Top 10 Greatest Broadway Dancers of All Time

They're the greatest dancers Broadway has ever seen. For this list, we’ll be looking at stars of the stage who shone the brightest with their dance talents. Our countdown includes Robert Fairchild, Ann Reinking, Gwen Verdon, and more! Which Broadway Dancer gets a standing ovation from you? 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.
#Broadway #Dance #Musicals #Dancers #Choreography

[@MsMojo]

Which Broadway Dancer gets a standing ovation from you? Let us know below, and check out our video of the Top 20 Iconic Broadway Dance Numbers - kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqvXepiLjrScZ9k

[@jennifer5512]

You need to do more research.

[@carolynhotchkiss4760]

To not include Ben Vereen even in an Honorable Mention is shameful. How could you leave such talent out?

[@joshuaroberson343]

Ben Vereen is a predator. He assaulted multiple women while working on a production of Hair

[@Jayjen35]

I agree !!!💯💯💯💯💯

[@jackdasef7367]

Ms Mojo does that deliberately to generate clicks and controversy. As far as I'm concerned, that invalidates their entire premise.

[@patriciawaters1431]

I agree . Also both Kelly and Astaire started on Broadway. And what about Tommy Tune ?

[@susansokoloski2233]

Absolutely

[@alexmeyer5260]

How the hell is there no mention of Tommy Tune? His 10 Tony Awards alone for his work as a choreographer, director, dancer, and actor deserve him a spot on this list!!

[@lindaclark1406]

These list are never true. This is why I refuse to watch any award shows. They are all by popularity and ass kissing.

[@waterlily6543]

Tommy tune is way above this list as is Donald O’Connor

[@kazkazzie3906]

Debbie Allen deserved to be on this list. Debbie's broadway performance in Westside Story is legendary.

[@Jayjen35]

Absolutely!!!!

[@brucecoleman5379]

She did Sweet Charity too!

[@teddyramagole1904]

I meeeeeean!!!!!

[@garysilverman8184]

legendary???

[@kazkazzie3906]

@@garysilverman8184 oh Yes.

[@AnnaItem]

sutton foster but not gregory hines or savion glover is INSANE

[@grown-upactress4155]

Anne Reinking was magic.

[@danacarpender2287]

True story: My dad, an NYC ad man, met Anne Reinking at a party. She’d been playing an airhead in whatever show she was in at the time. Dad, finding her brilliant, asked how she could play someone so dumb. According to Dad, her response was, “Because I’m a fucking great actress.”

[@harryorenstein1144]

When you limit yourself to ten, there are always going to be some whose absence is striking. Bebe Neuwirth and Tommy Tune immediately come to mind.

[@user-sh4mv3tc3r]

Neuwirth is far from a great dancer. She is all attitude.

[@Dianne-qv5mx]

BeBe for sure!

[@harryorenstein1144]

Interesting comment. I suppose you could say that about anyone who dances to Bob Fosse's choreography!@@user-sh4mv3tc3r

[@trinaq]

Thank you for mentioning Ariana, she is an absolute queen, and always impresses with her singing, dancing and acting. She's a clear triple threat! 🎶🎭💃

[@bennymora3086]

💃🏽

[@DanGamingFan2846]

Ariana DeBose is an absolute rising star. I loved her in _West Side Story (2021)_ I can't wait to see what more she brings in the future.

[@marikafasola3780]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@fabrisseterbrugghe8567]

Tommy Tune? His dancing as well as choreography in My One and Only was terrific. He worked with Champion and Kelly in Hello, Dolly and made a real name as a dancer before choreography.

[@sheilaholmes996]

I did Seesaw with Tommy Tune. Fabulous dancer and a great guy.

[@grown-upactress4155]

I almost cried when I saw you named Fosse #1. Many people don't know he was a performer too. He would have loved this.

[@bernardachour614]

I so agree with you. I didn't cry, but I got goosebumps all over my body.

[@cair124]

I knew Fosse had to be #1 simply because of how many people he influenced. FYI: If you have the chance, look up Sam Rockwell and Michelle Phillips in "Fosse" -- fascinating story and fabulous acting/dancing/singing!

[@user-sh4mv3tc3r]

His performances on Broadway were limited. He should not have been on this list at all, as remarkable as he was.

[@user-sh4mv3tc3r]

@@cair124 It's Michelle Williams. Michele Phillips sang with The Mamas and the Papas.

