to pretend to be courting each other
12:20as neither is interested
12:21in settling down.
12:22It is an absurd plan.
12:24I find it quite brilliant.
12:25Provided you do not wish to marry me,
12:27and I do not wish to marry you.
12:29Whatever should you have to lose?
12:31However, over time,
12:33one can see the evolution
12:34of their relationship,
12:35and the two eventually
12:37and inevitably end up falling in love.
12:39Whatever is bothering you?
12:47Nothing at all.
12:48Actor Regé-Jean Page
12:49has said that the dance scenes
12:51were like a, quote,
12:52gift for the actors,
12:53as they provide a sense of honesty.
12:55Where a person can hide emotions
12:56in everyday living,
12:58dancing gives way
12:59to enchanted gazes
13:00and a sense of letting go.
13:08This is clearly seen
13:09in the couple's dance sequences,
13:11as well as some other
13:12fairly obvious symbols
13:13of sexual tension,
13:14such as fireworks.
13:15The series has delivered
13:16many iconic dances,
13:18including season four's
13:19classical rendition
13:20of Charlie XCX's 360.
13:30Number eight,
13:31Loretta and Jim Whittaker,
13:33Easy Virtue.
13:34This one is a little different,
13:35although it does feature
13:36many a romance fan's
13:38perpetual dream actor,
13:39Colin Firth.
13:40You are damn cool in a crisis.
13:42American Loretta marries
13:43into a wealthy English family.
13:45She doesn't quite fit in
13:46and has her share of issues,
13:48particularly with her new husband's
13:49mother and sisters.
13:50The family patriarch, however,
13:52has grown weary
13:52of the estate life
13:53and sets himself apart
13:55from his aristocratic family.
13:57Complications ensue
13:58between Loretta and her husband,
14:00causing the latter
14:00to refuse to dance
14:01with her at a party.
14:03Please,
14:04dance with me.
14:10Enter the father,
14:11Jim Whittaker,
14:12for a delightful tango,
14:14proving that Loretta
14:15has some form of acceptance
14:16in the wealthy,
14:17snobbish world.
14:28Number seven,
14:29Eilish Lacey and Tony Fiorello,
14:31Brooklyn.
14:32The film takes place in 1951
14:34when young Irish woman
14:35Eilish Lacey makes the trek
14:37across the ocean
14:38to Brooklyn, New York.
14:39She's apprehensive
14:40about the life awaiting her
14:41in the metropolis
14:42and is unsure
14:43about her decision
14:44to emigrate.
14:45The secret is to look
14:46as though you know it's okay.
14:48I wish someone had told me
14:49that years ago.
14:50That is,
14:51until she meets Tony
14:52and the two share
14:53a whirlwind romance.
14:54Will we ever tell our children
14:55we did this?
14:58Maybe we'll save it
14:59for some anniversary.
15:02I wonder what they'll think of it.
15:04Much like earlier entries
15:06on this list,
15:07Eilish is spotted
15:07by the handsome New Yorker
15:09from across a crowded dance hall
15:10and he swoops in
15:11as soon as she's available.
15:13The two share
15:14a couple of dances
15:14and though there doesn't seem
15:16to be any swoonful gazes
15:17just yet,
15:18we know this is a moment.
15:20Can I walk you?
15:22I'm going to say yes
15:23and then I'm going to tell you why.
15:25So I don't get the wrong idea?
15:27I suppose so.
15:28Number 6.
15:29Cinderella and Prince Kit
15:31Cinderella
15:31Some classics just never get old.
15:34In 2015,
15:35Disney brought its version
15:36of Cinderella to live action
15:38with Lily James
15:39in the title role
15:40and Richard Madden
15:41as her prince.
15:42It would give me
15:42the greatest pleasure
15:44if you would do me
15:45the honor of letting me
15:46lead you through this.
15:48The first.
15:53Dance?
15:55Yes, dance.
15:56We welcomed it
15:57with open hearts.
15:58The ballroom dance scene
16:00is quintessential
16:00in the Disney universe
16:01and this one
16:02did not disappoint.
