Top 30 Best Tap Dance Scenes in Movies

These scenes tapped their way into our memories. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the greatest, most impressive, and/or memorable tap sequences on film. Our countdown includes "Chicago," "Swing Time," "Born to Dance," and more! Did we forget YOUR Favorite tap scene? Let us know in the comments below.
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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.
#Dance #Dancing #Choreography #TapDance #Tap

[@MsMojo]

Did we forget YOUR favorite tap scene? Let us know below, and check out our video of the Top 50 Greatest Movie Dance Scenes of All Time - kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z2LCeIOlftibfLM

[@jamesryan6008]

Clearly no one there is familiar with Eleanor Powell's dancing. If you were, you would never have chosen "Hey Babe Hey". Not only is it the worst song Cole Porter ever wrote ( though The Ritz Roll and Rock is a close second), there is no real dancing( unless you think watching James Stewart attempting to tap dance is entertaining . It's not).

[@sarahhearn-vonfoerster7401]

​@@jamesryan6008 I agree...an insult to all professionals. Music strictly made to order...no Berlin charm or intricacy apparent!

[@donalfredof1112]

I'd like a video with your voice only ... one without that disturbing tapping, dancing, jumping and music ...

[@lauramcintyre483]

Please... Not even close to the best.

[@juliebaker6969]

Oh, you DEFINITELY missed one. Mitzi Mayfair's solo dance in Four Jills in a Jeep, is one of the most incredible dances I've ever seen. I swear that girl was made of Slinky's and Silly Putty.

[@haileycorrea8787]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING ELEANOR POWELL HER FLOWERS! She's very underated and i hope more people start to watch her legacy, her activism, and generosity. Her, Fred, and Debbie Reynolds inspired me to tap dance as a kid and now as an adult.

[@stephendecherney9794]

Absolutely. As mentioned, Eleanor Powell and Fred Astaire in Begin the Beguine is the best dance scene ever filmed. You have to watch the full version with costume changes.

[@haileycorrea8787]

@@stephendecherney9794 Definitely! I am planning on writing a paper on Eleanor Powell and have been doing lots of research on her. My goal is to complete all film/television appearances of her. And yes i’ve watched the whole scene of the Broadway Melody’s of 1940 and it’s amazing how Ellie and Fred perform. I wish they did more films but i recall reading somewhere that Fred was intimidated by her. I manifest one day they have a Eleanor Powell biopic.

[@stephendecherney9794]

Thanks Hailey. I would love to read your Eleanor Powell thesis. Steve

[@dansedufeu]

I love Melvin 1953 - Donald O'Connor tapping in roller skates before Gene Kelly did it in his movie.

[@susanhenderson6447]

Thank you for showing Gregory Hines in Tap he was amazing

[@peggywoods4327]

Growing up I was obsessed with all the classic dance movies! I never missed Shirley Temple, Fred Astaire, and many others every weekend. Imagine my delight when I discovered that Buddy Ebson was a talented dancer! Glad to see him in this compilation.

[@trhansen3244]

And not even his best. Whoever compiled this list doesn't know much about dancing.

[@peggywoods4327]

@@trhansen3244 he did some great scenes with his sister 😊

[@Cargoman769]

Don't forget the Bob Hope/James Cagney table dance scene from "The Seven little Foys" in 1955. Hope was 53 and Cagney was 56...

[@uofa82]

I mean this with the greatest of admiration: black people take dancing to a whole ‘nother level! As they do with many other artistic expressions. So talented!👏👏 ❤

[@jacquelinedavis6607]

Watching Cab Calloway and.there are two brothers who do so many splits it boggles the mind. That's pure awesome talent.

[@babytooty04]

Gene Kelly will always be No. 1 to me. Tap dancing in ROLLERSKATES!

[@LynneConnolly]

Don't forget that Fred and Ginger also tap danced in rollerskates in Top Hat. Amazing in all cases.

[@fayesouthall6604]

Amazing tap dancer and dancer.

