Dance movies that shaped an era of crazy colors, neon tight pants and leg warmers.

The 80s had some iconic dance movies. The time when dressing neon tight pants, leg warmers and listen to some serious synthpop was a guarantee for a great weekend. The genre of dance movies truly peaked in the ’80s from street dances to some sexy Salsa…the 80’s all had it!

On a side note, each of these movies was packed with an awesome soundtrack.

We from the youth of the 80’s have compiled a list of our favorite dance movies from the 80s that are sure to dance your socks off. MUST WATCH! (in our opinion)

Dirty Dancing (1987)

Stars: Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey

Spending the summer at a Catskills resort with her family, Frances “Baby” Houseman falls in love with the camp’s dance instructor, Johnny Castle. As music, lyrics and dance steps have become more and more sexually explicit, fathers and mothers from coast to coast have felt alienated and worried that pop music was leading their children straight to hell.

“There’s a reason that Dirty Dancing is still referenced today–it’s classic, filled with inspirational performances, dancing, and joyous music.”

Footloose (1984)

Stars: Kevin Bacon, Lori Singer, John Lithgow

A city teenager moves to a small town where rock music and dancing have been banned, and his rebellious spirit shakes up the populace. Like the rest of today’s video-happy teen-age entertainments, ”Footloose” doesn’t expect to be watched closely or taken seriously. It wants to fill the screen with catchy music and pretty kids, and this it certainly accomplishes.

“This was back when Kevin Bacon couldn’t be a bad guy, it just wasn’t possible!”

Flashdance (1983)

Stars: Jennifer Beals

A Pittsburgh woman with two jobs as a welder and an exotic dancer wants to get into ballet school.

With its powerful lyrics, commanding listeners to “take your passion and make it happen”, it brings the film to a perfection.

“Why must we take life so seriously all the time? I love it!”

Breakin’ (1984)

Stars: Lucinda Dickey, Adolfo Quinones, Michael Chambers

A struggling young jazz dancer meets up with two break-dancers. Together they become the sensation of the street crowds. The movie features appearances by Ice-T in his first performance to be put to album and Jean-Claude Van Damme can be seen in a black one-piece unitard at the beginning Venice Beach dance scene in his first film

“The first break dance movie, COOL!”

Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo (1984)

Stars: Lucinda Dickey, Adolfo Quinones, Michael Chambers

A developer tries to bulldoze a community recreation center. The local breakdancers try to stop it. The movie was released to worse reviews than the previous entry and its subtitle “Electric Boogaloo” became a joke title often tied to unnecessary sequels. It is so-bad-it-is-good. Just sit back and wallow in the glory and wonder of the Electric Boogaloo.

“A fantastic GUILTY PLEASURE & as good as the 1st. The awesome dancing alone stands out.”

Fame (1980)

Stars: Eddie Barth, Irene Cara, Lee Curreri

A chronicle of the lives of several teenagers who attend a New York high school for students gifted in the performing arts. The movie has the kind of sensitivity to the real lives of real people that we don’t get much in Hollywood productions anymore. Anyone who ever went to high school will recognize some of Fame’s characters

“Realistic and Upbeat Musical-Drama With Great Performances and Score.”

White Nights (1985)

Stars: Mikhail Baryshnikov, Gregory Hines, Jerzy Skolimowski

Nikolai Rodchenko, a Russian ballet dancer who 8 years ago defected to the West. He is in a plane flying over Russia when all of a sudden, a malfunction forces the plane to land in Russia. The KGB tells everyone that his injuries are so severe that he has to remain confined for a while. But in reality they want him to return to them, so they bring him to his old apartment and an American, Raymond Greenwood, who himself defected to Russia several years ago, is placed there to keep an eye on him. However, Rodchenko is not about to give in and is determined to escape. So with help from his former lover, he gets word to the Americans. And even Raymond is started to be disillusioned with Russia, and he has to decide if he is going to do what he was sent to do or help Rodchenko. This isn’t an MTV-inspired dance musical, as Hackford rarely cuts away from the amazing footwork. Artistry, ambition and the level of difficulty in the dancing, this towers over most other 1980’s dance musicals. While it’s less “fun” and more heavy-handed.

Salsa (1988)

Stars: Draco Rosa, Rodney Harvey, Magali Alvarado

Fatherless barrio Puertorican Rico is a menial car mechanic by day, but lives for the nights, when he dances and dates hot dancing girls, cockily convinced the title of Salsa king in fancy nightclub La Luna’s upcoming contest is to be his. He encourages his best friend, courteous gentleman Ken, to date his sister Margarita so he gets a free hand with her flirtatious classmate Lola. The reigning salsa queen Luna’s interest in Rico as dance-partner threatens his on-off relationship with Vicki. More jealous trouble follows when Ken and Margarita fall in true love.

“Luna was the dance director of dirty dancing!”

Urban Cowboy (1980)

Stars: John Travolta, Debra Winger, Scott Glenn

Bud is a young man from the country who learns about life and love in a Houston bar. Debra Winger was one of the very best actresses of the 1980’s, as Sissy, she is the most memorable in the movie. Scott Glenn plays the antagonist to slimy perfection, and Travolta shines over the majority of the movie.

“This is an awesome movie!! it’s still worth watching 22 years after its release!”

Girls Just Want to Have Fun (1985)

Stars: Biff Yeager, Kristi Somers, Richard Blade

Janey is new in town, and soon meets Lynne, who shares her passion for dancing in general, and “Dance TV” in particular. When a competition is announced to find a new Dance TV regular couple, Janey and Lynne are determined to audition. The only problem is that Janey’s father doesn’t approve of that kind of thing.

“a cool 80’s flick with awesome characters and good dancing”