[@njatty]

@@cair124In the Playbill for DANCIN', Fosse dedicated his "I Wanna be a Dancin' Man" number "to Fred." Yet, nowhere in this list is the great Fred Astaire. Verdon and Fosse idolized him. Gershwin, Berlin, Porter, Youmans, and Schwartz & Dietz all wrote Broadway shows for him. Jerome Kern wrote for him. Rodgers & Hart had wanted him for ON YOUR TOES.

[@barbaraehnes9048]

I am a great fan of Tommy Rall and Carol Haney.

[@laurelton236]

Where is Ben Vereen? If your #1 Fosse thought him remarkable…how could you miss this remarkable triple threat dancer?

[@Jayjen35]

Exactly - its pretty inexcusable!!!

[@brucecoleman5379]

HOW is Fred Astaire not on this list???? He started out on Broadway and then went on to be THE BEST MALE DANCER IN THE MOVIES!!!

[@Jayjen35]

Wasn't he a vaudevillian though?

[@brucecoleman5379]

@@Jayjen35 Might have been but he did several shows on Broadway in the late twenties, 'Funny Face,' 'Gay Divorce' etc before he moved on to movies.

[@Dianne-qv5mx]

Absolutely!

[@colegreen1291]

Stared with sister Adele in Lady Be Good

[@missydehart6920]

Great list. Fosse, Verdon, Reinking, Rivera! Legends!

[@PS-DLMA]

Id add....Tommy Tune and Ben Vereen

[@traceycooper3554]

Love Ariana Dubose and Rob Fairchild but HOW did they make the list before the legendary Ben Vereen (Pippin, Jesus Christ Superstar, Fosse, Jelly’s Last Jam, Hair) the magnificent Debbie Allen ( West Side Story, Sweet Charity, Ain’t Misbehavin, Purlie)…what was the criteria (other than leaving out choreographers)…Oh and Chita Rivera should be #3 IJS 😉if we’re talking about best Broadway dancers.

[@gingerkid1048]

Cause it goes from lowest to highest…those later in the video as the more iconic.

[@jinakaye]

This is such a great list and I'm glad Donna McKechnie & Ephraim Sykes got shout outs! Ms. McKechnie did this fantastic dance off with Debbie Allen on “Fame” and it stills gives me shivers. Ephraim was so good in “Hamilton”, which had amazing dancers overall in the chorus.

[@MISTAHughey]

I'm sorry where is Debbie Allen on this list. They don't come no better and she is a Broadway legend who has her own dance academy!!! I'm gonna need a recount!!!

[@ansleyhendrix3381]

LoveAriana Debose!!! Her opening number at the Tonys last year was so good!

[@marypatelhattab6253]

I would add Bebe Neuwirth and Colleen Dunn to the list 😊

[@divab63]

Thank you for actually acknowledging some of the greats of Broadway dancers. Fosse, Verdin, Reinking, Robbins, Kidd, Foster, Tivera! Wow what a list of amazing performers who went on to make amazing contributions to dance.

[@grown-upactress4155]

So happy you mentioned the incredible Tony Yazbeck!!

[@andreaatalay2649]

What about Gene Kelly???

[@amygreen4408]

I couldn't agree more!!

[@lynnemackay-er4se]

What about Gregory Hines❤

[@cpoppa2]

What about Hinton Battle, a three time Tony winner, also Greg Burge, and Debbie Allen, etc.? All Broadway legends!!!

[@bradjones3082]

Carol Haney should have been on this list, Donna should been more than a mention, and sorry fosse but gwen verdon is hands down the best ever...if you watch the two of them dance side by side, she is superior and the best

[@sherrillsturm7240]

Liza Minelli deserves more than Honorable Mention. Side by side, she out-dances most of the best.

[@Juliemarg]

The garbage can lid dance has always been one of my favorites!

[@schannstewart9385]

#1 is always will be Fred Astaire. Yep! He performed on Broadway

[@vanessahenry7238]

Thank you for this list, so many younger generation maybe unaware of a lot of these iconic performers. Some they only seen in movies and not known they been on the stage - in some cases a VERY long time! The first time I saw Gwen Verdon was in the movie The Cotton Club and that was like 1980?-81? So that just one example

[@alexmeyer5260]

The Cotton Club actually came out in 1984.

[@RobertBurns71405]

Didn’t even mention Bebe Neuwerth 🙄😡

[@suebob16]

I want to throw in at least an Honorable Mention for Harry Groener. He was in Crazy For You, Oklahoma, and an early Pacific Conservatory Theater production of Brigadoon which was the first time I ever saw him on the stage. He literally fell off a "cliff" as the tragic Harry Beaton and he blew me away. 😮

[@ep8755]

The fact that Gene Kelly is not on this list makes the entire thing a mockery.