[@AGurian]

The second-rate roller skating in Top Hat only serves to highlight the Gene Kelly Fair Weather jaw-dropping I Like Myself.

[@LynneConnolly]

@@AGurian Funny! Not even Gene Kelly considered Fred Astaire as second-rate at anything! But of course you're the expert, so you'd know, wouldn't you?

[@AGurian]

@@LynneConnolly Lynne (if I may): I think we can avoid a nasty battle; after all, we’re both hysterics for tap dancing. I didn’t mean to imply that Astaire was second-rate, just that his roller-skate dance is not among his best outings. (My favorite Astaire/Rogers is Pick Yourself Up.) In the sub-genre of “tap dancing on roller skates” I know of only three entries: The Astaire/Rogers (oops to us both--it’s from Shall We Dance, not Top Hat), the Kelly (Always Fair Weather) and Donald O’Connor (I think it’s from a film called I Love Melvin and I’m guessing that he cheats with fake skates when the going gets rough). But it’s the Kelly that really takes the cake. We are so lucky to have films of all four of these dancing titans!--Andrew

[@larkmacgregor3143]

Singing in the Rain got left out?? Not even an honorable mention?!?!? C'mon. Yes, every dance number in the movie is top notch, but Gene dancing down the street, getting soaked to the bone, swinging that umbrella and sloshing through puddles is an iconic performance for a reason.

[@TubeLVT]

That’s my favorite movie dance scene, but maybe it’s not properly “tap” dancing. The movement seems more like ballet and soft shoe. (But soft shoe is considered a form of tap. Perhaps “splash” dancing?)

[@maddalonefarms]

They used Good Morning and Moses

[@Madelinebellbr]

If you watch from 39 minutes you’ll see the scene with Donald O, Debbie R & Gene K performing Good Mornin’. There’s quite a lot of Gene K in this video, dontcha’ think?

[@hilakummins3104]

​@@Madelinebellbrok, but if we're doing a "dancing up the wall & ceiling" then Donald O'CONNOR won that hands down for SITR. 🎉

[@robstockton911]

Not really a tap dance.

[@nekograce7914]

Honorable mention? Ha! ‘Moses’ is number one. That choreography is…out of this world.

[@dianamcmahon51510]

Right?! Probably my favorite dancing scene in any movie!

[@trhansen3244]

That would have been my choice overall. But it's two white guys.

[@jamesryan6008]

With all of Eleanor Powell's great dances to chose from , you go with "Hey Babe Hey"????!!!!!!. The weakest song from that movie and the dancing is underwhelming ( to put it mildly).

[@nekograce7914]

@@jamesryan6008 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 I concur.

[@larskars5835]

Absolutely! I'm glad other viewers here realize this…

[@deborahhopper4033]

Gregory Hines in White Nights

[@deliarealtor]

Should have just played the full dance and left out the talking.

[@caperteewaratah]

yeah wish she would shut up

[@nancymassey3109]

Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did but she did it backwards and in heels.

[@jilllogan1288]

As did Anne Miller

[@elainedecker7186]

That is an ancient joke....and not true, just cute.

[@UCONN_HUSKIES]

I always found tap dancing fascinating 🤩

[@regand7830]

Fred Astaire was born in 1900. So in his most famous movies and their dance sequences, he's middle aged. That's almost geriatric by the standards of that time. He was remarkably fit for the same reasons. Tap dancing is VERY healthy!

[@marymichael1211]

Fred Astaire was born on May 10, 1899 and died on June 22, 1987 at 88 years old.

[@chelseacanales8763]

Tap dancing is so uplifting and upbeat

[@Jeannette311]

I see Ann Miller, I click.

[@christinarosen9711]

She is so underrated

[@robstockton911]

“Tops in taps!”

[@trhansen3244]

A great dancer but let's face it. Eleanor Powell was better.

[@jamesryan6008]

Same here. And they chose her best dances.

