Top 10 Best Swing Dance Scenes in Movies

It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing. For this list, we’ll be looking at the best moments in films and shorts that encapsulate the art of swing dancing. Our countdown includes "Twice Blessed," "Swing Fever," "Swing Kids," and more! Do you know a dance routine that we missed? Leave a comment to let us know!
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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.
#Swing #Dance #Choreography #Musicals #SwingDance

[@MsMojo]

Do you know a dance routine that we missed? Let us know below, and be sure to also check out our video of the Top 10 Greatest Dance Movies - kzbin.info/www/bejne/oWmwfKePmLVofdU

[@sonnyarreola4950]

1941

[@armynurseboy]

Roseland Ballroom scene from Malcolm X. Actually had cameos of Frankie Manning and Norma Miller. Some fun dance scenes from the movie Shag.

[@Dragon-Divas]

I'm surprised you missed the final dance in Swing, with Hugo Speer.

[@grumpyoldman1618]

Spilberg's film 1941

[@grumpyoldman1618]

Notable for the wearing of stockings by the females 🙂

[@mayaspruiell7968]

I'm 16 and me and my friends are teaching ourselves to swing dance with the help of KZbin

[@forestforest1191]

GOOD FOR YOU! I would love to see SWING become popular again.

[@stopthecrazyguy9948]

Stick to the old 1940 movies. Donald O'Connor made some good swing with the group the "Jack and Jills." Stay safe.

[@MeredithDomzalski]

​@@forestforest1191 It still is in many places!

[@rcole6679]

Keep it up. It’s SO much fun!

[@amyrrhbearer]

That’s such a sweet and wholesome thing 😊

[@texas2step266]

It is impossible to stay still when swing music is playing. Louis Prima's Sing, Sing, Sing is the greatest dance song ever.

[@trinaq]

I love swing dances, jazz has always been my favourite genre of music. The dancers always look like they're enjoying themselves, their enthusiasm is infectious. 💕💃🎶

[@stacyr2775]

Swing Kids is such a good movie and the soundtrack is fantastic

[@ericbnielsen]

My sister, her best friend and I watched Swing Kids, Dead Poets Society and Much Ado About Nothing all the time in high school. All three with the great Robert Sean Leonard.

[@davidjones5547]

Swing Kids is a very underrated film in my opinion and one of my favorites.

[@vanessahenry7238]

THANK YOU for showing the Lindy Hoppers! I tried to tell someone about them years ago and I swear they didn't know they existed! This is one of your BEST videos!

[@KoolKeithProductions]

Um...this is like the 3rd time they have put the Lindy Hoppers as number 1 on a list. Hell, I clicked on this video JUST to see them get the top spot again. I didn't even watch 10-2 lol

[@Huskytabby]

​@@KoolKeithProductions As it's well deserved. They really are the best. Frankie Manning's book is great as it goes over all of this history of Lindy Hop.

[@MeredithDomzalski]

It's actually Whitey's Lindy Hoppers named for the founder Herbert "Whitey" White. (The nickname was for the white streak in his hair.)

[@lorilori3]

So glad Brendan Fraser's swing dance performance from Blast From The Past was recognized here!

[@LoriPeace]

YES!! That's what I was hoping to see here! Terrific movie, and the best scene in it!

[@lorilori3]

@@LoriPeace I agree! Underappreciated movie.

[@wendyodell356]

Blast from the Past is one of my favorite movies. It may be just because of that dance scene ❤❤❤

[@justineves3588]

Me too that is a great fun movie 😊

[@rossminet]

You can contrast this performance with "serious" roles in Gods and Monsters or The Quiet American. A good actor can play many roles.

[@kimberlymyers2083]

I was so happy to see that you chose Hellzapoppin as number one. It is by far my favorite dance scene of all time!

[@cjhdancer1]

How can you beat it with Frankie Manning's choreography?

[@hectorsmommy1717]

Fun fact: the guy dancing with Madonna in the "League of their Own" scene was Eddie Mekka, better known as Shirley's boyfriend Carmine Ragusa (aka The Big Ragoo) in Laverne and Shirley.

[@peg202xo7]

I'm one of the weirdos who loves Spielberg's movie 1941 for it's totally off the wall over the top performances and set pieces, and one of my favorite moments is the dance at the USO club. A crazy ass swing dance ending in a brawl between Army and Navy that literally brings the house down!

[@jussdakidd]

Yeah I was disappointed that 1941 wasn't included. It should have least gotten an honorable mention.

[@marcigower7198]

Incredible choreography in the USO scene.

[@dgax65]

Absolutely. That was a fantastic movie and the swing dance at the USO was great.

