“Stomp The Yard” (2007)
Dance Style: Stepping, with a dash of krumping
Rival Crews: Theta Nu Theta and Mu Gamma Xi. Yes. Fraternities. More specifically two rival fraternities from Truth University, of whom the Gammas are the 7-time National Stepping Champions and who are not afraid to play a little dirty to keep their title and their girls (specifically Meaghan Good, the provost’s daughter). Underdogs Theta, on the other hand, recruit DJ (Columbus Short), a talented street dancer nursing guilt that his brother (Chris Brown) was killed in a street-dance-related feud.
Who Got Served? With a plot as un-be-liev-ably formulaic and manipulative as this one (witness DJ getting inspired to pledge by visiting Heritage Hall to look at pictures of Dr. King and Rosa Parks) the dancing had better be good, and it is—it’s actually pretty great, even if those fey fraternity hand gestures are kind of unintentionally hilarious. The climactic battle is terrific as the two frats face off for the championship, matching and one-upping each other brilliantly until DJ (eye-roll) busts his deceased little brother’s signature move to win the title for Theta.
See Also: The opening dance-off, featuring Chris Brown, which, while distractingly shot and hyperedited, is still pretty impressive.
“Beat Street” (1984)
Dance Style: Breakdancing
Rival Crews: The Beat Street Breakers (played by real-life crew the New York City Breakers) vs. The Bronx Rockers (The Rock Steady Crew). They face off most spectacularly (and lengthily) in the Roxy nightclub scene where, helpfully color coded red and blue, members of both crews pull off, one after the other, some of the sickest, freshest, dopest breakdancing moves YOU WILL EVER SEE. The rest of the movie is an interesting 80s artifact about various aspects of emerging hip hop culture, not just dance, but DJing, graffiti art etc., but it’s really the dancing, and this scene in particular, that wins the film a position in the all-time hall of fame.
Who Got Served? The consensus seems to emerge that the Breakers win, but to be honest if anything, we think the Rockers shade this. Not that it really matters because dance is the winner here.
See Also: The subway battle, while shorter, is pretty good too.
“Strictly Ballroom” (1992)
Dance Style: Ballroom. Paso Doble, to be precise.
Rival Crews: While there’s a more direct dance-off earlier in the film, between arrogant but talented young pup Scott (Paul Mercurio) and ugly duckling Fran’s (Tara Morice) gypsy family (in which obviously the preening Scott gets schooled in the nature of dancing with the heart vs. dancing with the feet), it’s the final dance at the Pan-Pacific Championships we have to include here. Fran, whose swan transformation is one of the best achieved in the history of cinema, finally gets to dance with the hunky Scott, and by dancing his new, illegal steps, they take on not only their opponents, but the stuffy Ballroom Establishment (personified by sleazy chairman Barry Fife, complete with Trump-esque tan-and-wig combo).
Who Got Served? In a deliriously crowdpleasing finale (to what some of us consider Baz Lurhmann’s broadest, daftest and best film by a million miles) Scott and Fran stick it to The Man through the sheer amazingness of their routine, which continues to the beat of the audience’s applause, despite disqualification. As the crowd then invades the dancefloor to the tune of “Love is in the Air” in an orgy of renewed Ballroom fervor, we defy you not to want to do the same.
See Also: The final Tango in “Take The Lead.”
“Girls Just Want To Have Fun” (1985)
Dance Style: Pop Jazz
Rival Crews: Both Janey (Sarah Jessica Parker) and Natalie (Holly Gagnier) are vying for a prized position as a Dance TV regular, and will stop at nothing to get that spot.
Who Got Served? Of course, since it’s a tie between Janey and Natalie (and their respective partners), it comes down to a good old fashioned dance-off. Janey and love interest Jeff (Lee Montgomery) pull out all the stops, including the “Dirty Dancing” overhead lift, and even several Olympic floor routine-worthy tumbling passes. Needless to say, Natalie, despite that sparkly leotard, gets served. The icing on the cake is SJP’s best friend, played by Helen Hunt with truly disturbing bangs, driving a horse and chariot onto the dance floor for some reason.
See Also: Parker is even bouncier in the audition scene.