[@crystalwatters4426]

Ann Miller was the best at it! I look forward to Easter Parade every year just for “Shakin The Blues Away”!❤️💕❤️

[@TubeLVT]

“Tap” was released in 1989. Gregory Hines “carried on the legacy of black rhythmic tap dance …”. He died in 2003 at age 57. Who’s carrying on his legacy? Those scenes of mixed ballet and tap with Mikhail Baryshnikov were amazing! I doubt that anyone could even imitate that.

[@ser132]

Savion Glover is an amazing tap dancer (he played the kid in Tap), he did the dancing for Happy Feet.

[@annzeeg4217]

Actor Dule' Hill from the TV show Psych, The West Wing and The Wonder Years is actually a tap dancer. He was in The tap dance kid and danced with Harold Nicholas

[@juneclemons7657]

Bill "Bojangles" Robinson should have had more spot up here.

[@bethkellim7314]

ABSOLUTELY! Jumpin' Jive is the very best!!!!!!

[@kathybeckford3592]

I knew it had to be #1! That's the most amazing tap scene I've ever seen! 😃

[@ericroberts5468]

Thank you ,,, for a wonderful video ,,,,, nice to see some of the GREATS of the dance film stars ,,,, all of them ,,,, THANK YOU ❤

[@davidrule385]

I've always fallen in love with seeing tap dancing on screen, especially hearing it.

[@carolfuller-tt7vo]

I don't know if it comes under the heading of "tap dancing," but the Paso Doble scene from Strictly Ballroom is electrifying

[@adrianamaringrez9461]

No, Paso Doble is not Tap Dancing, different dances. But I am all for gaving a ball room dance from films copilation, since Paso Doble belongs to that.

[@carolfuller-tt7vo]

@@adrianamaringrez9461 Thank you Adriana, I didn't think it was, but I loved the film and the Paso Doble sequence, and thought it was well worth a mention.

[@patriciaaturner289]

Donald O’Connor, Make ‘em Laugh.

[@suebob16]

It's a great classic dance, but this list is for tap dancing.

[@robstockton911]

Not a tap dance.

[@trhansen3244]

He was white. I mean they had to squeeze him in somewhere. in truth, he should have been on the list about five times. Same with Eleanor Powell. Good God, do the people who choose these lists even bother to do any homework?

[@sheilaholmes8455]

Not tap

[@casey4602]

Gene Kelly's Singing In The Rain Gotta Dance scene is one of my favorites 😍

[@maryannangros8834]

Jumpin' Jive HAD TO BE number 1!!!!

[@samanthaharding4885]

Well deserved No. 1. Sheer brilliance.

[@trhansen3244]

No, it isn't. Maybe top 20. But #1? We all know why it was chosen. I can think of a dozen better dance routines just off the top of my head.

[@brucewalker5890]

This vid showed us a few we don’t normally associate with tap dancing, Christopher Walkin, James Stewart, Richard Gère, Julie Andrew’s and Mary Tylor Moore which made it worth leaving out famous sequences such as Singin in the Rain.

[@sharipowellpasay9497]

I took tap dancing for five years as a child so I clicked on this. Loved it. My Dad's cousin was Eleanor Powell. I met her once when I was a young teenager, and she danced at the Eastern States in MA. It was wonderful to watch her. So much skill. As much as I tried to tap, I had two left feet. Thank you for bringing memories back. Also, I loved Gene Kelly in roller skates and 'Singing In The Rain'.

[@cindygarrison6338]

Hines, Hines and Dad. Gregory was a part of that fantastic trio. No mention.

[@trishlangford5773]

I just love tap dancing.❤❤❤

[@deniselongino6769]

Ray Bolger in The Gibson Girls was epic and reportedly filmed in one continuous take

[@TubeLVT]

Are you remembering “The Harvey Girls”? Ray Bolger danced with Judy Garland in that movie.

[@KassiusFineArt]

Thank you! I love to watch dancing, especially tap. This was great.

[@samuelcollantes1175]

Happy sunday afternoon, Emily. Take care and God bless you, greetings from Colombia to you as well.

[@samanthaweis3228]

Donald O Connor for You Can Bounce Right Back being left out is crazyyyyy!