[@TrashWerewolf]

I'm one of the folks thar loves that movie as well! It's a part of my childhood and my friends actually used to quote lines, like Ed Beagly's "OH! Too much!" and Belushi's "Look, a baby wolf"!

[@trig1900]

Couldn't agree more bloke, it was a great dance scene... and one of my all time favourites.

[@TrashWerewolf]

The fact that the final dance competition in the movie 1941 was left out, is criminal! Huge production piece that weaves in a love triangle plot as the dance competition is taking place! It's funny, has great, acrobatic dancing and athletic skill! Definitely a fun dance number!

[@BlueSaphire70]

Whitey's Lindy Hoppers are amazing! Excellent choice for #1!

[@MeredithDomzalski]

Honestly, if they didn't choose that as number one, I would bet angry! Some of the other choices were questionable.

[@marinaananova8284]

I was so anxious about your choice for the first place, and I couldn't help shouting "Yess!!" out loud. What else could be there!

As a swing dancer, this video makes me happy, thanks ^^

[@miacooke657]

I'm so glad that Jean's routine made the list. She still had it up until her passing earlier this year. She reprised the girl and two boys routine [slightly modified] when she was 93 with the assistance of Steve Conrad (of Phoenix's LIndy Underground) and Joel Plys. Is wish you'd also included that when touching on the routine. I was one of the lucky few who was able to attend a workshop a while back where we learned from her and Rusty Frank (her co-teacher). They even taught us the iconic tuck-turn to full-stop variation that was a signature of hers.

[@sandramorey2529]

The first movie I ever remember seeing, I remember from the amazing jitterbug & Lindy Hop choreographies. I was 3 in 1942 & I can still recall the dance sequences. It might have been Hellzapoppin. I remember there were black and white dancers and musicians. It was a WW2 movie in black and white. I loved it. I am blessed with parents who could't afford a babysitter, and went to the movies at last once a week, taking their baby,toddler,little kid with them. I became a singer and I credit it to Judy garland and the Andrew Sisters. I'm 83, still love to dance & sing.

[@vladmirhoopnagle1170]

How about the first 10 minutes, or so of the movie? That and the dance sequence make it a must see to believe.

[@chiara1194]

Spike Lee’s “Malcolm X” has a great swing dance scene in the first part of the film. Denzel and Spike got moves!

[@armynurseboy]

And cameo'd Frankie Manning and Norma Miller

[@brucecoleman5379]

YES YES YES!!!

[@MeredithDomzalski]

​@@armynurseboy I think Frankie choreographed it, but I could be wrong.

[@armynurseboy]

@@MeredithDomzalski It was choreographed by Ryan Francois... who was a Frankie disciple...

[@MeredithDomzalski]

@@armynurseboy Thanks! It had been a while, and I forgot. :)

[@jrlexjr]

For a combination of chaos and skill, I love the snippet from "1941" - Sailors Fighting in the Dance Hall

[@Shelby20874]

Spike Lee’s Malcolm X has an incredible Lindy Hop performance featuring members of Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers and was choreographed by one of them.

[@mariahkelso3665]

Swing Kids "Sing, Sing, Sing." Dance to this back in High School, Both in Dance Class and in our Band Concert.

[@jason60chev]

The Buck Privates sequence was performed by Dean Collins and Jewel McGowen. She was one of the foremost Lindy Hop dancers, ever, but she passed at a very young age, in her 40s.

[@billgaley]

... and Dean Collins developed the West Coast Swing!

[@thinkfree652]

Swing dance never gets old only the dancers.

[@blarroku]

swing kids introduced me to swing dance and Ive loved it ever since

[@sam_shakes]

Tia & Tamera in Seventeen Again has one of my favorite swing scenes

[@SuperBeachbum74]

#1 hands down

[@simonwalker8300]

Wow!. That was a great collection, i'm glad you showed Whitey's at the end, that really is acrobatics. Also what a fabulous soundtrack, really infectious.

[@Lexie9311]

The dance scene from Seventeen Again with Tia and Tamera Mowry was really good too

[@SuperBeachbum74]

100% agree, better than all these !

[@user-cg9ly4wg2s]

I swing dance almost every week. I’m 67 and keeps me in shape!

[@josephtoman-xr2qu]

Whitey's Lindy Hoppers OMG👏👍👍

[@kareneastman9695]

I love Swing Kids and Swingers.🙂I think Blast From The Past is great.🙂:-D😀

[@user-jq8tg4fq4f]

Hello 👋 how are you doing!!?

[@deidraforbes740]

Shag the movie, idlewild and malcom x had some great swing scenes @msmojo this list was still great. Def will be watching these retro pictures

[@corynnelizabeth5651]

Loved this list, swing is so fun!!! 😊

[@fredmullison4246]

Whitey's Lindy Hoppers are impressive. In fact, it was entirely because their routine in "A Day At The Races" blew my mind that I decided to buy this movie as a Christmas present for a friend of mine.

