Professional Ballroom Dancer reacts to "Strictly Ballroom" (1992)

[@Wildstag]

Throughout the film, what is your favorite scene?

[@elizabethelliott8725]

When they dance to Perhaps. Beautiful!

[@df6957]

Fran's family dancing together as they share with this new guy who is being welcomed into the family.

[@embee5557]

So many great one liners from the kids but Shirley’s documentary monologue and where she went wrong is just grabs you like WTH?! this is hysterical but real? Lol glad I caught your video, didn’t know that about Baz, the kids do get some of the best lines especially. My other favorite scene is Liz telling Scott she wants Pam Short to break her legs and Ken to walk in and ask her to be her partner. When the kids see Ken walk in: that was quick. Not verbatim but the delivery gets me. Saw it at the dollar show but bought it on vhs, dvd, bought a download for a watch party so hopefully I made up for the cheap admission price. I also bought Cake’s Fashion Nugget CD, because the record store was playing it and their cover of Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps came on. Thanks for such a great video!

[@sunset_sees]

I had the “piss off!” exclamation in my head throughout my whole life. And still say it in my head to people (not out loud). So passionate 😅 Thank you for making this video Garrett ❤

[@ninafanka511]

The last one.And when her father danced.

[@Serai3]

I love Fran's family. My father was a flamenco dancer, came to the US in '60, and was instrumental in bringing other dancers out to California for years. The first time I saw this film, I was startled and a bit triggered when Fran's father yelled at her _"Esta noche te quedas aqui!"_ because of how many times my dad had yelled the exact same thing at me in the exact same tone of voice. And the grandmother is lovely. I sat through so many _juergas_ when I was a kid, jeez, that whole scene really gets to me to this day.

[@MyTv-]

I’m no a ballroom dancer, but Strictly Ballroom is among my absolute favourite movies!

[@NicholasDiamos]

This commentary on Strictly Ballroom helped me love one of my favorite movies of all time even more. Thank you for so much insight. Paso doble literally translates to two step so that was extremely interesting but really laying out the correctness of this movie made it so much more impactful for me. The first time I watched, I wasn’t expecting comedy and was confused for the first 45 minutes or so. Then I recognized the satire but never knew how to the point it was. Grateful for having come upon your video.

[@elizabethelliott8725]

This is one of my favorite movies. I completely agree with your analysis of the components for the film. Plus I love the way Scott and Fran's relationship develops. Paul as a classically trained contemporary dancer may not be a trained ballroom dancer but he does a great job of faking it. It is sheer joy to watch Scott and Fran dance together, especially in the "Perhaps" scene and also while taking lessons from her father. Thank you for this video.

[@nenabunena]

Paul was a ballet dancer, a stricter dancing discipline than ballroom or any contemporary dancing. Their forms are unbeatable

[@lulyfaustini]

I saw "Strictly Ballroom" many years ago in the theater and for me, is the best musical film of all time. My favorite scene is the rooftop dance... but Paul Mercurio dancing in the curtain scene... is "Sure, sure, sure" lol... Kisses from Brazil.

[@arconeagain]

I was watching this on TV last night here in Australia. I pissed myself laughing when they were reading the article about Tina Sparkle's partner retiring so he could fully commit to his landscape gardening business. I don't know why, just that they could have chosen any profession, it seemed so genuinely Australian.

[@garrettgibbons]

It’s a phenomenal detail. The reality of course is that ballroom pros burn out and just need to leave dance, rather than focus on whatever lame steady job they have been using to pay the bills. But the presentation of that moment is dead on and hilarious.

[@Lady_Blade_WarAngel]

Not gonna lie. Paul Mercurio, who starred as Scott Hastings, was not trained as a ballroom dancer, but was trained in ballet. He actually helped with the choreography, and danced the final sequence on a sprained ankle. Thats legit how dedicated he was. So I'll 100% give him credit for that.

