Top 20 Tap Dance Scenes in Movies

Ladies and gentlemen, a tap dance movie scene. For this list, we’ll be looking at our favorite and most exciting collection of these dance sequences throughout movie history. Our countdown includes "Billy Elliot," "Tap," "Happy Feet," and more! What's YOUR favorice tap dance movie scene? Let us know in the comments!

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MsMojo is a leading producer of reference online video content of Top 10 Lists, Origins, Biographies, Commentary and more on Pop Culture, Celebrity, Movies, Music, TV, Film, Video Games, Politics, News, Comics, Superheroes. Your trusted authority on ranking Pop Culture.

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[carolinegoss]

Donald O’Connor was so overlooked as a dancer. He was fabulous!

[silky]

What makes the Nicholas Brothers so Amazing (besides the fact that Fred Astaire was wowed by them) is the fact that they were completely self taught.

[maipe]

I love watching the Nicholas brothers dance. Always fast, athletic, artistic and still so suave!

[RhaegarTargaryenst]

Thank you for showing love to the glorious and criminally underappreciated Ann Miller!

[bozotheclown]

These people were not just dancers they were spectacular athlete's. The strength to make it look so effortless and easy. Beats the crap of today by miles..

[emitch]

12. James Cagney's scene coming down the staircase was not of the original scripted scene. When the director was rolling the camera for Cagney to step down the staircase, Cagney suddenly went into a improvising tap sequence as he descended. Much to the lot and director's surprise! Gagney was an old vaudeville dancer before he was in the films and contracted. What a gem moment of Gagney that made for a wonderful film clip. I can only imagine that this was the director's unimagined dream come true with the camera rolling in ONE TAKE! Thank you! And the other clips are all gems, too!

[LaurieSwenson]

I was disappointed that the name of Donald O'Connor, my favorite tap dancer, was not mentioned in the "Singin' in the Rain" dance with Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds. Only his character's name was mentioned.

[philippschwartzerdt]

In the movie Tap the “old” guys were apart from Samy Davis Jr. (64 in 1989), Sandman Sims, Bunny Briggs, Steve Condos, Jimmy Slyde, Pat Rico, Arthur Duncan and Harold Nicholas.
And Harold Nicolas was the oldest of them, born in 1914 (passed in 2006) and he was already about 75 when the movie was shown in 1989.
I love that scene!❤

So it is kind of nice that you mention them to be in their late 50’s and 60’s when in fact they were a decade older. It is therefore even the more impressive how these guys performed.

[cindystrachan]

I can’t believe you left out the athletic and incomparable dancing in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers! Russ Tamblyn, Jacques D’Amboise and the others turn every number into jaw-dropping spectacle.

[trinaq]

I loved the Billy Elliot angry dance to "Town Called Malice", it's so epic, and the best way for Billy to let out his pent up rage!

[jeffreylindahl]

Dancing is one of the most beautiful art forms in the world and sadly underappreciated.

[amberjohnson]

All of these are so legendary! Gregory Heinz was a true class act. I truly love all the dancers here. Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly will always make my heart happy. Anne Miller is absolutely divine in every performance. And Bojangles Robinson dancing with Shirley Temple is what made the movies so much fun to watch in the Golden Age of Film. Thank you so much for a terrific 💖

[kathrynshaw]

I'm 77 now in '22 and loved growing up watching most of these tap dancers. A few years ago, I tried to get a copy of the movie with Bojangles and Shirley Temple singing "Mr. Blue Birds on my shoulder. It's the truth. It's actual." I found that it was one of those things that had been "banned" in the foolishness of the early 1950s. If I wanted a copy I would have to order one from France. With the recent loose talk of book banning, this seems like a good time to remind people that they can lose a great deal with these frivolous bans.

[MamaPinks]

Mr. Bojangles and Shirley Temple are my favorite duo. It has always warmed my heart.

[kazza]

My favorite part of Abraham is that it feels so smooth and easy while being so high energy. The way they just walk and turn casually into the start gets me every time. The essence of cool

[diamondstuddedpunchingbag]

"The Little Colonel"....the directors kept trying to keep Shirley from holding Bojangles hand as that wasn't "allowed" at the time. In her innocence of the times, she insisted...racism is taught not inherent.

[mary]

I love watching the Nicholas Brothers! Wow! And I also love Gregory Hines and that scene with all the veteran tappers. So much talent in one room!!!! Amazing!

[flakeyjake]

When I was a kid, my folks couldn't afford both piano and dance lessons, and chose to keep the piano lessons. I'm a senior now and still play the piano well, but I sure wish I could have kept both and learned how to tap dance. What a joyful and fascinating form of dance, I never get tired of watching it. Thanks!

[joycefears]

Donald O’Connor’s solo dance in Dancing in the Rain. Always laugh out loud when he dances with the dummy.

[dayrever]

The Nicholas Brothers routine was so amazing. I've watched it so many times.