Dancing movies? (Shirley Temple, Fred Astaire, etc)

[lach]

My daughter is obsessed with dancing and I thought she might like to see some movies with lots of dancing. I got the Shirley Temple movie Baby Take a Bow, and we're about 1/2way through and there's only been one short number. She was mesmerized by that, but the rest of the movie isn't particularly interesting to her.

Can anyone recommend a movie (or a TV show I can find on DVD) that has a lot of dancing?

[crittersmum]

MGM's "That's Entertainment" is just about all dancing numbers from the heyday of the big Hollywood musical. "The Best Old Movies for Families: A Guide to Watching Together by Ty Burr has some great recommendations, too.

[monkeybars]

My favorite, especially as a kid, was An American In Paris with Gene Kelley and Leslie Caron. Singing in the Rain is also fabulous. I also really enjoyed the old Busby Berkley musicals - so spectacular!

[lach]

Thanks! Those all sound like just what I'm looking for.

[simple living mama]

Not sure if it's age appropriate but my favorite Strictly Ballroom (Australian Film) is wonderful. You can show her parts of it.

[lach]

Originally Posted by simple living mama

Not sure if it's age appropriate but my favorite Strictly Ballroom (Australian Film) is wonderful. You can show her parts of it.

You know, that's a great one too. I bet she'd LOVE the costumes too.

[Skim]

OK, it's not really a *dancing movie* but my girls love the dancing in Mary Poppins, the "Step In Time" sequence is great!

ETA: Cats! My dd2 loves the video of the musical. I mean, really really loves it. And it's all dancing, really. And fun costumes. And singing. But if you can't stand the music of Cats, well, don't bother. lol

[lach]

Originally Posted by Skim

OK, it's not really a *dancing movie* but my girls love the dancing in Mary Poppins, the "Step In Time" sequence is great!

ETA: Cats! My dd2 loves the video of the musical. I mean, really really loves it. And it's all dancing, really. And fun costumes. And singing. But if you can't stand the music of Cats, well, don't bother. lol

Wow, I hadn't even thought about those! I loved Mary Poppins as a kid. And the musical idea is good. What's that one with roller skates? I wonder if that's on video

[rajahkat]

Seven brides for seven brothers is one of my favs for both dancing & music.

What about Music Man, Oklahoma, West Side Story, I'll have to ask the husband when he gets home, as he's the one with a dance degree! I'm sure he'd have lots of suggestions.

kat

[Skim]

Originally Posted by lach

Wow, I hadn't even thought about those! I loved Mary Poppins as a kid. And the musical idea is good. What's that one with roller skates? I wonder if that's on video

Xanadu?

[lach]

Originally Posted by Skim

Xanadu?

Yes! With Olivia Newton John! I'll check that one out, too.

[sapphire_chan]

Don't forget Bollywood if your library has any. The DVDs often have a menu option to just go through the musical numbers.

[Skim]

Originally Posted by sapphire_chan

Don't forget Bollywood if your library has any. The DVDs often have a menu option to just go through the musical numbers.

Oh Yes! My library doesn't carry any, so I forgot to include it. Highly recommended.

[Katrinawitch]

My two favorites are "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers", and "Singin' in the Rain". Both fun and colorful, with many exuberant singing and dancing numbers.

[Thalia]

Swing Time, with Fred and Ginger. Classic.

[ollyoxenfree]

Shall We Dance - the original Japanese version
Shall We Dance? - the Richard Gere/Jennifer Lopez re-make.

It's rated PG, but I don't recall anything inappropriate in it. It's been years though, so I may be forgetting something.

[butterfly_mommy]

Singing in The rain - this was my fav movie when I was a kid.

Shall we Dance the original Japanese version is fantastic

Also DS loves Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, has some great dance numbers in it and some really cute songs. DS loves the Toot Sweet dance number and the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang song.

[stik]

There's also a _Shall We Dance?_ with Astaire and Rogers. I love their work, and public libraries usually have lots of it available.

My dd loved _Singin' in the Rain_ when she was little.

[umsami]

Fred and Ginger.... "Top Hat", "Gay Divorcee", "Flying Down to Rio", and "Swing Time" are all great. You can actually just watch dancing clips on YouTube. My kids all love "Pick Yourself Up, Dust Yourself Off... Start All Over Again..." from "Swing Time"...

This is the music...but it's after the song which is really cute.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxPgplMujzQ

The Piccolino from Top Hat
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlGwl...om=PL&index=18

And of course, you have to see Fred dancing on the ceiling in "Royal Wedding"...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8n7W...eature=related

I also love his practice dance...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwcc0...eature=related



Let's see for Shirley Temple...
Animal Crackers in My Soup...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNwFXLcrsbc


On the Goodship, Lollipop...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yR7ONpWlIE



Dancing with the awesome Bill Robinson...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjCFYpWDmfM



The awesome Nicholas Brothers...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBb9hTyLjfM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNrI7XF-pII

[lach]

Oh very cool, thanks everyone! Some great suggestions. YouTube is so useful for entertaining toddlers, isn't it?