[@CallsignEskimo-l3o]

He's now a state politician in the electorate next to mine. I see him getting a coffee sometimes. He's now just another middle aged guy with a dad bod.

[@Lady_Blade_WarAngel]

@kevinquinn7645 I can't say good or bad unless I know if he's the good kind of politician, or the Boris Johnson kind of politician.

[@deborahminter6231]

Wow! Thank you for the analysis. I definitely didn't realize how accurate the portrayal the world of ballroom was in the film. I will watch it through different eyes now!

[@philipsalama8083]

Paul Mercurio, who plays the lead, actually was a trained dancer - he came from a family of dancers actually, very similarly to his character. He began ballet at 9, and did competitive ballroom through his teens, which was where he got scouted for the movie. He was one of the choreographers as well, I believe.

[@prolefeed9371]

Now a politician

[@geoffavern5599]

I think you'll find that is not quite the case. Paul's father was Gus Mercurio, an American immigrant to Australia who was a boxer (hence his flat nose) but who became an actor, seen on many Australian television shows. Paul was principle male dancer of the Sydney Dance Company, arguably Australia's premier modern dance company in the 80's. I did hear that he did much of the choreography.

[@marabanara]

He wasn’t a ballroom dancer at all. But he was a ballet dancer. And is my local politician.

[@lizbalfour4274]

Two left feet, love this film. Great to know how accurate it is, thanks

[@kathrynwirth5884]

I absolutely love this film. When my daughter was a competitive Irish dancer 20 years ago, this was exactly what competitive Irish dancing was like. Different costumes, music, ethnic focus, but 100% parallel. My daughter and I love this movie and can see the similarities every step of the way.

[@Dornie51]

Thanks for your reaction to this great movie, it's one of my favourites. I like the scene where Fran is watching Scott dance on his own and he discovers her watching and he says "How long have you been here?" and she says "Two years". Cracks me up 😁 Love Antonio Vargas too, a proven professional Flamenco dancer and choreographer. I couldn't imagine anyone else playing Fran's father.

[@ozymandiaspbs]

I knew I recognised Sr Vargas from somewhere! Thanks!

[@englishadventureswithteach8134]

It's been YEARS since I was reminded of this beautiful movie. I've danced with a German folk dance troupe, a university international folk dance group, won some polka, waltz and "Saturday Night Fever" contests, and teaching a minute at a Fred Astaire's Studio was my first job in Tucson. All before this movie was released. I watched some scenes from the movie and listened to the music today and hesitated to click on your video because I didn't want to hear ANYTHING bad said about it. You did a FANTASTIC job. Loved watching it all the way through. Loved hearing about your experience and your view of the movie. In my late 60s now and having difficulty walking, but I can still remember and get chills. Thanks and Best Wishes from Cambodia.

[@garrettgibbons]

So glad you enjoyed exploring a beloved movie together!

[@englishadventureswithteach8134]

@@garrettgibbons Thanks!

[@elizabethelliott8725]

I saw somewhere (can't remember where) that to film part of Paul's floor sliding sequence they had him on a dolly and pulled him along. That doesn't take away from the magic of the sequence -- it still looks amazing even knowing what's behind the filming. The other upside is he didn't burn through the knees of his pants!

[@petervecchio8105]

Garrett, thank you SO MUCH! "Strictly Ballroom" is a favorite of mine, but I know little about the ballroom dance scene. The context you provide is awesome!

[@eileendover3938]

Possibly one of my favourite films ever. I’m not a Baz fan, but SB remains one I can watch at any time. A former ballet dancer and now a gym mum, I grew up in Australia and I relate to this so much. “You’re a gutless wonder!” - can’t get much more Aussie.

[@22Too]

Great commentary! And I did not know b4 that Baz L. was, himself, the offspring of ballroom dancers. That explains so much!

[@gmoo84]

One of my favourite films. And that entrance!!

