Gonna party like it's 2099

May 29, 2007 8:48 PM

What Science Fiction movies feature dancing?

Dear Hivemind,

I'm working on a silly little project, and would like to get my hands on as many Science Fiction movie dance scenes as possible.

My only requirement is that they need to look, well, future-silly, with people dressed in their poorly thought out quasi-futuristic clothes. So any Sci-Fi that attempts to present a realistic future (and thus won't be immediately identifiable as supposedly futuristic) won't really work for me.

In other words:

Matrix = No good
Logan's Run = Great.

Thanks much!

posted by Jezztek to media & arts (40 comments total)

Isn't there a dance scene in The Fifth Element?
posted by hattifattener at 8:55 PM on May 29, 2007

Return of the Jedi

Bladerunner

Outland
posted by frogan at 8:56 PM on May 29, 2007

Space Mutiny, as featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000.
posted by CrunchyFrog at 8:57 PM on May 29, 2007

Liquid Sky, this was the eighties baby. Good luck finding it.
posted by JJ86 at 9:03 PM on May 29, 2007

YES! Space Mutiny! That was my first thought, too CF.





Did you see my butt?
posted by The Deej at 9:04 PM on May 29, 2007

Super Mario Bros. (the film)

The dance scene isn't in the future but it's an alternate universe nonetheless. And it REALLY looks ridiculous.
posted by pinksoftsoap at 9:06 PM on May 29, 2007

Space Mutiny dance party starts at about 3:40 in this clip.
posted by CrunchyFrog at 9:07 PM on May 29, 2007

Any number of Star Trek episodes had extreme lame-oids in Starfleet uniforms dancing slow, plodding dances with different sorts of crabheads. In particular, there was:

ORION SLAVE GIRL!
Kirk/Uhura, mit smoochink
I'd swear there was at least one with Spock dancing, maybe on the happy-spore planet
Uhura fan-dancing
Hippies dancing on the way to eden

Likewise, I think Picard had stuffy functions with awful dancing from time to time. Maybe the one with Famke Janssen?

The 70s Buck Rogers is also a good place to look.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 9:10 PM on May 29, 2007

Bill and ted's excellent adventure, when they go to the future.

"and, it's totally excellent to dance to!"
posted by drjimmy11 at 9:13 PM on May 29, 2007

The Buck Rogers series had some funny scenes of people dancing with ropelights. I couldn't find any clips, but here's some funny Buck disco dancing.
posted by roboto at 9:17 PM on May 29, 2007

Xanadu? (wincing)
posted by Liosliath at 9:18 PM on May 29, 2007

The American Astronaut, which isn't really a sf film in the strictest sense (more of a weirdo indie/musical), but which does feature a dance competition as a key plot point.
posted by neckro23 at 9:28 PM on May 29, 2007 [2 favorites]

Starship Troopers had a future high school dance scene. I don't remember how outlandish the costumes were.

More importantly, it had a creepy impromptu neon-violin serenade by Jake Busey, as Johnny Rico and Dizzy Flores danced in their future fatigues.
posted by infinitewindow at 9:42 PM on May 29, 2007

um, rocky horror?
posted by timory at 9:44 PM on May 29, 2007

You absolutely need to see the dance scene from "Gor."
posted by johngoren at 9:45 PM on May 29, 2007

ORION SLAVE GIRL!

Sorry, that does not qualify. It's not silly. Weeeeeeowwww!
posted by The Deej at 9:48 PM on May 29, 2007

I don't recall any dancing in The Fifth Element...but the scene with the diva does feature her dancing a little, on stage, if aliens count. And Ruby Rhod strutting around could be made to look like dancing, depending on what you are doing.

My first thought was Rocky Horror Picture Show...but on second thought, I don't recall Riff Raff and Magenta ever actually dancing in their space outfit things...and the time warp outfits are not exaclty futuristic. Also, in Austin Powers, there are some quasi-futuristic clothes, but don't remember if anyone ever dances in them...

Maybe there is dancing in Johnny Mnemonic...the clothes I think are kind of future-punk, and there are a few club scenes...I am vaguely ashamed now, and must admit that not only have I seen this movie, for some ungodly reason, I actually own it.

(so I guess none of this is really very helpful)

Wait, TANK GIRL! There is a huge dance scene, and from what I recall they are wearing pretty odd clothes!
posted by catatethebird at 9:55 PM on May 29, 2007

Also, dancing kangaroo-men, at a different point. The first dance I am thinking about is the the Cole Porter song....
posted by catatethebird at 9:56 PM on May 29, 2007

And there's is the opening to Ghost World, where the dancers are all wearing gold (I think, maybe they are a little different) masks. The outfits aren't strictly futuristic, but the masks could make it work.
(I like this question...it's got my mind rolling, scouring movies I've seen for futuristic dance scenes.)
posted by catatethebird at 10:02 PM on May 29, 2007

Ok, one more, then I will stop myself. Really. Have no idea if any of these are what you're looking for... In Mirrormask there is a scene where robots dress a girl, while swaying/dancing to "Close to You." (here)

Maybe one of these might help.
posted by catatethebird at 10:10 PM on May 29, 2007

Barbarella has got to have a dance scene... though, can't think where in the movie it might be.
posted by LobsterMitten at 11:15 PM on May 29, 2007

Wow, so many great answers, thanks much!
posted by Jezztek at 11:22 PM on May 29, 2007

Would you believe that Fred Astaire danced a little in an episode of Battlestar Galactica?
posted by dustsquid at 12:29 AM on May 30, 2007

Liquid Sky: $22 at Amazon.

