| 1 | %% Image and caption selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1331247321051212900 |
| 2 | %% Please do not change or remove either without starting a new thread. |
| 3 | %% |
| 4 | [[quoteright:300:[[WesternAnimation/{{Cinderella}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/cinderella_dance.png]]]] |
| 5 | [[caption-width-right:300:[[Music/WhitneyHouston "Oh, I wanna dance with somebody...\ |
| 6 | with somebody who loves me."]]]] |
| 7 | |
| 8 | ->''"But something happens when we slow dance."'' |
| 9 | -->-- '''Keri Hilson''', "Slow Dance" |
| 10 | |
| 11 | So Alice and Bob, who either don't know each other very well or are JustFriends, are attending some fancy party. For some reason, they wind up dancing to some slow romantic song that requires waltzing or some other dance typified by close body contact. Hey, that's ok, nothing special -- except she's starting to blush, and he's getting all nervous. Could it be? Are they in love? |
| 12 | |
| 13 | This often pops up during high school dances and fancy parties, the kind with hooped skirts and masks. For some reason, waltzing with a friend, or friend-of-a-friend, always winds up with one or both participants acquiring (or realizing) feelings of love towards the other, as though it were some kind of movement-driven truth/love spell. Often prefaced by an observation that SheCleansUpNicely, and frequently occurs during a HighSchoolDance, though it is by no means exclusive to teenagers. |
| 14 | |
| 15 | A subtrope of DancesAndBalls, obviously. |
| 16 | |
| 17 | When adding examples, keep in mind that this trope is about the dance being the ''first'' indication of romance between the dancers, not just a romantic dance between two people who are in love ([[SheIsNotMyGirlfriend or in denial]]). |
| 18 | |
| 19 | Chances are a LoveTheme will be playing. |
| 20 | |
| 21 | Compare MatingDance, ConvenientSlowDance, FlightOfRomance. Contrast DeathTrapTango and SinisterTangoMusic. |
| 22 | |
| 23 | ---- |
| 24 | !!Examples: |
| 25 | |
| 26 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 27 | |
| 28 | [[folder:Anime & Manga]] |
| 29 | * ''Anime/AdolescenceOfUtena'': Utena and Anthy, a clear starlit sky, a rose garden covered in water creating a mirror-like floor, and of course, the song as they reach to each other and dance, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72e0s4pxDG0 "Toki ni, Ai wa (At times, Love is)."]] |
| 30 | * ''Manga/{{Berserk}}:'' While Casca insist that [[ICantDance she can't dance]] with her crush Griffith in the manga and in ''Anime/Berserk1997'', ''Anime/BerserkTheGoldenAgeArc II'' takes it in a completely different direction with her and Guts dancing together, both parties [[EveryoneCanSeeIt very clearly enjoying their interaction.]] |
| 31 | * ''Manga/CandyCandy'' has three moments like those: |
| 32 | ** One of the most ShipTease-laden moments for Candy and Anthony was their dance in the Andree BigFancyHouse. Even more so because they were ''this'' close to missing it thanks to [[SpoiledBrat Eliza and Neil's]] machinations. The sight of Candy dancing with Tony in a PimpedOutDress that belonged to his MissingMom [[VillainousBreakdown sent Eliza into a sobbing fit.]] |
| 33 | ** Candy dances with Anthony's cousin Archie, but that one goes more into funny territory as [[CuteClumsyGirl she steps on his foot]] and he makes a really hilarious face. [[spoiler: (Later, he's briefly in UnrequitedLove with her... before [[BetaCouple getting together with her best friend Annie]].]] |
| 34 | ** One of the first hints about Stear and [[{{Meganekko}} Patty]]'s mutual growing feelings was their... rather dorky yet cute dance in the SchoolFestival. Where they both proved to be BlindWithoutThem, but still tried to go through it. [[spoiler: Too bad [[HerHeartWillGoOn he perishes in]] UsefulNotes/WorldWarI, leaving her all heartbroken.]] |
| 35 | * In ''Manga/TheCaseStudyOfVanitas'', Noé asks Vanitas to dance with him at the ballroom. Then they talk about how [[WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove neither of them knows what love is]]. It's all part of the increasing HomoeroticSubtext of these two. |
| 36 | * ''Manga/DescendantsOfDarkness'': For Hisoka and Tsubaki, the start of their interaction consists of her bumping into him and then getting him to dance with her. Cue slow, romantic music, and GaussianGirl effects as they stare into each other's eyes. |