[@davidadausuel4537]

This was extremely well thought out and put together!! Bravo! For a beautiful tribute to the greats of old!

[@alimolina4279]

Excellent job! I love it! Thank you so much!

[@jennylawson1980]

Thank you thank you thank you for featuring all these wonderful tap sequences I loved every minute

[@cindychristiansen6329]

🥰🥰🥰🥰BRAVO BRAVO Great Performance 👍 👌

[@MichaelTaylor-yz1ss]

You guys do great work. If I were to remix this slightly, I would show more of the Nicholas brothers in the number one spot. Also, I would find a way to squeeze Danny Kaye in, maybe in honorable mentions. The sequence he led in "Singing in the Rain" is incredible.

[@Iwouldratherbeadog]

Gene Kelly magnificently performed Singing in the Rain

[@ton4347]

Danny Kaye wasn't in singing in the rain but you forgot donald o O'Conner

[@robstockton911]

??? Danny Kaye is not in SITR. Are you thinking of White Christmas?

[@trhansen3244]

Nicholas brothers? LOL Danny Kaye? LOL You should have your voting rights removed immediately.

[@rsbkug3981]

Love the movies with dancing

[@tas22222]

dancers who can sing !!! and then act? ! just perfect ! This is the first time ive heard of the condos bros ! WOW I thought I was up on this craft! clearly not ! thank you for this :))) Gregory was taken from us far to early, but the talent he left was learned by so many dances

[@dovesrun]

Those were great movies and talented actors. Too bad we don't have anything like that today.

[@ianedwards4400]

Buddy Ebsen could be called an 'anachronism' because he danced like no other way back in the 30's and 40's. In later years, he excelled in Westerns like MGM's Northwest Passage TV series; From the dancing upload, it is apparent that James Stewart had two left feet. Hilarious in a word. Ginger & Fred were impeccable in 'Swing Time'. Vera Ellen in White Christmas. This dance sequence was fusion at its best with a little bit of ballet, soft-shoe, jazz and interpretative dancing all rolled into one. I wonder who Vera's partner was. He was superb. I loved his pant and matching shoes that helped to enhance his intricate foot-work. Ann Miller, that lady with the most gorgeous LEGS in Hollywood was electrifying in her dance numbers from Small Town Girl and Kiss Me Kate. I swear no other Hollywood actress had thighs and calves like our gorgeous Ann. Fred & Eleanor Powell to this day are unbeatable with their Begin the Beguine number from Broadway Melody of 1940. I mustn't forget to mention our sweet Debbie Raynolds, Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor with their Good morning number from Singing in the rain. Great and neat synchronized footwork. Those were the days and years with real champs!!!

[@AirForceFalcons_9922]

Jumpin' Jive hands down.

[@trhansen3244]

No way. LOL

[@fosbury68]

Chattanooga Choo Choo with Dorothy Dandridge & The Nicholas Brothers, from Sun Valley Serenade. Every bit as good as Jumpin’ Jive.

[@inneybaby2506]

I'm so glad you included White Nights in here. I really loved that movie !

[@HannibalFan52]

Astaire and Rogers also tap danced on roller skates in 'Shall We Dance?', as did Donald O'Connor in 'I Love Melvin'. Fun Fact: Animators for Jerry the Mouse in 'Anchors Away!' didn't realize until the sequence was finished that they hadn't put in Jerry's reflections on the floor to match Gene Kelly's, so they had to go back and add them. Fun Fact: The Nicholas Brothers' jump-splits are echoed by the Genie and Aladdin at the end of the live-action version of 'Friend Like Me'.

[@vincentmancini6279]

FANTASTIC!!!!!

[@thecaffeinatedteacher7046]

Now I wanna see the stormy weather movie lol that was awesome

[@carolbutler6932]

OH! Thank you!!!

