OnlineSalsa's Top Five Best Ever Partnering Dance Movies

The executives of OnlineSalsa.com were discussing which movies were highly influential in the development of Salsa dancing worldwide. There are movies that inspired thousands of people to take on the difficult but highly gratifying task of following classes in Salsa and other Latin dances. This is OnlineSalsa.com's top five list. This list is highly arbitrary and everyone is free to submit his or her own top five list in the "comment" section.

 

Number 5: Dirty Dancing 2, Havana Nights

This musical/romance film directed by Guy Farland in the U.S.A. in 2004 is a prequel to the 1987 blockbuster movie “Dirty Dancing”. The film reuses the same basic plot as the original, but is transplanted from upstate New York of the 1960's to Cuba on the brink of the Cuban Revolution. Starring: Romola Garai as Katey Miller, Diego Luna as Javier Suarez, and with a special role for Patrick Swayze as the Dance Class Instructor. Gross revenue: $27,685,016 

Number 4: Take The Lead

This “feel good” dance movie directed by Liz Friedlander is set in New York and was first released in 2006. It shows the struggle of classical dance instructor Pierre Dulaine – played by Antonio Banderas – in learning a group of high school misfits and thugs to dance and install some basic moral values during a special student detention program. Starring: Antonio Banderas as Pierre Dulaine, Rob Brown as “Rock”, Yaya DaCosta as “LaRhette”, Lauren Collins as “Caitlin”, John Ortiz as “Mr. Temple” and Alfred Woodard as “Principal James”. Gross revenue: over $30 million in the United States. 

Number 3: Shall We Dance?

This 2004 box office hit directed by Peter Chelsom is a remake of the award-winning Mayasuki Suo Japanese film “Shall We Dansu?” released in 1996. The movie tells the fictional story of the bored lawyer John Clark – played by Richard Gere – commuting every day in Chigago, then decides to take dance classes to meet the beautiful Paulina (singer/dancer/actress Jennifer Lopez) and, at the end, falls in love with dancing. Starring: Richard Gere as John Clark, Jennifer Lopez as “Paulina” and Susan Sarandon as Clark's wife Beverly. Gross revenue: $170.1 million.

Number 2: Dance With Me

This drama film on love and dance directed by Randa Haines and set in Houston, Texas was released in 1998 and became the long awaited dance movie hit after Dirty Dancing. The movie depicts the story of Cuban born Rafael Infante – played by the Puerto Rican Latin singer & superstar Chayanne – migrating to the U.S., falling in love with dancer/instructor Ruby Sinclair – played by singer/actress Vanessa L. Williams – and the clash between two dance worlds: Cuban Salsa and American Latin dance. At the end, the two lovers end up teaching together at the dance studio. Starring: Chayanne as Rafael Infante, Vanessa L. Williams as Ruby Sinclair, Kris Kristofferson as John Burnet (Rafael's father)and with a dance cameo of Albert Torres, who is the world's number 1 Salsa promoter. Gross revenue: $15,814,088

The Number 1 spot is a tie between two iconic movies and depends from which “dance world” you come from.

Number 1: Dirty Dancing

This 1987 romantic dance movie directed by Emile Ardolino and for a great part choreographed by the legendary Kenny Ortega was set in Catskill Mountains, New York during the summer of 1963. It is the story of 17-year old Frances “Baby” Houseman – played by Jennifer Grey – developing a forbidden crush for the resort's dance instructor Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze), becoming Castle's dance partner and ends up winning the rebellion against her parents and the establishment. Starring: Patrick Swayze as Johnny Castle, Jennifer Grey as “Baby” and Cynthia Rhodes as Jhonny's original dance partner  Penny Johnson. Gross revenue: over $214 million worldwide (2009).  

Number 1: Salsa: The Motion Picture

Salsa: The Motion Picture is considered by many to be the “Latino” answer to Dirty Dancing. The movie was released in 1988, one year after Dirty Dancing. Directed by Boaz Davidson and set in East Los Angeles, California this romance film is about the lower-class Puerto Rican Dancer “Rico” - played by ex Menudo star Robby Rosa – deciding to improve his lot by entering Salsa club La Luna's “Puerto Rico Salsa Dance Competition” with his girlfriend Vicky (Angela Alvarado). Luna (Miranda Garrison) – the gorgeous club owner and past winner of the competition – sets her sights on Rico and manages to get him as her dance partner. At the end, Rico prefers to be himself and chooses for his girlfriend. Starring: Robby Rosa as “Rico”, Angela Alvarado as “Vicky”, Rodney Harvey as “Ken”, Magali Alvarado as “Rita” and Miranda Garrison as “Luna”. Special appearances by Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Wilkins, Kenny Ortega (choreographer & singer) and Willie Colon.