| 37 | * ''Literature/TheFamiliarOfZero'': After catching Fouguet, the academy holds a ball where Louise asks Saito for a dance. In the novels, at least, Saito declares that that was the time when he fell in love with Louise. |
| 38 | * In the Netherlands arc of ''Anime/HanaNoKoLunlun'', there's a dance contest where Lunlun is supposed to participate [[ItMakesSenseInContext to counter the influence of a corrupt klomp (traditional Dutch wooden clogs) maker]], but she has no partner. In comes Serge, her handsome MysteriousProtector whom she has a huge crush on; he agrees to dance with her and help her. |
| 39 | * ''Manga/HonooNoAlpenRose'': |
| 40 | ** Jeudi gets dolled up in a red gown to dance a waltz ''with the RomanticFalseLead'' instead of [[VictoriousChildhoodFriend the guy she has loved from childhood]]. [[spoiler: Said dance turns out to be plot-relevant, as it triggers the return on one of Jeudi's lost memories: dancing with a man who seems to be her father... ''before'' the plane crash that left her orphaned and amnesiac.]] |
| 41 | ** In the OP of the series, she's seen dancing with both the False Lead ''and'' the VictoriousChildhoodFriend. |
| 42 | * The Magic World Ball chapters of ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'' had two sets of these going with variations. The straight one is Kotaro/Natsumi, and the oddball one being Negi/Asuna, because [[spoiler:it isn't really Asuna, but her doppelganger Shiori. However, by that point Shiori ''was'' already developing feelings for Negi]]. |
| 43 | * ''Manga/TheRowsOfCherryTrees'' subverts this when Yukiko has an ImagineSpot where she dances with her dear Chikage... but then she sees other girls shooing her away, and her rival Ayako takes her place. |
| 44 | * Subverted in ''Manga/TokyoMewMew'', where Ichigo was asked for a dance by Shirogane when the Mew Mews are attending a cruise party. Despite being very embarrassed with herself for enjoying the moment, the two never ended up together, because Ichigo only has eyes for Aoyama. |
| 45 | %% * ''Manga/VampireKnight'': [[spoiler:With Yuuki and Zero in chapter 87.]] |
| 46 | [[/folder]] |
| 47 | |
| 48 | [[folder:Comic Books]] |
| 49 | * In ''ComicBook/LauraDeanKeepsBreakingUpWithMe'' Freddy and the eponymous Laura Dean met when they get paired for square dancing in gym class. Freddy was immediately smitten, and Laura Dean asked her out (in a typically Laura Dean sort of way) after class. Later, when Freddy seeks advice about what to do about Laura Dean, the "Seek-her" tries to continue the dancing metaphor and tells Freddy that she needs to leave "the square." |
| 50 | --> '''Freddy:''' Fucking square dancing. |
| 51 | * ''ComicBook/TheUltimates'': Henry Pym and Janet Van Dyne were a couple until a domestic discussion ends in violent domestic abuse. She is hospitalized, and he escapes. Captain America tracks him down and beats him to a pulp, but she rejects Cap when he tries to talk. The next time they talk is during a dance in a White House gala. Captain America apologizes, he says he shouldn't have interfered; but she answers that he ''did'' interfere and that nobody ever did something like that for her. And then she kisses him... the first kiss Cap got since being unfrozen in the XXI century. |
| 52 | [[/folder]] |
| 53 | |
| 54 | [[folder:Fan Works]] |
| 55 | * ''Fanfic/TheBoltChronicles'': Bolt and Mittens dance together in "The Wedding Reception." However, it does not bear romantic fruit until a later story, "The Ship," where it is lampshaded. In the latter story, Mittens's memory of dancing with Bolt heightens her growing feelings of attraction to the dog considerably. |
| 56 | * ''Fanfic/InfinityTrainBlossomingTrail'': Chloe dances with Lexi -- a book who can use his pages to give him a humanoid form; said form is based on a character Chloe created called "The Specter of the Black Forest" (an {{Expy}} of [[Anime/YuGiOhVRAINS Specter]]) -- to the Lobster Quadrille, with both singing its lyrics and waltzing in glee at being together. There are hints of it being romantic even though the two have known each other for at most a few hours. |
| 57 | * In the ''Fanfic/JuniorOfficers'' chapter "[[Recap/JuniorOfficersS2E26HappyBirthdayLekona Happy Birthday, Lekona]]", Lekona and Blythe share a dance as the stars come out. |
| 58 | * In ''Fanfic/RWBYScars'', Weiss and Blake decide not to go to their school's dance and opt instead to spend time watching movies together. After Weiss reveals that she's never had a nice dance with someone else, Blake offers to dance with her. They have a romantic-laden dance together. |