[@user-ds2cg1cg1m]

I would have enjoyed seeing more of Donald O'Conner. He was an energetic, talented hoofer! ❤😂

[@charlesspringer4709]

The Jumpin Jive splits on teh stairs was a single scene because it was so strenuous. The rest is filmed in he usual way with multiple cameras and dollys and a bunch of takes. At one point you can see their direction marks and scuffs from previous takes on the floor.

[@JB-ki2ix]

Yet people write as if the whole scene/dance was one take, which it obviously wasn’t.

[@kouklakee]

Great Great Video ! In my opinion all Fantastic dancers but for me Fred Astaire just stands out !

[@LoisSambrano-Smith]

But, What about Gene Kelly in "An American in Paris"??? He is COMPLETELY OFF THE CHART!!! That seventeen minute Ballet sequence with Leslie Caron...was nothing less than Spectacular!!! I must admit...I am a Dance Nut and most of the FLICKS FROM THE FORTIES!...

[@3kayoung]

I think they are all great!! there is no 1 to 30.

[@robertleinbach6016]

As usual, this site enjoys talking over the entertainment.

[@michaelhoffmann4096]

Ginger did it in heels!

[@sheilaholmes8455]

Lots of women did.

[@marymcgrath7744]

I didn't know that Richard Gere could dance and tap like that! Now I like him even more!

[@mckennarosenau6274]

Step in Time from Mary Poppins? That number is impressive both on screen and stage.

[@suebob16]

I agree it's a great dance, but this list is for tap dancing.

[@robstockton911]

Not a tap dance.

[@marylhere]

Cagney mentioned in his autobiography that he told them he could tap and then learned how after being offered the role.

[@robstockton911]

He did say that, but it’s been refuted by many people that knew him.

[@002DrEvil]

The Nicholas Brothers also got to perform in Down Argentine Way, and I also enjoy Ruby Keeler's dance to the 42nd Street title number.

[@circa81]

I thin their routine in Down Argentine Way is actually better......

[@trhansen3244]

There were much better dancers.

[@kimmerdkd]

Dirty Dancing went a long way in bringing dance to include tap to a whole new generation and creating a sensation that still lives on!

[@suebob16]

Thank you for adding some fresh dances to the usual mix such as Eleanor Powell/James Stewart/& Cast in Hey Babe Hey from Born To Dance, Richard Gere's solo tap dance from Chicago, The Condos Brothers, and Julie Andrews/Mary Tyler Moore from Thoroughly Modern Millie (in the honorable mentions). As usual 30 dances are not enough--you will next have to go to 100.

[@erikahentschke5208]

Great choices of some rarely seen numbers well done I know movies have moved on from the all singing all dancing films. How many of todays actors would be able to keep up with these dancers.

[@marybarratt2649]

Ann Miller … fantastic. Loved Eleanor Powell too.

[@user-m3cc5in9aa]

The movie Tap showcased the best!!

[@brendamoorehill5993]

😮Little Miss Broadway…Danced by Shirley Temple #1 dance of the ages ..

[@tony_2024]

Ann Miller is my fave tap dancer, Its sad that she died. Ann Miller was a legend

[@trhansen3244]

She was one of the very best. But to me no one can touch Eleanor Powell.

[@ChristineBrown-ds7dt]

Brilliant Ann Miller, easter parade my favourite movie musical of all time

[@mysterytrain3]

A couple of my personal favorites come to mind: Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers "They All Laughed" from Shall We Dance and "The Barn Dance" from Summer Stock, Judy Garland and Gene Kelly.

[@paulfarrell8792]

Job well done. I would like to ask that you allow tap performance to speak for itself. You could have made 6 videos with you speaking of the performances in between. Tap is the dance everything else flows around.

[@erinbragg1998]

loved ZF

[@alondraxiquivicente120]

WOW

[@gfitz6001]

Fred Astaire- simply the ❤️ best❤️

[@user-ds2cg1cg1m]

I wish tap and musicals would come back. I have a suggestion. Do a compilation of just good dance scenes from some 50s musicals. My vote for #1 is the barn raising dance scene in 7 Brides for 7 Brothers. Then there's Mitzi Gaynor in South Pacific. You could cheat a little and sneak in some of Westside Story and I love the large group dance scene in Beyond the Sea, Kevin Spacey's tribute to Bobby Darin. ❤

[@selilelbi8342]

Süper ❤❤

[@ezpzlmnsqz8147]

The dance scene at the end of "cuties" has to be top 3

[@uofa82]

Christopher Walken surprised me!