16:04They're all looking at you.
16:06Believe me,
16:08they're all looking at you.
16:09First of all,
16:10let's mention
16:11that Cinderella's outfit
16:12is one we all dreamt of
16:13as children.
16:14As she dances
16:15with the prince,
16:16the visual effect
16:17of that sparkling gown
16:18coupled with the sparkle
16:19in the potential lover's eyes
16:20makes for a perfectly
16:22magical waltz.
16:30Bonus points
16:31go to Madden
16:32for successfully maneuvering
16:33around that enormous skirt
16:34and Lily James
16:35who took an estimated
16:3745 minutes
16:38to put it on each time.
16:40Number five.
16:41Jane Austen
16:41and Tom Lafroy
16:42Becoming Jane.
16:43Upon meeting
16:44Tom Lafroy
16:45in Becoming Jane,
16:46Jane Austen
16:47dances with him
16:48yet reacts
16:48much like her famous
16:49character Lizzie Bennet
16:50upon meeting
16:51Mr. Darcy.
16:52She considers him
16:53to be an arrogant wretch
16:54and is unimpressed
16:55by his cavalier attitude.
16:57But you are
17:00above being pleased.
17:01But again,
17:02much like her own protagonists,
17:04she eventually
17:05falls in love.
17:06This first dance,
17:07however,
17:07is quite impressive
17:08in its marriage
17:09of choreography
17:10and conversation.
17:11You judge the company
17:12severely, madam.
17:13I was describing
17:14what you would be thinking.
17:16Allow me to think of myself.
17:17Give me leave
17:18to do the same, sir,
17:18and come to a different conclusion.
17:20The two dance
17:21in a sort of automatic fashion
17:22as they converse intermittently
17:24through the movements.
17:25Much like the other stories
17:26of this kind,
17:27the meeting is all too brief
17:28and the wrong impressions
17:30are given.
17:31I think that you,
17:32Miss Austen,
17:34consider yourself
17:35a cut above the company.
17:38Me?
17:41You, ma'am.
17:45Secretly.
17:45The duo shares
17:46a far more passionate dance
17:47towards the end
17:48of the film.
17:49Number four.
17:50Rose DeWitt Bucator
17:51and Jack Dawson.
17:53Titanic.
17:54We love a good
17:54two worlds coming together romance.
17:56And Rose and Jack
17:57give us one of the best.
18:04So you want to go to a real party?
18:06As a member of the wealthy elite,
18:07Rose shouldn't be going
18:08anywhere below
18:09the first class decks.
18:10Yet after having struck
18:11a romantic relationship
18:13with Jack,
18:13she ventures into his territory
18:15and into a lively dance.
18:17At first,
18:18she's hesitant to join.
18:19However,
18:19Jack,
18:20with his live-for-the-moment ethos,
18:22pulls her into the festivities.
18:23We're going to have
18:23to get a little bit closer.
18:25Like this.
18:30You're still my best girl, Cora.
18:34I don't know the steps.
18:36Neither do I.
18:37Just go with it.
18:38Rose gradually becomes
18:39more comfortable
18:40with her surroundings
18:41and ends up doing a jig
18:42and spinning wildly
18:43with her lover.
18:44It's a beautiful
18:45and light-hearted moment
18:46and honestly looks like
18:47a hell of a good time.
18:48No!
18:49No!
18:51Jack!
18:52No!
18:53No!
18:57Number 3.
18:58Anna Karenina
18:59and Count Alexei Vronsky.
19:01Anna Karenina.
19:02This one is unique
19:03among our other entries.
19:04The film is aesthetically stylized,
19:07taking place entirely
19:08in an old theater.
19:09Thus,
19:10the dance scene
19:10between Anna and Vronsky
19:11is a kind of beautifully
19:12surreal performance sequence.
19:14Despite knowing
19:15that she shouldn't encourage him,
19:17Anna can't resist
19:17Vronsky's attentions.
19:19Dance with me.
19:23I'm not used to being spoken to
19:24like that by a man
19:25I met once
19:25at a railway station.