| 59 | * Subverted in ''Fanfic/SoTheTrauma''. The story ends with Kim and Ron dancing at the prom. Ron wants to [[RelationshipUpgrade make it]] one of these, but Kim [[IncompatibleOrientation just isn't interested]]. The dance ends up being a platonic comfort one after the traumatic events of Kim's girlfriend being revealed to be a robot created by Drakken. |
| 60 | * ''Fanfic/WhiteSheepRWBY'': Jaune and Yang share a romantic dance at the HighSchoolDance after they become an OfficialCouple. Of course, since Jaune is currently in a FakeRelationship with Weiss, the three of them have a bit of trouble explaining to Winter why her sister's boyfriend is having a clearly romantic dance with some other woman. |
| 61 | [[/folder]] |
| 62 | |
| 63 | [[folder:Films -- Animation]] |
| 64 | * ''WesternAnimation/{{Anastasia}}'': Anastasia dances with Dimitri as part of her "princess lessons" after he gives her a dress in the Waltz Reprise of "Learn to Do It". Vladimir notices the dance's romantic undertones long before they do ("I never should have let them dance..."). |
| 65 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheBadGuys2022'' implied between Mr. Wolf and Diane Foxington during Charity Gala. |
| 66 | * ''WesternAnimation/{{Barbie}}'': |
| 67 | ** As in the original ballet ''WesternAnimation/BarbieInTheNutcracker'', the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Prince [[spoiler:here combined with Clara and the Nutcracker]] get a ''pas de deux''. |
| 68 | ** ''WesternAnimation/BarbieOfSwanLake'': As in the original ''Theatre/SwanLake'', Odette and the Prince get a romantic dance on the night they meet, and then the Prince dances with Odile disguised as Odette at the ball, spelling disaster when he proposes to her instead of the real Odette. |
| 69 | ** ''WesternAnimation/BarbieInTheTwelveDancingPrincesses'': Genevieve and Derek realize that the only way to escape the magical realm is if they waltz together; they are featured in the video examples below. |
| 70 | ** ''WesternAnimation/BarbieAndTheMagicOfPegasus'': Annika and Aidan conclude the film figure-skating together in the Cloud Kingdom. |
| 71 | ** Ro and Prince Antonio are dancing in ''WesternAnimation/BarbieAsTheIslandPrincess'' when Antonio tells Ro he loves her. |
| 72 | ** ''WesternAnimation/BarbieInThePinkShoes'': Franchise/{{Barbie}} adapts ''Swan Lake'' again with the ''pas de deux'' between Odette and her prince, and then fractures the fairy tale when the real Odette shows up during the Odile scene. |
| 73 | * ''WesternAnimation/Charlotte2021'': Alexander and Charlotte share a brief dance at Ottilie's home, which makes their budding romance apparent. |
| 74 | * In ''WesternAnimation/ChickenRun'', Rocky and Ginger start having romantic feelings after a ''fast'' swing dance scene. |
| 75 | * Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon: |
| 76 | ** Nearly the whole of ''WesternAnimation/{{Cinderella}}'''s romance occurs as Prince Charming and the titular heroine dance to "So This Is Love". |
| 77 | ** ''WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty''. Though Prince Phillip is drawn to Aurora by the sound of her voice, her first introduction to him is when he sneaks up behind her and starts waltzing with her to "Once Upon a Dream". |
| 78 | ** ''WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast'' is one of the most famous examples as they dance to "Beauty and The Beast". |
| 79 | ** Tiana and Naveen in ''WesternAnimation/ThePrincessAndTheFrog''; "If I can mince, you can dance." (Unique in that they are ''frogs'' when they dance, rather than humans.) |
| 80 | ** In ''WesternAnimation/{{Tangled}}'', Rapunzel and Flynn try to reach each other during the "[[SpontaneousChoreography Kingdom Dance]]" but just as they finally come together, [[SubvertedTrope the dance ends]]. |
| 81 | ** In ''WesternAnimation/Elemental2023'', Ember and Wade share a slow dance [[spoiler: once they realize they can touch without hurting each other.]] |
| 82 | * This trope is in full effect at the end of ''WesternAnimation/KimPossibleMovieSoTheDrama'' when Kim and Ron returned to the prom and danced to the song "Could It Be" which incidentally fit the mood perfectly, culminating in their FirstKiss. |
| 83 | * This happens in ''WesternAnimation/ThePrincessAndThePea'' when Daria and Rollo dance to the movie's AwardBaitSong. |