[@vladmirhoopnagle1170]

And as an extra added bonus you get the Marx Brothers thrown in for free. What a deal.

[@Huskytabby]

Hellzapoppin is the only movie deserving to be number 1 for swing dance scenes.

[@JacquelineSoulchick]

because it's the original, Frankie Manning who choreographed Hellzapoppin is the Lindy Hop king who created these airsteps

[@ellet6751]

True!! So true. The insane set that who can compete with? ❤

[@markberryhill2715]

Outstanding! Loved it! 💘

[@adriangarcia543]

All of them

[@andrewlind3731]

I am happy to hear the swing dance scene from "Buck Privates" got an honorable mention as that is one of both my grandfather's favorite movies.

[@eddiemike6092]

Believe it or not Jerry Lewis had one of the greatest Swing/Jitterbug dance routines with Sheree North in “Living it Up”. If you haven’t seen it, look it up. He’s incredible!!

[@trishcyman8538]

I agree!

[@chelseacanales8763]

They are so upbeat and happy.

[@richardscanlan3419]

Swing dancing preceded the rock,'n'roll dancing in the 50s.Both seriously cool, and requiring considerable athleticism and dexterity from its proponents.

[@teresagaines2281]

My Dad would of loved this! He could Dance! 🙂 Thanks for the Memories! 🙂 I'm just like my Dad!! ❤️

[@jacquiethebibliophil]

Although not a movie, the swing dance scene in Laverne and Shirley between Laverne and Richie, is cute and funny.

[@plainkeeperathome]

I'm glad A Day at the Races was included!. That dance scene was over the top!

[@mayranoguera838]

I love watching swing

[@paulcrenshaw812]

I'm glad that Whitey's Lindy Hoppers got that rep they deserved here

[@timrogers2638]

When I started this video, I was hoping you'd include the scene withe Jean Veloz in "Swing Fever". I'm gratified that you did. I had the privilege to dance with her in 2007 (or was it 2006?) at the Spanish Ballroom at Echo Park near Washington DC. It was a joy, even though I could never rise to the skill she still had. I'm kind of disappointed that you didn't call out Frankie Manning from "Hellsapoppin' ", though. He had more influence on the spread of swing dancing out of Harlem that Jean Veloz. After attending an event that Frankie Manning attended, when I signed up for swing dance lessons in 2006, I told the lady that I wanted to be able to dance like Frankie Manning. She responded, "You want to dance like an 83-year-old man?" I replied, "No. I want to dance like THAT 83-year-old man!"

[@melaniethompson8919]

I love Swingers so much

[@reynaolvera7526]

Me too. It started small but over the years the world caught on.

[@HskHeroReborn]

Malcom X had good swing scene

[@mayranoguera838]

I like how they just make it look so casual like no big thing to it

[@Elena-er7zp]

Hellzapoppin should have taken every spot

[@robertacolarette1594]

“Bounce me brother with a solid four” has always been my favorite.

[@tessat338]

Lindy champs look like they are levitating!

[@aaronalvarado2481]

Swing Kids was one of my favorite movies as a teenager. Looking back at it, you can Christian Bale develop his Bruce Wayne persona.

[@marlingmcreynolds1836]

I love the dance. What about "Grease" the dance contest and in "Steel Magnolias" the dancers at the wedding???

[@gabrielintano2202]

My dad swing danced with my older sister at her wedding amazing style of dancing! 👏👏

[@SC-yx6wr]

The dance scene in " 1941 " was hilarious.

[@justineves3588]

Very very great fun list I like it a lot very very great job mis mojo one of my absolute favorite list ever 😊

[@TheBallroomMaestro]

Hi! As a student of Frankie Manning, I'm really pleased to see you acknowledge the Snowden/"Whitey" Dancers! Great selections here!

[@epbrown01]

Spielberg's "1941" has a fun swing dance/fight scene.

[@user-eb2wx9xg7x]

Check out the dance scene in Steven Spielberg's 1941. It is a combined dance/fight scene and is fabulous!

[@meganlindstrom3322]

The movie "The Other Side of Heaven" has a great swing dance scene

[@zzz6valvoline]

This is so much fun..i wish kids were more into dance

[@amandarosannabarboza6449]

The 40’s was a brilliant time for dance films 😃

[@MissRB03]

My absolute favorite memory as a child is watching one set my Great Grandparents ALWAYS dancing to Big Band music everywhere in their house. I started to learn some moves with my Great Grandpa then he unfortunately passed away when I was 9, 💔. I treasure those memories. 🥰

[@freddiemolinajr.8397]

great video

[@frankmartinez4856]

To bad you missed 1941 dance scene 😅Rockabilly scene, carry’s on the Jive(swing) movements 😮

[@paulas2218]

Love this!