[@sheilaholmes996]

Ann Reinking. The best!!!

[@jillferrier8715]

Your picks are perfect.

[@PATangoS_]

Would have put Reinking as #2 since this is about dance. Except for Fosse, I haven't seen anyone move as fluidly as she did. The quality of her movement just catches your eye every single time.

[@MCMNasty2]

Huge huge fan of Ann Reinking.

[@monique6161]

I met Ann Miller years ago while living in Arizona. One of the nicest people I’ve ever met

[@oliviakinter179]

Should have just made a Top 20 list

[@maryavalon6280]

Lovely retrospective!

[@sonicfan11589]

I'm glad to see my uncle on the list (number 5)

[@CooperCapturesGallery]

Good selection, but where is Tommy Tune?

[@rosiebargoed681]

Anne miller is spectacular. ❤❤❤

[@anniesavidge2468]

You’ll find Bob Fosse in a obscure movie in the 70s called the Little Prince. In the number, you can see his amazing influence on Michael Jackson from the white Sox and black pants right down to the moonwalk

[@Jayjen35]

*I AM SORRY* - but to have such a list as best dancers on Broadway and not bother with people like Gregory Hines, Ben Vereen, Debbie Allen, and Savion Glover is just inexcusable.

[@user-sh4mv3tc3r]

Yup.

[@pauladouglas9891]

Bob Fosse in Kiss Me Kate was a real showstopper.I never get tired of watching him.

[@thomasbradley4505]

I saw Chita Rivera on tour in Kiss of the Spider Woman. She was older then, than I am now, and she moved like someone half her age. And this was after she was hit by a car and many thought she would never walk, let alone dance, again

[@SethProton]

Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly not even a mention?

[@assisleao6860]

BOB FOSSE, CHITA, LIZA and GWEN eternals!!!

[@elizabethpaczolt5326]

Love it!

[@Tiger-qd2ie]

Ann Reinking was absolutely the best!!!

[@metzkerj]

Tommy Tune?

[@bonniewinninger4896]

Ann Reinking gets my vote!

[@timothysmith7888]

You have misnamed this list. You title it 10 Best Broadway DANCERS and proceed to ID triple threats, overlooking some GIANTS as triple threats go, and, ignoring the Best DANCERS! Harold Lang, Ray Bolger, GREGORY HINES, Gretchen Wyler, NATALIA MAKAROVA, George de La Peña, JUDITH JAMISON, Hinton Battle, Gregg Burge, Joel Grey, Mercedes’ Ellington, Charles “HONI” Coles, Graciela Danielle, Gemze de Lappe, Tommy Tune, the cast of DANCIN, . . . this list goes on and on and on

[@marthawelch4289]

I saw Makarova on stage doing solos and duets from famous ballets. I don't remember her being in a Broadway show though. Her rendition of "Dying Swan" was stunning. I have never seen anyone create such beautiful, but powerful arm and back muscle movement. And her final flutters of life were tragically gorgeous.

[@joshuaroberson343]

Idk if I really agree with Sutton Foster’s spot on this list

[@amarbyrd2520]

WHERE IS DEBBIE ALLEN?? WHERE IS BEN VEREEN?

[@savyjett]

Love a list that includes anne miller!!

[@MsMojo]

The best!

[@joanwood9480]

Donna McKechnie's dance number in Company on broadway was extraordinary. Unfortunately I've been unable to find any recordings of that number. Dancing over, under, around, and through a jungle gym. Just phenomenal.

[@terencedove5047]

Where was Donald O’Connor, Paula Kelly, Ben Vereen, or Gene Kelly?

[@thebrothaj]

debbie allen, gregory hines, ben vereen and savion glover have entered the chat... ariana dubose is an awesome talent, but "of all time?!" umm, too soon.

[@ArtworksbyNet]

Bebe Neuwirth was not even mentioned. That is so wrong!!!

[@dianaaljadeff2983]

In Mojo.only.put the recent artists .But they couldnt forget Chita Ann Miller Gwen Verdon Ann Reiking Jerome Robbins Michael Kidd and of course Bob Fosse.But were are Tommy Tunne Debbie Allen Tommy Rall Ben Vereen Gene Nelson Harold Lang Donald O Connor and of course Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly who were also on Broadway

[@tizianagonzalez6802]

Love Broadway, love MsMojo❤❤

[@ReneeJoan]

Gene Kelly. Donald O’Connor. Judy Garland. Michael Jackson. Cyd Charisse. Rita Hayworth. Fred Astaire.