| 84 | * ''WesternAnimation/{{Rio}}''. After dancing a samba duet, Blu and Jewel are [[AlmostKiss on the verge of kissing...]] until the bad guys turn up. |
| 85 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheScarecrow'': another example where the love interests dance to an AwardBaitSong. |
| 86 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheSwanPrincess'' at the end of the song "This Is My Idea". |
| 87 | * Don Bluth's ''WesternAnimation/{{Thumbelina|1994}}'' has one between Thumbelina and Prince Cornelius on their first nighttime flight. |
| 88 | [[/folder]] |
| 89 | |
| 90 | [[folder:Films -- Live-Action]] |
| 91 | * How Ted and Elaine first met in ''Film/{{Airplane}}'', in a scene that parodies ''Film/SaturdayNightFever''. |
| 92 | * There's a cute one in the 1987 film adaptation of [[Literature/AnneofGreenGables Anne of Avonlea]] between Anne and Gilbert. It deeply affects Anne, who jerks away quickly after a few moments and makes an excuse to leave. Up until that point, she'd been oblivious to both Gilbert's feelings for her and her own feelings for him. She still remains oblivious to her feelings for him for a few more years. |
| 93 | * ''Film/TheAmericanPresident'': President Shepherd shares a slow dance with Sydney to liven up a state dinner he's hosting, thereby making their relationship known to the world; by the next morning, every newspaper and tabloid in the country is reporting on it and wondering who the woman who managed to snag the president's heart is. |
| 94 | -->'''Sydney:''' Two hundred pairs of eyes are focused on you with two questions on their minds: who's this girl, and why is the President dancing with her? |
| 95 | -->'''Shepherd:''' Well, first of all, the two hundred pairs of eyes aren't focused on me. They're focused on you. And the answers are Sydney Ellen Wade, and because she said yes. |
| 96 | * In ''Film/TheArtist'', when George and Peppy film the dancing scene for [[ShowWithinAShow "A German Affair"]], they keep screwing up the takes because they can't stop staring at each other or making each other laugh. It culminates in a HeldGaze, after which a visibly unsettled George walks off the set. In the film's screenplay, this is actually pointed to as the precise moment where the two fall in love. |
| 97 | * The very last scene of ''Film/AvengersEndgame'' is Captain America finally dancing with his beloved Peggy Carter, something he promised in ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger'' but could never deliver as his last mission left him [[HumanPopsicle frozen in the Arctic for decades]]. |
| 98 | * Subverted in the 2014 French-German ''Film/{{Beauty and the Beast|2014}}''. Belle's dance with the Beast is a clear homage to the Dance Of Romance in the Disney adaptation listed above, but given that Belle asks the Beast to dance only because she wants to make a deal with him to see her family again and that the dance ends with the Beast refusing to honor his end of the deal and Belle shouting at him that he disgusts her in response, it ultimately doesn't turn out very romantic. |
| 99 | * In ''Film/{{Carefree}},'' Amanda first realizes her attraction to Tony after she dreams about dancing with him; she confirms it by getting him to dance with her in real life. |
| 100 | * ''Film/CassanovaWasAWoman'': Cassanova realizes she's attracted to Lola (and later bisexual because of this) while dancing with her [[WhereEverybodyKnowsYourFlame in a lesbian club]]. After this they fall for each other and date. |
| 101 | %%* Crumb and the old guy do this in ''Film/TheCityOfLostChildren''. |
| 102 | %%* In ''Film/TheDarkKnightRises'', Bruce Wayne gets to do one with [[DatingCatwoman Selina Kyle]] about 30 minutes into the movie. |
| 103 | * ''Film/Emma2020'': At a party, Emma and her good friend Mr. Knightly decide to dance together as friends. By the end of the rather romantic dance, both of them are slowly realizing that they’re more than JustFriends… |
| 104 | * This is the way Robert and Giselle both realize that they were meant to be with each other in ''Film/{{Enchanted}}''. It's also the only possible way they could justify [[PairTheSpares Edward and Nancy]], even though both of them were glaring at their respective partners the whole time. |