[@pammcdaniel3580]

Yes, Vera Allen (I think) in White Christmas.

[@marybruun9621]

No Mandy? From white christmas?? That's one of my favorites. Although I do love that you put Shirley Temple and Bo Jangles

[@user-ds2cg1cg1m]

I adore watching Fred Astaire dance. I have never admired Gene Kelly; even when acting I found his personality smugly repellent, which overshadowed any talent he might have had in other areas. For my tastes, none of these come close to the talent and charisma of Gregory Hines. I miss him. ❤ Added note: WOW! I haven't seen that much of Ann Miller. She was fantastic! Thanks for this compilation! I truly enjoyed it. Especially some of the early, to me unknown, dancers. (Like all the brother performers,)

[@mr.x8259]

I, am, your singing telegram!

[@sheilaholmes8455]

😂😂😂

[@elyndafae1593]

If Shirley Temple hadn't been in there somewhere I'd have been disappointed. But how about the routine she and Buddy Ebsen did in Captain January? My personal favourite.

[@kadishevdox]

Come on….not even an honorable mention for Young Frankenstein’s Putting on the Ritz????

[@002DrEvil]

Best performance ever by a member of the recently deceased.

[@dreamguardian8320]

There are times I wish Anchors Aweigh was a full animated and live action crossover movie, like Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

[@ShanRees]

Ray Bolger, The Great Zeigfeld.

[@jamesryan6008]

Wonderful choice.

[@kimmerdkd]

And how could we ever forget Ann Miller in the larger than life Great American Soup TV commercial?!

[@ianedwards4400]

I do wish you could oblige with an upload of musicals from other studios to include some dance sequences from Universal Internationals 1953 featurette, "David Rose & His Orchestra", where two great dancers - Earl Barton and Lisa Gaye - are shown performing to the strains of 'Main Street USA'. The couple's intricate footwork is mind-blowing!!! Also some nice dance sequences from the 1955 film "Ain't Misbehavin" where there are two dance sequences with Piper Laurie, Mamie Van Doren and Lisa Gaye participating. Thanks you in advance.

[@elainedecker7186]

Singing In The Rain, known to be the best musical movie ever done....Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds keeping up with them.

[@madelynl.5351]

I fancied myself an “expert” in 40’s tap movies, but you, Ms Mojo, have taken the crown from me. I was enthralled with the taps you curated for this video. They were outstanding and many of them I had never seen before. I was particularly happy that you included Vera Ellen and Ann Miller and especially that you actually mentioned by name Vera Ellen’s tap partner. He has to be the least recognized and greatest tap partner ever. So thank you for that! I have liked and subbed your channel and look forward to seeing many more presentations from you in the future! Thank you! I thoroughly enjoyed your video.

[@adriangarcia543]

The greatest showman

[@colingibson3921]

The bootmen!!!

[@DCboy93]

👍

[@katecuneo6380]

Look at Fred Astaire, dancing with his favorite partners, himself.

[@dianamcmahon51510]

Top 30? I could've watched a top 300! I've rewatched the Moses Supposes scene about 100 times. 😛

[@baldyzuzu925]

Best Tap for me is Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

[@winniefisher]

Fred Astaire no one comes near to matching his talent, except maybe Eleanor Powell

[@Lilmovieman27]

It would be nice if both mojo channels stopped putting number one at the start of the video

[@kimmerdkd]

It's jokingly said.. What is the toughest thing on Earth? Ann Millers feet,!

[@DaddyOfTheSugarVariety]

I vote for The First Time It Happens - The Great Muppet Caper. How many pigs do you know that can tap dance? 😄

[@agraham715]

Gregory and Maurice Hines from "The Cotton Club"