[@arconeagain]

My sister was fortunate to know Bill Hunter in his final years, one of my favourite Aussie actors, and a true character. I'll let you know that he wasn't always entirely acting in this, including those naughty dance moves with pogo whatever. He had a great run in the 90s with Muriel's Wedding, Prescilla Queen of the Desert and Strictly. It was also a great period for Australian film. I rate Strictly Ballroom as one of the greatest Australian films made, I must have watched it ten times or more.

[@batterbury4477]

Garret- what a pleasure to find you and listen to your discussing both the movie and and the real life of a ballroom dancer. My mom was a professional dancer in the 1940s with the Xazier Cugat Orchestra. She and her dance partner traveled with the Orchestra - Miami, Havana, NYC etc.. and spun unto the dance floor by themselves performing in front of a huge dinner theater audience. I think she did that for just a year and then she was recruited into the Women's Air Service Patrol ( WASPs) flying planes to battle fields during WWII. Yes she was a dancer and a pilot -quite a life. - is always going to be 'larger than life'. Thank you for bringing some of that glamorous glittering world into the everyday :)

[@YvetteArby]

Wow!! Hats off to your mom! The stories she could probably tell… ✌🏼💖

[@jenniferspring8741]

I think Scott smacked into the mirror totally on purpose-- part of the drama of his choreographic moment. Notice he does not lose his balance or reel back in surprise.

[@ameliecarre4783]

I swear I never NEVER paid these slots machines any mind. I saw them of course, but it never registered. Never thought "oh, the competition takes place in a casino." I think the way it's filmed is to make it all look rather crazy. The grotesque close-ups on Barry Fife and Ken Railings, Shirley's breakdowns, Doug being out of it for most of the film... the most hilarious being the beginning, with the pseudo documentary interviews where it looks like they're filming the friends and family of a guy who turned out to be a serial killer, talking about the tragic events that scarred them for life, when the whole tragedy is actually Scott dancing steps the federation didn't sanction. It's interesting to know that however loony it looks, it's really grounded in reality.

[@kathyr1516]

I think it is possibly a Club rather than a casino.

[@girlCary]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melbourne_Sports_and_Entertainment_Centre

[@scanspeak00]

@@kathyr1516 That is correct. Its what's called an RSL club (which is usually a bistro, some slot machines, bar and hall).

[@melissalayton213]

Yes its not a casino, poker machines are common in many places in Australia not just casinos.

[@annaembree7247]

Thank you so much for this - loved it. Big fan of the movie, very minor social dancer, really enjoyed hearing your commentary and tickled to know how close to accurate the film is.

[@tfelixdancer7301]

Your observations on Strictly Ballroom are spot on!!! 👏👏👏 Excellent and many aspects are very similar in the West Coast Swing dance world! One last comment, although Scott and Fran’s Paso Doble dance scene was not accurate…it certainly was cinematically fantastic…one of my favorite movie dance scene’s ever!! Thank You!🙏

[@SimpsonDG]

Very interesting discussion with many interesting insights. I was taking ballroom dance lessons in the USA at the time this movie came out in theaters, and all the students from our studio went to the theater to see it together, I've watched it many times since then. We often practiced dancing to the songs on the soundtrack. The studio I attended covered the American NDCA dance syllabus, where we learned waltz, foxtrot, tango, rhumba, cha-cha, merengue, samba, East Coast swing, West Coast swing, and hustle. I also learned a little mambo, Viennese waltz, quickstep, and occasionally we'd learn something a little off-beat like the Peabody.

[@thecarjacful]

One my all time favourite movies 💃🕺 This little analysis just makes me love it even more 💕 respect to Baz Luhrmann 👍🏻

[@bornofthehorn7200]

Really enjoyed your commentary! Thank you so much. I loved this movie when I first saw it & still love it.

[@paulklenknyc]

What a fantastic video... I love SB and your observations are amazing. What a great gift you've given SB fans! Bravo.

[@quadling3521]

This has been one of my favourite movies since I was a tiny kid and I’ve never known anything about ballroom beyond this movie - it was awesome to hear your thoughts on it.