| 105 | * Almasy and Katherine's dance in ''Film/TheEnglishPatient'' film. It's romantic in that the mutual attraction between the two becomes apparent, but it is also extremely uncomfortable because of the sheer intensity of their connection coupled with the fact that Katherine is another man's wife. And he's sitting not far away. |
| 106 | * "Night and Day" in ''Film/TheGayDivorcee:'' Mimi has been very standoffish to Guy until this point, but after they dance together, she is clearly attracted to him--so much so that she's hurt when she [[MistakenIdentity thinks he was just romancing her for his job]]. |
| 107 | * In ''Film/TheGreatestShowman'', the newlywed P.T. and Charity Barnum share one during the song "A Million Dreams". |
| 108 | * ''Film/HighSchoolMusical3SeniorYear'' gives us "Can I Have This Dance", as Gabriella teaches Troy the waltz. |
| 109 | * In ''{{Film/Holiday}}'', Linda and John share a dance just before midnight on New Year's Eve. It's supposed to be an innocent future brother- and sister-in-law moment, but for Linda, at least, it turns into [[LoveEpiphany something more]]. |
| 110 | * In ''Film/IronMan1'', Tony Stark first seems to notice Pepper romantically when he gets her out onto the dance floor for a nice slow waltz. They have an awkward and comedic conversation about it afterwards. |
| 111 | * It looks like this is happening to Janis and Damien towards the end of ''Film/MeanGirls'', but thankfully the pair quickly think better of it. |
| 112 | ** Played straight after Damien runs off. Kevin slips into Janis's still-open arms and starts dancing with her while asking about her ethnicity. |
| 113 | * In ''Film/JasonsLyric'', the titular characters slow dance after having a mock picnic in an abandoned bus station followed by [[TwirlOfLove a twirl hug.]] |
| 114 | * The sexual tension between King Mongkut and Anna in ''Film/TheKingAndI'' comes to a high boil during the 'Shall We Dance' number. Anna is clearly having trouble breathing when the King puts his hand on her waist. |
| 115 | * In ''Film/LaLaLand'', sparks first start to fly between Mia and Sebastian when they do a soft shoe together a la Fred and Ginger by a scenic overlook in "A Lovely Night". Later in the film, they do a full-blown once literally dancing on air while on a date at the Griffith Observatory. |
| 116 | * ''Film/LoveInTheVilla'': Julie and Charlie dance together at the winery reception which results in an AlmostKiss. |
| 117 | * Happens in ''Film/MissPettigrewLivesForADay'': |
| 118 | -->'''Joe''': I am making you uncomfortable? |
| 119 | -->'''Miss Pettigrew''': This is the most comfortable I've been all day. |
| 120 | * Played straight at the beginning of ''Film/MrAndMrsSmith2005'' when John and Jane dance in Colombia, and then subverted later on in the ballroom when they use the dancing to cover the fact they are removing each other's weapons. |
| 121 | * ''Film/MyAnimal'': Heather dances pretty suggestively with Jonny, fondling her waist and unzipping then zipping up her jacket. Afterward they finally kiss as it becomes clear that Jonny shares her feelings. |
| 122 | * James Bond and Domino dancing a tango in ''Film/NeverSayNeverAgain''. Does not quite cross over into MatingDance territory, but one can see why Largo interrupts it at the first possible moment. |
| 123 | * ''Radio/OurMissBrooks'': In TheMovie GrandFinale, Connie's fantasy includes her dancing with Phillip in their future home. |
| 124 | * At the end of Elizabeth's first dance with Mr. Darcy in the Creator/KeiraKnightley version of ''Literature/PrideAndPrejudice'', Mr. Darcy says that he hopes to afford Elizabeth more clarity of his character in the future. This must have been significant to Elizabeth because at that point everyone in the room disappears and Mr Darcy is the only one she notices. |
| 125 | * ''In Film/RememberTheNight'', Lee and John share a lovely barn-dance waltz which ends in a steamy kiss. |
| 126 | * In ''Film/ARoyalAffair'', Struensee and Caroline have one at a royal ball, complete with gazing into each other's eyes in slow motion. It's strongly implied this is [[LoveEpiphany truly when they realize they are in love]], as they [[RelationshipUpgrade have their first kiss and then sleep together soon after]]. |
| 127 | * In ''Film/TheShapeOfWater'', Elisa daydreams that she and The Amphibian Man are doing one. |
| 128 | * ''Film/SomeLikeItHot'' has Jerry/[[DisguisedInDrag Daphne]] go from hating Osgood, to wanting to marry him, after enjoying a night-long tango with him. |