19:26I dare say,
19:27but if I'm not to dance with you,
19:29then I'm getting out of this operetto
19:30and going home.
19:33Then for Katie's sake...
19:34As the two gracefully
19:35dance their way
19:36through the crowded ballroom,
19:37time stops.
19:38The dancers
19:39in the foreground freeze,
19:41allowing the couple
19:41to be the central focus.
19:50Mid-dance,
19:51the pair is suddenly alone
19:52for a few darkened
19:54intimate moments,
19:55only to be gradually rejoined
19:56by the reality
19:57of shocked onlookers
19:58and jealous eyes.
20:00It is truly a beautiful
20:01and evocative scene.
20:20Number 2
20:21Elizabeth Bennet
20:22and Mr. Darcy
20:23Pride and Prejudice
20:24What lover of romance
20:26doesn't fondly remember
20:27Mr. Darcy?
20:28I don't understand.
20:28I love you.
20:33Most ardent.
20:34The dreamy
20:35yet serious gentleman
20:36has been portrayed
20:37by many actors
20:38over the years,
20:39all of whom
20:40did an arguably
20:40excellent job
20:41at making our hearts flutter.
20:43We've already seen
20:43one excellent Darcy
20:44on this list,
20:45but Matthew McFadden
20:46is perhaps
20:47even more memorable.
20:48The initial meeting
20:49of these two
20:50is tense,
20:51with Darcy
20:51offending Lizzie's pride
20:52and Lizzie
20:53taking issue
20:54with his haughtiness.
20:55So what do you recommend
20:55to encourage affection?
20:58Dancing.
21:00Even if one's partner
21:02is barely tolerable.
21:03When the two do
21:04eventually share a dance
21:05at a later ball,
21:06it is mostly
21:07as a formality.
21:08What results
21:09is a tense exchange
21:10of small talk.
21:11Why do you ask
21:12such a question?
21:13To make out
21:13your character,
21:14Mr. Darcy.
21:14What have you discovered?
21:15Very little.
21:16I hear such different
21:17accounts of you
21:18as puzzling me
21:19exceedingly.
21:21I hope to afford
21:22you more clarity
21:23in the future.
21:24The symbolic cut
21:25to the two dancing alone
21:26reveals that their feelings
21:28might be more complicated,
21:29though.
21:30Mr. Darcy
21:30is everything.
21:39Before we continue,
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21:51Where are you,
21:52my love zone here?
21:53Say the word
21:54and I'll appear.
21:55I wrote this song
21:56just for you
21:57to tell you
21:58what I always knew.
22:05Number 1
22:06Maria and Captain Von Trapp
22:08The Sound of Music
22:09The moment when
22:11the stuffy patriarch
22:12shows his romantic side.
22:13In the classic film,
22:15governess Maria
22:16is outdoors
22:16with the children
22:17during a fancy party,
22:18showing them how to dance.
22:19Like this?
22:20Fine.
22:21Now we go for a little walk.
22:22This way.
22:22One, two, three.
22:24One, two, three.
22:25One, two, three.
22:27Step together.
22:28Now, step, hop,
22:29step, hop,
22:31not an under.
22:32Look right.
22:33Enter the handsome
22:34Captain Von Trapp,
22:35swooping in
22:36to provide a proper demonstration.
22:38The two glide across
22:39the garden floor
22:40with grace
22:41in one of those
22:41classic old-school
22:42Hollywood dance numbers.
22:54The captain is clearly
22:56far less straight-laced
22:57in this scene
22:58than usual,
22:58as he smiles
22:59and enjoys the moment,
23:01while Maria
23:01seems rather surprised
23:02at this change in character.
23:04The dance ends
23:05with a blushing Maria
23:06and a longful gaze,
23:08melting our hearts.
23:21Which other dance scene
23:22from a period drama
23:23makes you want to fly
23:24on a bright cloud of music?
23:25Let us know in the comments.
23:26See you next time.
23:27Bye.
23:28Bye.
23:29Bye.
23:30Bye.
23:31Bye.
23:31You
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