Five, six, seven, and eight Now the most popular dance numbers on Broadway, as well as one of the biggest hits on Broadway.
In this list, we’ll look at some of the dances that will forever be part of Broadway’s history. We tried to cover as many different styles as possible, but some shows were adapted for the stage without taking into account the choreography of the film.
Ballet Sequence “An American in Paris”
It is hard to make a list of iconic dances from Broadway without at least one entry devoted to the work of Gene Kelly, the Dance Extraordinaire. The elegant 17-minute climax of the film was choreographed by the stars of the 1951 best film stage, and without this dance, most of her contributions would not exist. This dance is not only a cult, but also tells the story of Kelly’s rise to fame in the 1950s and early 1960s. It combines modern ballet with dance and is, fortunately, a 21st century Broadway version, which was also adapted by Christopher Wheeldon.
Big Spender “Sweet Charity”
Less is more for Bob Fosse, and nothing shows that more than the number “Sweet Charity” in the first act of the Broadway production of his musical classic “The Little Mermaid.”
The late, great Gillian Lynne was on guard, choreographing a difficult piece on stage that is a precursor to meowing – like the play that comes at the end of Act One. In the scene in “Sweet Charity,” the dance hostess tries to lure her client in, but that’s not the point. The song is tuned to a slow beat that should exude a strip-Necker vibe and draw you ever closer with little movement. A little isolation speaks volumes, and only the gentleman can deny it in “Cabaret,” where Fosse’s intricate style is cast in half – balanced chairs immaculately and made light.
The Jellicle Ball “Cats”
It’s hard to imagine Dick Van Dyke could have managed such a high-octane endurance routine with dance in the background. I apologize for the pun, but when I realized that this is actually a strong choreography for 10 minutes, I wanted to leave it to the professionals. They practically ask you to get up and join in, and you would be annoyed that you missed a good opportunity.
Step in Time “Mary Poppins”
When you run out of steam at the sight of the chimney sweep, Mary Poppins takes center stage and shows everyone how to do it. It’s a living piece that conjures up on stage and screen, and it’s one of the best dance numbers in Broadway history.
Chief choreographer and director Jerome Robbins have invented a traditional Jewish folk dance, it is believed. While researching for the show, he attended a Jewish wedding and found the way the men danced quite fascinating.
One man in particular mimed hitting a drunk man over the head with a bottle, and Robbins caught his eye, which ultimately inspired his choreography.
Music, singing, dance…musical theater is all of this! We love our best musical numbers on Broadway! They can add another level!