| 129 | * Sort of in ''Film/{{Stardust}}'' when Tristan and Yvaine dance on the ship and [[spoiler:Yvain starts to glow as she begins realizing her feelings for him]]. |
| 130 | * While Scott and Fran dance together several times during the course of ''Film/StrictlyBallroom'', their feelings for each other truly start to emerge when they dance to Music/DorisDay's "Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps". |
| 131 | * In ''Film/SweeneyToddTheDemonBarberOfFleetStreet'' Sweeney Todd and Mrs Lovett get one during the song "A Little Priest". |
| 132 | * ''Film/SylviesLove'': As a sign of their love, Robert and Sylvie slow-dance thrice: the first is a truncated one after she first sees him perform, the next in the street following a party, and the third at a restaurant after they can finally be together. |
| 133 | * "Cheek To Cheek" from ''Film/TopHat''. |
| 134 | * In ''Film/WhenHarryMetSally'' at the first New Year's party. |
| 135 | * ''Film/{{Wonder Woman|2017}}'': Steve and Diana "sway" during the celebration of Veld's liberation and the romantic tension is high.[[spoiler: It also leads to a kiss later that night... and possibly more.]] |
| 136 | * ''Film/ErinsGuideToKissingGirls'': After [[spoiler:standing up for Erin in front of Sydni, and admitting her feelings for her in the hallway]], Liz and Erin share a slow dance in front of the bulletin board seen at the start of the film. |
| 137 | [[/folder]] |
| 138 | |
| 139 | [[folder:Literature]] |
| 140 | * Deconstructed in ''Literature/ABrothersPrice'': Kij dances with Jerin, compliments him, and starts a conversation about his being schooled in "the paths of pleasure". He's only embarrassed, and happy when his sisters come to his rescue. |
| 141 | * In ''Literature/{{Beastly}}'', a modern retelling of "Literature/BeautyAndTheBeast", Adrian teaches Lindy how to dance after he sees that SheCleansUpNicely. It could also be the point where Lindy started falling for Adrian too, considering that she begins LettingHerHairDown and wearing perfume around him after the dance. |
| 142 | * In Isabel Cooper's ''No Proper Lady'', the sexual tension between Simon and Joan is unsurprisingly kick-started when Simon begins teaching Joan how to waltz. |
| 143 | %%* Literature/{{Cinderella}}, and just about everything based on her. |
| 144 | * ''Literature/TheEmpiriumTrilogy'': Rielle and Audric dance together for a couple hours during their wedding reception. They're both enamored with one another, Rielle in particular being able to ignore all of her worries for once. |
| 145 | * ''Literature/{{Forbidden}}'': Beginning as a fun, homework-procrastination salsa dance, a ConvenientSlowDance occurs, and Maya and Lochan experience this trope. |
| 146 | * ''Literature/{{Presidential}}'': Connie and Emily reveal their relationship ahead of the press release which Connie's staff puts out by dancing together publicly while at a dinner, kissing at the end. |
| 147 | * The moment in ''Billabong's Daughter'' when others begin to notice the burgeoning feelings between Wally and Norah (''Literature/{{A Little Bush Maid}}''). |
| 148 | [[/folder]] |
| 149 | |
| 150 | [[folder:Live-Action TV]] |
| 151 | * In ''Series/TheAstronautWivesClub'', Max and Louise share a tentative but close dance in a barn the night the Cuban Missile Crisis reaches high tension. |
| 152 | * In ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica|2003}}'', this happens in the episode "Colonial Day," for Lee and Kara (subverted in that there are already indications of mutual romantic feelings between them and [[spoiler: Kara sleeps with someone else that night while fantasizing about Lee]]) and Roslin and Adama. |
| 153 | * ''Series/BlackMirror'', "Beyond the Sea": David's happy marriage is established when he pulls his wife into a romantic dance that turns hot and heavy. He tries the same tactic with Lana. |
| 154 | * In the first episode of ''Series/BombGirls'' Kate asks Betty to slow dance with her, very obviously setting up the beginning of their romance. |
| 155 | * ''Series/{{Bridgerton}}'': |
| 156 | ** In season 1, Daphne and Simon often dance together. Despite they initially intended to do it with their own agenda (Simon: to keep the ladies from pursuing him, Daphne: to be more desirable for suitors), but they are obviously attracted to one another. |
| 157 | ** In season 2, Anthony and Kate dance together and despite showing an intense upfront, nevertheless they are obviously attracted to one another. |