[@happyclam1266]

It was weird and confusing that you led off with Donna when she was an honorable mention. However, this ranking lists are generally a little bit ridiculous, although entertaining.

[@lonellfletcher]

Killer list!!!!!!

[@mervyngreene6687]

I agree.

[@franprudhomme4506]

Ann Miller is perfection.

[@laminage]

Isn't it amazing to know that Chicago, Grease, Dreamgirls & Hairspray are synonomous where everyone from Soap Stars, TV Stars, and even Popstars have done. Bebe also reunited with David Hyde Pierce working with UK Superstar Sarah Lacanshire in "Julia" about superstar chef Julia Child. Sarah is also a triple threat doing The West End (UK Version Of Broadway), Soap Operas, and TV Movies.

[@musicloverchicago437]

Of this list, Ann Miller.

[@tonicutrone8640]

There are so many amazing stars over the years in the world of broadway, of course she could not name everyone. It does not mean certain artists are favored over others. Or genres favored over others. I love watching the old clips.

[@lesleyfarrington4809]

I think Gwen Verdon is a better dancer than Bob Fosse

[@morgandancer123]

I'm surprised Jared Grimes wasn't on here too. He's a tap power house and has done some amazing work on Bway with Tap Dance Kid and Funny Girl. There are quite a few other names that could have definitely made this list

[@user-sh4mv3tc3r]

Oh please! He is talented but does not have the resume.

[@jeannehall6546]

Again, great list. But what about Ben Vereen, Gregory Hines, Rita Moreno, Joel Grey and Tommy Tune?

[@rafaelvasquez6814]

Debbie Allen?

[@imseekinmore]

I have two, I am unsure where they place; Hinton Battle and Gregory Hines

[@teddyramagole1904]

The fact that Debbie Allen didnt make it to this list is a shame!!!!!!most kids,especially in the black community got into Broadway cos of Debbie....she was beyond FABULOUS...Also ,Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers deserve a seat at this table

[@Stn4d4me]

Bebe Neuwirth, Ben Vereen, and Tommy Tune

[@tommiejonsson8952]

Fred Astaire, maybe?

[@fabrisseterbrugghe8567]

He never performed on Broadway, unlike Gene Kelly.

[@carolinejones8382]

I love thenumber Tony Yazback

[@sevenfifty-fiveasmr444]

Shirley McClaine

[@patrickbattaille2979]

CarolHaney

[@colegreen1291]

Harold Lang!!!

[@greatfilmmaker]

And by the way, what's wrong with Gregory Hines Hes been on Broadway 3 times.

[@DianeLedonne-zy3tq]

Tommy Tune? not even mentioned - disappointed!

[@patriciaaturner289]

Chita Rivera should be higher than #6. Just sayin’

[@jeannetteduette6704]

Debbie Allan did a great Dance number in a musical. I don't remember the name, it might have be "Sweet Charity."

[@MarissaFloro]

I wish i could go watch a show on broadway

[@lesleyfarrington4809]

Gwen Verdon was a much better dancer than Bob Fosse.

[@kimclarke1519]

You missed the great Carol Haney!

[@carolinejones8382]

Do you know the name of a song Tommy Tune sang and danced to it say that his sister didn't go to dance class so he went instead now I can do this and I can do that I have never been able to find it?

[@PS-DLMA]

Id add Debbie Allen (tv fans would know her as Dr Catherine Fox in GREYS ANATOMY)

[@tastebudswithtariq2330]

Joshua Dela Cruz should be on the honorable mentions. He doesn't make the top 10, but he can cut a rug.

[@robertd.carver6240]

Jack Cole DID NOT "appear" in "Kismet." He choreographed both the original 1953 stage production AND the film, as well as the Lincoln Center revival.

[@mga2899]

Not expecting Ethel Merman to be on this list.

[@kathrynmolesa1641]

Mickey Rooney could dance anything.

[@Dianne-qv5mx]

Gene Kelly! Donald O,Connor, maybe DO’C

[@waittillfamewtf2385]

Last dance Last chance for love Yes it's my last chance For romance tonight

[@DeborahJHuber]

Gregory Hines and Ben Vereen!!

[@sonicfan11589]

If you do a top 10 choreographers, I wonder where my great great uncle, Jerome Robbins would rank.

[@troyannbladsacker1811]

In my opinion Jerome Robbins was the greatest choreographer. He was a genius. Thank God he choreographed West Side Story and Fiddler on the Roof. What a heritage you have!

[@pcalger1163]

Robbins was wonderful!

[@sharontzu5]

Jerome Robbins - absolutely amazing!!

[@robertamcden7230]

Verdon hands down, ask the other dancers