[@df6957]

I love this video. Thank you so much for making it. I love this film, it is my ultimate feel-good movie. I really love hearing that there is a lot of accuracy in it. That makes me so happy. Thanks for sharing your insights.

[@jenniferrhoades8956]

I watch Strictly Ballroom at least twice a year--one of my all time favorite movies--and I never get sick of it. Paul Mercurio isn't hard to look at, either! Even though the Paso Double wasn't realistic, that works fine for me. It's one of my favorite moments in filmdom. I've only had one friend who was in the ballroom world and she was a champion at the time after a long ballet career in Europe. I tried ballroom, briefly, but I have to admit that I wasn't keen on facing somebody all the time and being boxed in. I totally get why Scott wanted to fly--and he'd slid in on his knees to me like that...well, I might take of my pointe shoes for those awful ballroom ones for a spin!

[@davidevans3498]

Thank you for your insight into this really enjoyable film

[@scanspeak00]

Love this movie so much and watch every year or 2 (I have it on bluray). Who knew that it is basically a documentary?! Fun fact - Tina Sparkle (Sonia Kruger) hosts The Voice Australia.

[@EmonEconomist]

I'm surprised you didn't mention she co-hosts Dancing With The Stars, in which both 'Scott Hastings' and 'Nathan Starkey' are regular judges!

[@gregburns5638]

Thought I was the only one who saw and/or remembered this so-called "mockumentary". Thanks SO MUCH for your professional insights on all the wonderful plot points!!! Perhaps NOW I can finally get my "blood & guts ONLY!" movie-watching roommates to sit through something TRULY GREAT!!!👍 😀😍🤩☺😃

[@imabinthekitchen]

Thank you for posting this video. I have loved this movie since I first laid my eyes upon it and was always curious as to what real ballroom dancers thought about it. I am from deep South Texas and as a young girl I did dance folklorico for a couple of years. Frans grandmother reminded me of my own grandmother. There was always music playing somewhere in the house but most of the dancing took place in the kitchen- food cooking, its hot, tejano music with that accordion notes telling your feet to move...lol. So wonderful and powerful is music and dance. And Baz is a genius.

[@stephgreen3070]

This has been my favorite movie since it came out and your explanations about how accurate it is just made me love it even more. Great info! Thanks!

[@DelightLovesMovies]

Its one of my favourite films, too, that I love so much. I never get tired of watching it.

[@Div303]

I THINK THE MOVIE IS FLAWLESS! All scenes have a meaning especially the transformation of Fran !

[@cindaflame]

I loved this movie when I first saw it years ago on VHS. Before that the only time I got to see any ballroom was through PBS. So glittery and athletic and beautiful. Loved this film

[@beckymcclure6943]

I learned so much from your video, much I didn't know. Thank you

[@ashlachman5880]

Today Paul Mercurio was just elected to parliament as a Labor rep for our little town of Hastings in Victoria, Australia. Labor party is your equivalent of the Dems. Except more left wing. Australia is a democratic socialist country as are most western countries. Makes a lot of sense to us. Greater freedom and fairness for all of us!

[@vyvienn]

I just read that! What an interesting career he's had, dancer, actor, chef, tv presenter, politician...

[@TaliyaHafiz]

Watched in one breath! many thanks for this stunning video!!! please keep making them for all the dance lovers out there!

[@jeffmejia3556]

Saw this at a theater that only showed foreign films back when this was released in the states. Loved it. Went back to see it again. Ended up buying the video. Anyone who saw it when I played it home loved it, too. Long time ago but watching reactions like this makes it seem like that experience happened just yesterday.

[@girlCary]

Thank you for this, I learned some new information about my favorite movie, and that makes a very good day.