| 158 | * ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'': In "I Only Have Eyes For You", Buffy looks into the music room and sees the ghosts of James and Grace dancing to "I Only Have Eyes For You". She's caught up in the moment herself until James does a FaceRevealingTurn as a corpse. |
| 159 | * In the 1957 and 1965 broadcasts of ''Theatre/CinderellaRodgersAndHammerstein'', Cinderella and the Prince fall in love while waltzing to the song "Ten Minutes Ago". |
| 160 | * In the KoreanDrama ''Series/TheCityHall'', Mi Rae and Ju Gook dance the tango at the Miss Baendaengi contest, finally letting the sparks fly. |
| 161 | * ''Series/TheConfessionsOfFrannieLangton'': Frannie and Marguerite's dancing together spontaneously is the first sign they have a mutual attraction, which soon builds up into a secret affair. |
| 162 | * ''Series/CowboyBebop2021''. The ill-fated romance between Fearless and Julia begins with them dancing the Jupiter Jig at a nightclub because Vicious (Julia's boyfriend at the time) would rather be [[DrowningMySorrows drinking and sulking]] over a deal gone bad. It's a line dance rather than the more intimate version, until [[SuggestiveCollision one of the dancers accidentally knocks Julia into Fearless' arms]] and they decide to cut it short. She ends up in bed with him that night. |
| 163 | * ''Series/{{CSINY}}'': |
| 164 | ** A variation in the opening of "[[Recap/CSINYS04E05 Down the Rabbit Hole]]". A janitor does a tango with a mannequin in honor of his and his late wife's wedding anniversary. |
| 165 | ** At the end of the Valentine's Day episode, "[[Recap/CSINYS09E16 Blood Actually]]," Mac meets Christine in a club where Music/JoshGroban is performing, gives her a hand-written card, and she asks how he always knows what to say. He replies, "That's easy, Christine, because I love you." As the first notes of "Happy in My Heartache" begin, he takes her by the hand, leads her to the dance floor, and as they sway slowly to the song, she rests her head on his shoulder. [[spoiler:They get engaged in the next episode.]] |
| 166 | * ''Series/{{Dates}}'': Erica and Kate dance seductively with each other in a club, then start kissing. Next we see they've slept together. |
| 167 | * Carter and Abby in ''Series/{{ER}}''. In the seventh season episode "Thy Will Be Done," Carter and Abby share one when Abby accompanies Carter to his grandparents' charity ball. The two were established friends by that point, but if the dance wasn't the turning point for both of them, it noticeably was for Carter... |
| 168 | * Karma and Amy's dance at Farrah's wedding reception in the season one finale of ''Series/FakingIt''. While not the slow, romantic dance usually seen, the wild, carefree manner in which they dance to 'their song', as though they're the only ones in the room, makes it clear to everyone present that they have feelings for each other. |
| 169 | * Possibly in ''Series/{{Frasier}}'' in the episode where Niles dances with Daphne. Subverted in that [[spoiler: he's already in love with her and she thinks they're just putting on a show to make the other guests stop pitying Niles]] but he does refer back to it as a significant moment for them in later episodes. |
| 170 | * ''Series/{{Friends}}'': Monica and Chandler have an off-screen one when Chandler realized Monica was the woman he "wanted to dance all his dances with". The sixth season finale's end credits scene is them slowdancing together to Music/EricClapton's "Wonderful Tonight" as they celebrate their engagement. |
| 171 | * A common occurrence on ''Series/{{Glee}}'', which makes sense since it's a musical show. All the major (and most minor) couples have had "falling in love" duets and the duets are usually accompanied by some dancing. |
| 172 | * {{Discussed|Trope}} in ''Series/GoodOmens2019'' -- when trying to work out a plan to make Maggie and Nina fall in love, Aziraphale cites the dances in Creator/JaneAusten's books as romantic turning points. |
| 173 | -->'''Aziraphale:''' Cotillion balls. People would gather and do some formal dancing and then realize they had misunderstood each other and were actually deeply in love. |
| 174 | * ''Series/GothamKnights2023'': Stephanie and Harper dancing sexily together at the club (just for cover at the time, it appears), came shortly before the former kissed the latter, after she realized her attraction to girls. |
