Darling, save the last dance for me!

Darling, save the last dance for me! By Maree Anderson for Writers Gone Wild

You might have figured out by some of my references to dance classes, that I love going dancing. Specifically, partner dancing--in my case, Ceroc dance, which is a kind of French Rock Jive done to any modern night-club style music with a decent beat.

For me, partner dancing is fun, pure and simple. It's "me" time and that's why even though we all (DH, me and the kids) go to karate class on Thursday nights and I'm usually pretty tired after the class, the minute I get home I rush for the shower, chuck on some clothes, grab my dancing bag and head off to Ceroc class and a full-on evening of freestyle afterward.

So what's the big deal with partner dancing?

Well, there's the enforced intimacy--hard to partner dance without body contact! And if you're comfortable with your partner and he's willing to ham it up, it gives you the opportunity to play up to him, pretend to flirt outrageously, be just a little bit sexy -- or a lot, depending on how brave you are! -- with no strings attached.

There's also that slightly scary thrill of putting yourself entirely in a man's hands and having to trust that he will keep you safe while he whirls you round the floor and performs those dips, drops and laybacks. In other words, if he decides to turn on the fancy moves, you have to trust that he won't drop you on your ass! Or, as in my case last week when I ended up upside down with my feet in the air, that he won't bash your head on the floor, LOL. (He didn't, BTW. But I did scream!)

And one of the best things about partner dancing is that for the duration of the song, while he's whirling you round the room, you are his entire focus. He can't do this alone. He needs you to showcase his moves and he's not taking his eyes off of you for a second! And I gotta say, when you're dancing with someone really good, it's an awesome feeling.

Anyway, I thought I'd take this opportunity to share some of my favorite dance movies with you -- or movies with great dance scenes in them.

First up is the tango scene from Take The Lead with Antonio Banderas:



Next up is the Team Tango from the same movie, where the female dancer plays with two male leads -- sooo very sexy!



Strictly Ballroom -- here's a gorgeous dance scene with Scott (Paul Mecurio) practicing the routine with Fran (Tara Morice) and then segueing into the competition scene.



One of my favorite "feel good" dancing movies is Dance With Me, starring Chayanne and Vanessa Williams. Here's a fantastic scene from a salsa club -- I love watching this one! They just look like they're having so much fun.



Granted this isn't a "dance" movie but it does have an amazing dance scene in it. From my favorite movie evah, The Thomas Crown Affair, check out this scene between Renee Russo and Pierce Brosnan. Oh. My. God. And that dress! Soooo sexy. (P.S. If you're offended by love scenes, don't watch on past the dance scene. It's beautifully done, but you have been warned!)



There's loads more dance-related DVDs in my cabinet but that's all I have time to find clips for at the moment -- gotta go take my son to his Year 6 school graduation dinner!

Addendum: Naima just reminded me I'd left out Dirty Dancing, which is just, like, a crime of monumental proportions! Have lost track of how many times I've watched that movie and it still makes me cry. Naima, this link is for you!

Hope you enjoy my selection.

And since I'd love any excuse to buy more DVDs, how about you share your favorite dance scenes from movies with me?

:-)
M