The scene at the beginning of Ghost World is from a Bollywood movie. Maybe too old to be true Bollywood, but you get the idea.
posted by rhizome at 12:45 AM on May 30, 2007

BLADE RUNNER??? I thought I knew that movie inside and out, and I don't remember any dancing. Is this in some super-new-editor's floor-remix-extendo cut? There certainly some outlandish outfits at Taffy Lewis' place, but I don't recall any dancing. Or "dancing" for that matter.

Alas, you've made me realize the one thing that Galaxy Quest was missing.

There is of course the little dance Malcolm Reynolds does that has been immortalized in .gif form. Hmm. You've also made me realize how seldom sci-fi features dancing!

Though if you're piecing together a video, you must have a bit of HAL9000 singing "Daisy", with some out of context reply from Dave Bowman.
posted by dreamsign at 2:46 AM on May 30, 2007

Hold up, does anybody dance at the Cantina in Star Wars?

infinitewindow, I love that scene.
posted by dreamsign at 2:47 AM on May 30, 2007

The 'movie length' pilot episode of Star Trek Enterprise had some girls dancing in a club, and then I think eating butterflies...it was all supposed to be erotic.

I believe in Star Trek: First Contact (movie no. 8) Picard danced with Lily (Alfre Woodard) in a holodeck sequence (a ballroom setting) but I think they were dressed up nicely in sort of '30s clothing.

And of course, the Orion Slave Girls.
posted by derMax at 3:33 AM on May 30, 2007

There's an odd dance scene I think in the movie Mission to Mars, between Tim Robbins and his character's wife. I won't bet money, but I think its in there, displaying off the gravitational effects of a rotating part of the ship.

The dance scene in Starship Troopers is basically a prom...with prom like attire. Though, there's some silly dancing later on in the movie when they get some R&R. The only sci-fi about it is that a character plays a clear plastic violin.
posted by Atreides at 3:52 AM on May 30, 2007

The Deep Space Nine episode "You Are Cordially Invited..." has a completely ridiculous dance scene involving Jadzia Dax and a midget Ferengi.
posted by mkb at 5:53 AM on May 30, 2007

Liquid Sky is surely an answer, but no-one should pay money for that piece of sh-t
posted by pompomtom at 6:08 AM on May 30, 2007

One of the Matrix films includes a rave scene.
posted by Grinder at 6:45 AM on May 30, 2007

Liquid Sky is surely an answer, but no-one should pay money for that piece of sh-t

100% agreed. The only redeemable scene is right in the beginning at the night club, "this is my beat box".


Battlestar Galactica (the original series) definitely had dancing, there was a scene where they had a disco version of the theme song playing and I wish I had recorded it.

Blade Runner, doesn't Daryl Hannah dance with JF Sebastian? Plus I thought the snake lady replicant did at least a few seconds of erotic dance.

I'm pretty sure Cherry 2000 has a few dance scenes in it, but they look rather "normal", if you consider 1980's fashion normal.
posted by o0o0o at 7:00 AM on May 30, 2007

There's also a party scene in the movie Prayer of the Rollerboys, that I'm sure must have some cheesy dancing and definitely goofy costumes.
posted by o0o0o at 7:04 AM on May 30, 2007

The Josie and the Pussycats in Space cartoon.
posted by signal at 7:23 AM on May 30, 2007

Not only is there a very silly, foolishly-costumed dance scene in Plan 10 from Outer Space, but the dance performed is a secret Masonic rite used by aliens to contact one another, or by humans to signal that the time is ripe for the aliens to implement their nefarious plan, or something. It's pretty fantastic, whatever it is. Also, bees and (a singing!) Karen Black are involved.
posted by hilatron at 7:27 AM on May 30, 2007

while it's eliminated by your first requirement, contact features jodie foster dancing with matthew mcconaughey at a big white house ball while the president is deciding who gets to go in the space machine they just spent a bajillion dollars to build.

along the same lines . . . wasn't there some dancing in coccoon?
but to get to your question, you may not want to overlook the lovely dancers at the throne of jabba du hutt! they're not listed in the credits, but the 'special edition' also features jedi rocks dancers (about one-fifth down the page)?

and there's a big party in the new bsg series as well . . . with drinks, dancing, and a barfight??
posted by deejay jaydee at 7:32 AM on May 30, 2007

Barbarella has got to have a dance scene...

Arguably the title sequence is a striptease, which is a kind of dance. A sexy kind.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 8:20 AM on May 30, 2007

The Technoir scene from The Terminator.
posted by kirkaracha at 9:10 AM on May 30, 2007

The new Battlestar Galactica has a dance scene in the first season. But I dont think it has quasi-futuristic clothes.

Speaking of quasi futuristic clothes, do any of the austin powers movies have dance scenes in them?
posted by skrike at 12:04 PM on May 31, 2007

If you're including cartoons, theres plenty of dancing in Rock & Rule.
posted by CrunchyFrog at 12:10 PM on May 31, 2007