[@user-jq8tg4fq4f]

Hello 👋 how are you doing!!?

[@chrisbetsy898]

The scene in the Centerville Ghost, 1944. Look it up. Crazy, man. Crazy.

[@williamschlenger1518]

I'm 80 years & the ones from the 1940s are the best.

[@swingindenver]

Decent compilation. I would have preferred more spotlighting of the Black originators of Lindy Hop and other vernacular dances.

[@tommywolker5787]

I could never do that. It's so much fun to watch somebody else do it so fantastic, instead!!!

[@KarlUrb]

The zany, crazy dance contest featuring the Jerry Lewis Jitterbug is a Must Watch.

[@mikeking7470]

Heck of a dance sequence in "1941".

[@crockkett]

Funny older the pic's the better the swinging 💃💃🕺🏻🕺🏻

[@Thialeana]

A few days late but the 1944 version of the Canterville Ghost with Margaret O Brien has an excellent amazing dance scene!

[@steveneardley7541]

In the dance scene from A League of Their Own, two of the principal dancers are Madonna and Rosie O'Donnell.

[@charlierondot7509]

Love it! What more be said?

[@brendaamata9233]

Pretty cool!

[@celtichorsewoman]

SLUEFOOT from the film Daddy Long Legs, staring Leslie Caron and Fred Astaire. So cool college swing clubs have made it part of their repertoire.

[@brucecoleman5379]

Malcolm X! cannot believe you missed it!

[@nancykhoke]

I would add the jukebox scene in Asphalt Jungle - she is so wonderful in her solo dance and it is very much a part of the plot.

[@la142323]

Yes, great scenes - agree Hellzapoppin was the best one! (my favorites were in your top 10)

[@lethercry8544]

i go to a swing dance club every week!! my partner is my brother, and our favorite moves are the ones where i get flipped 😆😆 i love this dance style

[@lafollies]

Thanks!

[@MsMojo]

Thank you so much for your support! :)

[@anthonyj1775]

Jewel McGowan. ❤

[@jehuhand8176]

The Other Side of Heaven has a great high school swing segment

[@judyshoaf448]

A wonderful compilation. I kept hoping to see "Let Yourself Go" from the Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers film "Follow the Fleet." I can see why it is not included--it is their attempt to capture that swing energy in a tap number, rather than portraying an actual dance hall. But the number does include shots of two other couples "challenging" the main pair with their steps, and according to Arlene Croce in her book "Fred and Ginger" they were top-notch amateurs. There is also the homage to the Lindy in the number "Shorty George" by Fred and Rita Hayworth in "You Were Never Lovelier."

[@alucard00774]

Where's The Great Gatsby? The scene where Fergie's "A Little Party Never Killed Nobody" was awesome!

[@michele8083]

Swing Kids is such a good movie !!

[@kavic1234]

Seems you missed the Nickolas Brothers, the best of all of them

[@esmeephillips5888]

They were 'flash', not swing.

[@esmeephillips5888]

Glad you highlighted the Cab Calloway number from 'Sensations of 1945': one of the most richly, variously entertaining and underrated musicals ever.

[@dee_dee_dior]

Hellsapoppin' would be a great remake! If done right!

[@andrestimmermanis7346]

I think you may have missed the greatest swing dance scene ever….The “Red Blues” scene from “Silk Stockings” featuring Cyd Charisse.

[@amandahankins2731]

I love the ones in the older ones because they dont use stunt doubles in them

[@davidmiller4078]

Yeah those Lindy Hoppers well deserve to be at number 1 but its great tbat the dance style is still so popular great fun

[@OMG-Becki-L00k-at-her-Butts]

You forgot Pearl Harbor, & The Mask 😢 both movies had great swing dancing

[@christinacreveling3011]

Check out Stage Door Canteen--I think one of the male dancers was double-jointed at the hips!

[@manuelvieira8180]

Forgot " 1941 -crazy year in Hollywood " - one of the most underated movies of Steven Spielberg . There is a scene of a dance contest that is incedible !...

[@jacklav1]

"...executing an effective swing routine." Now that's what I call jive talkin'

[@JennlaMoore1-oz7ls]

Some think swinging is more fun, sure seems to be although I could never find a partner hahaha❤

[@KNS6000]

Not one of the best, but still fun to watch. 1982 Cannery Row with Nick Nolte and Debra Winger

[@ishaa5948]

I'm surprised that The Mask wasn't on here. Jim Carey n Cameron Diaz were brilliant.