[@geoffavern5599]

Hi Garret. Thanks for an insightful revue of the movie. I do have a note to add. You said that one of the competitions was run in a casino. Not strictly so. At the time I don't think we had casinos but a wierd situation was created by the gambling laws in the state of New South Wales which allowed poker machines (one-armed-bandits) in licenced social clubs, allowing football clubs, workers clubs, returned servicemen clubs, lawn bowling clubs, and others to have at least a few rows of machines which brought the club considerable revenue, some of which went into providing free entertainment (&cheap beer, cheap meals, etc). The more machines, the wealthier the club, the more they offered their members. I was in the house band at the biggest club in Australia which provided so much free entertainment, including many series of ballroom competitions. The "casino" space of poker machines in the club portrayed in the movie would have been just a social club run by local business folk, not professionals (admittedly with million dollar turnover) . P.S. I note that there is quite some difference between ballroom dance in Australia and the US. P.S.S. I was always amused when we had 2 of the judges at front of stage, both waving behind their back to change the tempo; one faster, the other slower :)

[@cottoncandy4486]

Love this, nice to see an honest and practical appraisal. Thank you. He fact that you mention the fake tans is so spot on. I had a very serious orange dance freind. Loved her dearly, BUT use to look weird when she use to be in uniform. ( SRN) .

[@YvetteArby]

Thank you for making this video! I love this movie and it was very interesting to hear your analysis of it, from an insider’s perspective. I own this movie, but I live somewhere small and it is in storage. I want to watch it again right now!! ✌🏼💖

[@kittykate314]

I really enjoyed this video. Thank you. SB is one of my favorite films. So great to revisit it with this analysis. 🥰

[@kittyreiffersova3183]

One thing that comes to mind was also mentioned and that Fran was only dancing for two years so she didn't have a partner yet - the fewer men involved in the sport made having a partner a show of skill already.

[@garrettgibbons]

100%!

[@sandyposs2693]

This is such a wonderful video! I'm no dancer, but I love this movie, and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to see it through the eyes of someone who really knows the ins and outs of that world. I'm so happy to hear it's just as enjoyable to a professional ballroom dancer as it is to a layperson! It gives me fresh appreciation for the effort Baz Luhrmann put into the movie.

[@dolourfitzgibbon6065]

They need to release this movie again. When your body reacts to a movie, physically (shivers, goosebumps ) or emotionally (crying, laughter, ), when you want to get up and dance , when you yell out NO or YES,.. when you are horrified or feel glorious, .for me this means I am watching excellence

[@W4DSolutions]

This is so much fun and such a great commentary on one of my favorite movies!

[@peggyaeschlimann4180]

Strickly Ballroom was one of the few movies I saw by myself, when I was working in Melbourne's CBD. After the spontaneous applause at the end, we in the audience were all chatting about how fantastic it was.

[@maguritegeist6231]

Thanks for the review! This movie is so much fun!

[@suesands9024]

My all time fav movie. I watched it in Oz years ago and just loved it. Also loved the stage show here in the UK with Kevin Clifton playing Scott. It has so many elements of Aussie society about it as well and watching this video was brilliant as it filled in the background, so thank you.

[@jptimko4303]

First saw this at a place called "The Bethesda Cinema and Draft House" where we ate and drank at tables through the film. Afterward a presentation was made for a dance studio. The music and dancing get me, the way people fight to be true to themselves and learn the lethality and soul-killing nature of compromise. Fran valuing herself and being able to shame Scott was amazing.

[@vegansinthewildover5023]

Thank you for your thoughts on my favorite ballroom dance movie.

[@kittikats]

There's a lot of subtext in the dance videos in the movie. The stand with the Barry Fife videos is about how each character adheres to his view of the dance world. Scott literally busts through the display knocking them everywhere. (Breaking the control and rules) Dad/Doug looks at it in disgust but puts it back (doesn't like the rules or system but follows them) Wayne/best friend happily accepts the tape from Barry (likes the status quo) And at the announcer at the last competition was literally trying to shove Barrys beliefs down everyone's throat

[@garrettgibbons]

Love this take. You’re 100% right.

[@elipotter369]

Thanks for this amazingly good and informative video. :-) I was amused at you calling it weird - the movie was a funny exaggeration of what a lot of people are really like in Australia (& probably other places too?!) I live in Australia, but as an immigrant so bit of an outsider's view. I found it very funny and witty how Baz portrays the people. It's a great movie.

[@coelharebelde]

I love this movie. #Brazil 😊 The actor who plays Scott (Paul Mercurio) was a professional dancer. He was the lead dancer for the Sydney Dance Company for 10 years (1982/1992). *Is dancing in ballroom competitions very different from dancing in a dance company?

[@garrettgibbons]

He is an amazing dancer! He didn’t have much ballroom training at the time, but he did have a lot of ballet and contemporary. He’s a phenomenal dancer and one of my icons.

[@coelharebelde]

@@garrettgibbons Ok, I got it . Thanks for the feedback. 😊 💜

[@starcrafsf7101]

Yea, ballroom dancing is very much so, quite different than being a ballet dancer or contemporary dancer. Though the absolute basic fundamentals are the same. It’s why all good dance coaches will never tell you to not learn a new style, because it all helps and gives you insight into how things work with other dances.

[@coelharebelde]

@@starcrafsf7101 Thanks 💖

[@franchonsmith8483]

Glad I came across your video. When I was competitively ice skating, I mentioned to a friend that I was thinking about skating a tango or flamenco, she had mentioned this movie. I watched it and fell in love with it! I love your assessment. It's very through.

[@nmeau]

Excellent review - opening a window into a new world for us non-ballroomers.

[@oliverkoch9887]

What struck me most in the film was how Baz Luhrmann made fun of the extreme (and absolutely frozen and artificial) smiling of everyone on the scene. Seems also quite accurate for ballroom dancing at that time…

[@rsweeten5377]

Excellent breakdown. I've always liked this film and your details help me understand why. Thank you.

[@drbettyschueler3235]

I loved the movie and hope it will soon be available to watch again. I've never ballroom danced but I've watched competitions and find them fascinating. Thanks for your review of the movie. It was excellent.

[@105cathy]

Great comments, thank you. My parents taught ballroom dance for Arthur Murray studios for years. As children, I remember spending many long hours at the bowling alley where my folks studio was located. I grew up knowing the cha cha, fox trot, swing, waltz and samba! Not quite like competitive dance though.

[@prolefeed9371]

Sounds amazing!

[@st.clairdancing2094]

Yep, being a ballroom teacher also...New steps were not allowed into different clubs. One of my bosses in Overland Park, Kansas was a ballet teacher for years, went into medical school, but because of fear she would fail the boards, she turned to ballroom dance instruction. She opened her own studio and was amazing teacher, boss and friend. But she made a financial blunder like you talked about and lo and behold I find myself having to find a studio to teach on my own, which is very common now also in the KC, MO an KC, KS area. I taught for several years on my own and was doing well, and learning dances like the Carolina Shag, which is not known in the KC area. Then Covid hit, and wouldn't you know it, my business is now classified as not essential. But right on with the politics even in the dance studio, students are jealous when someone dances with their instructor. I live in the part of the country right now, where there is not much of this type of dancing, but when I mention that I've taught this, been certified and practiced since I was in college and taught for 10 years, they are shocked and they always mention they've wanted to do that, but they usually don't take the move to actually take lessons. My mom thought I would be the last person she would ever know who would be a ballroom dancer or latin dancer or dance swing dance of all sorts, because of how I grew up, shy and not wanting attention. Still don't like attention, because it is hard to remain humble and receive the compliments and praise that people usually heap up on their teachers.

[@flavianofloris4459]

I was a ballroom dancer for so many years, also me and my wife we had a ballroom studio and I 100% with what you said in the video👍

[@islandgal500]

I've had this movie a long time now and I love it. For some reason I braced myself for some negative reviews from you, a professional ballroom dancer. Thank you for not bursting my bubble! It was very interesting hearing all of the different points you made and glad you confirmed the facts.

[@lauraelder7634]

Love this movie and this is fascinating background knowledge. Thanks!

[@francistindale9520]

Cracking film, saw the stage show in London a few years ago it was brilliiant, booked to see the Kevin Clifton version at Peterborough and they cancelled it after we`d been sitting in the auditorium for half an hour waiting.

[@19751222]

Thank you for the explanation 🥰

[@kt1pl2]

I absolutely LOVE this movie.

[@juli-annb.anderson8816]

Thankyou so much for your lovely insights and very earthy clarifications. Much love and appreciation from Australia. 🇦🇺❤🕺💃😘

[@alanademers6579]

What an insightful summary of one of my favorite movies! Thank you! I first saw this film when subscribed to NETFLIX and was surprised that I had never heard of it in the USA. I can certainly understand how popular it was in Australia!

[@runee60]

I love this movie. It’s so feel good.

[@necromaya]

The first time I saw Scott's verion of the Paso Doble, I recognized the Matador influence right away. It's about control, domination and surrender all at once. I'm glad to know I spotted the correct elements of it.

[@ozymandiaspbs]

This is definitely one of my favourite movies. I love movies about music & dancing. Have you seen “Take The Lead” with Antonio Banderas? It is based on Pierre Dulaine’s experiences teaching Ballroom Dance in inner-city schools.

[@Zaphnochs]

Loved Strictly from when I first watched it. I am an old straight guy in my 50s. Your reaction both gave great insight and a shared love. Subbed and liked.

[@garrettgibbons]

Thanks for watching and sharing the appreciation of this great film!

[@laurashepherd2479]

Great video! Love this movie 😊 I did the Jazz/ballet/tap thing through my childhood, teenage and young adult years and many of the things you talk about are extremely accurate for those dance studios, communities and eisteddfods (competitions) as well 😅

[@natasharostova5186]

I love the scene where Fran's dad dances and Grandma teaches Scott the rhythm. It's fascinating.

[@beachgirl39]

Well I certainly learned some new things! Fun fact: Sonia Kruger who played Tina Sparkle was an Australian champion in ballroom dancing.

[@toilettduckk]

You answered a question that I've always had. I know that, in France, dance classes teach the paso doble, but demonstrations I've seen on French TV don't look anything like the dance in the movie. But that's probably because it was a paso doble that the general public would do , not the competitlve dance.

[@zanwebbie817]

RE: the scene when Scott slides in--From what I remember hearing at one time, he slide in on a skateboard for most of that shot.

[@dale19532]

Loved this! I don't remember how I first discovered the movie, but it's one of my favorites! ("Scott" in those gold pants doesn't hurt!) I am not by any means a great or even good dancer (as many a choreographer could attest) though I can get by in musical comedy with simple steps. I did stretch myself trying to emulate Cohan moves when I was in Tintypes (twice), but that's neither here nor there. Anyway, I loved your commentary seemed spot on, especially the "backstage" elements!

[@dale19532]

A side note - my parents were EXTREMELY great roller skaters, back in the day (Mom even performed in a fundraiser at Madison Square Garden during WWII and could have gone "pro" but her mother wouldn't allow it). They first met in grade school, but Dad said that he was a guard at a skating rink where she performed when they fell in love. Unfortunately, I did not inherit their skills. When I was a child, our parish and scout troops used to host fundraising "skating parties". When the specialty skating came on and the floor was cleared from those who could only skate in ovals, there were only a few skaters on the floor, and eventually, Mom and Dad usually were left alone to do solos, and EVERYONE was in awe of their circle waltzes and flea-hops! I don't think I ever saw her so alive as she was when skating! I used to watch in awe, wishing I could do the same! Maybe that's where my love of dance performances came from!

[@alanbryson5264]

One of my ballroom dance teachers was an extra in the film. The production crew went around many of the ballroom dance studios in Melbourne, Australia, to get the "vibe" and the instructors and head teacher of the ballroom dance studio I went to all knew who Barry Fife was modelled on! PS Paul Mecurio who plays Scott is also an excellent craft beer brewer and I have a signed copy one of his books "Cooking with beer". We used to shop at the same organic greengrocer and I would often stop and chat about his recipes (not dancing)

[@garrettgibbons]

I love all of this! Thanks so much for chiming in. ☺️

[@helenwelch1554]

Thank you for your illuminating insights. It is much appreciated as I revisit this gorgeous film.

[@pjcifulleli2655]

Absolutely love this movie and learning how much is accurate was an eye opener!

[@nickwilson2637]

I heard that they shot the final competition scene at an actual ballroom comp so that goes a long way to explaining the realism of the crowded corridors and dancers going through casinos and other little details of that environment. I think they're all technically amateurs in the movie too which would explain the side jobs although I wouldn't know if full time competitive dancing in Australia is even viable as the ballroom scene here doesn't seem huge. Also once had a mate who was a competitive amateur dancer and based off everything he told me and what I saw such as the studio drama, problems finding a good partner, abusive relationships of a husband and wife team running a studio and the studio locations was strikingly similar to some of what the movie depicts.

[@gregoxenham2842]

A really excellent review of one of my favourite Aussie movies.

[@iowadeaniac]

Tara Morice was also very good as Miss Raine in Dance Academy

[@sarahferguson327]

Fun lol Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Cracked me up. I’m a kiwi and this continues to remain one of my top fav movies since it’s release.

[@Thekaiser2023]

Weren't you also on the most prestigious ballroom dance company in the world in college too? And watching you guys practice in the RB just going through the blocking and hanging out after the comps going to Dennys with the Professional Dancers like Urs and Agnes and the friendships after the comps. I miss those days.

[@Thekaiser2023]

I also love how you chose Casey as the paso of our time. I used to watch this religiously when being trained by Brittany W. But I disagree the best dance of the 10 dance is Quikstep!! Lol

[@garrettgibbons]

Quickstep is fun too! I’m just partial towards the shapes and drama of Paso. It’s the ballroom dance where I feel I can be the most masculine. I miss those days too!

[@pamferdinand7878]

My favorite part (probably not realistic) is the end, when everyone takes the floor!

[@garrettgibbons]

That’s actually quite authentic! Between rounds of competition, general dancing is held and many audience members come to the floor to dance socially. It’s often quite wonderful!

[@zeldacoach2528]

Oh Gosh…. So on the money x There were definitely people in the Dance scene that Baz directly, absolutely, based his characters on from Sydney…And so great that you mentioned Blackpool ❤

[@davidcoberly9240]

One of my top 25 films!

[@fabiosplendido9536]

So this film was basically a documentary.

[@garrettgibbons]

Yes

[@fabiosplendido9536]

@@garrettgibbons Awesome! Makes me love it all the more. I'm off to practice my Bogo Pogo... 😃

[@russellmancillas4464]

enjoyed the movie I bought the dvd, now to see your video makes it all great.

[@rsjosephindy]

I love the grandmother. There is a very subtle item in the script that is only noticeable to a Spanish speaker. When she asked “¿Tú bailes Paso Doble?” First she uses the informal tú form with someone she has just met, which is bit insulting. Second she uses the subjunctive mode in saying “bailes” rather than the indicative mode which would be “bailas”. The subjunctive mode indicates doubt. So she is really saying “I don’t believe that you dance the paso doble”

[@ZenAndPsychedelicHealingCenter]

^ This. The grandmother is essentially challenging the other to prove themselves and doing so barely politely at that.

[@lorynu]

I like how similar and applicable this is to Irish dance as well

[@garrettgibbons]

I suspect that most areas of the dance world (and figure skating, and bodybuilding, and gymnastics, etc...) have a lot of overlap!