| 175 | * Subverted in an episode from ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'' when Robin, having just used her "truth voice" to Lily about wanting to get back with Barney, gets pulled into a dance with him to "show these people in Cleveland how it's done." When the ending has them so close they're almost kissing, they are interrupted by a phone call from Barney's ex, Nora, who he had tried calling. She feeds him lines to say that are really how ''she'' is feeling which, unfortunately, brings Barney and Nora back together. |
| 176 | * ''Series/ICarly'': Carly and Freddie in ''iSpeed Date''. |
| 177 | * Done twice in ''Series/NipAndTuck'', first with Tuck and Thelma Possum at the harvest dance, then with Nip and Zelda Porcupine at the B-Movie cruise. |
| 178 | * Pablo and Marizza do this in ''Series/RebeldeWay''. It's one of the first indicators in the series that shows that they might start having romantic feelings for one another. |
| 179 | * ''Series/{{Schmigadoon}}'': "Suddenly", a love number where Emma dances with Josh and Doc Lopez dances with Melissa. |
| 180 | * Played with in a complicated way in ''Series/{{Sherlock}}''. At John's wedding, Sherlock makes friends with a very flirty bridesmaid who fancies him and, when he rejects her, starts abusing his SherlockScan abilities to make him act as her wingman. Eventually, he confesses to her that he secretly loves dancing, but [[GuiltyPleasure no one must ever know]]. She asks to see him dance, so he performs a few graceful moves for her (rather than with her), which she adores. In the next episode, John finds out, to his horror, that despite Sherlock's asexuality the bridesmaid is now his girlfriend, walking around his house with no underwear and even sneaking up on him when he's in the bath. Eventually we find out that Sherlock in fact deliberately manipulated the whole situation in order to bait her as a HoneyTrap, needing her to solve a case - and that he couldn't even bring himself to do anything more than kiss her. It seems the decision to have him dance ''for'' her rather than ''with'' her was {{Foreshadowing}} this eventual twist. |
| 181 | * ''Franchise/StarTrek'': |
| 182 | ** ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'': Odo and Kira in the episode "His Way". Granted, Odo had already been in love with Kira for years by this point, but their dance seemed to be the turning point that allowed Kira to [[LoveEpiphany realize her own feelings]]. |
| 183 | ** ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'': The Doctor and Seven in the episode "Someone to Watch Over Me". Unlike other examples of this trope [[AnchoredShip it never goes anywhere as Seven has no interest in him]]. |
| 184 | ** ''Series/StarTrekPicard'': Not a literal dance in "[[Recap/StarTrekPicardS1E04AbsoluteCandor Absolute Candor]]", but Soji and Narek sliding about on an icy floor in each other's arms is definitely played like this. On the soundtrack, the title of the music for this scene is "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0j1PKF6yfY Soji and Narek Waltz]]". |
| 185 | * ''Series/{{Torchwood}}'' has the slow dance in 1942 between Jack and [[spoiler: the real Captain Jack Harkness]] after a full episode of romantic tension, culminating in one of the longest gay kisses ever shown on TV. Also a TearJerker since [[spoiler: Jack is forced to return to his own time immediately after the kiss, and the last image he sees is the other Jack saluting him]] |
| 186 | * ''Series/TheVampireDiaries'': |
| 187 | ** In the episode "Miss Mystic Falls", 150+-year-old vampire Damon Salvatore steps in to dance with his brother's human girlfriend, Elena Gilbert when Stefan fails to show up. You can see in his eyes that this is the moment he realizes he loves her, and she appears somewhat affected as well. |
| 188 | ** Stefan's dance with Elena's doppelganger, Katherine Pierce, is this as well, both in the past and in the present. |
| 189 | * ''Series/WarAndPeace2016'': Andrei and Natasha participate in a dance at a ball, which confirms their attraction and is in fact intercut with scenes of their future courtship. |
| 190 | [[/folder]] |
| 191 | |
| 192 | [[folder:Music]] |
| 193 | * Keri Hilson's song "Slow Dance", which is quoted at the top of this page, is about this. |
| 194 | * The song "I Saw Her Standing There" by Music/TheBeatles combines this trope with the related tropes HighSchoolDance, HoldingHands, and LoveAtFirstSight. |
| 195 | * Toby Keith's "You Shouldn't Kiss Me Like This" combines this, EveryoneCanSeeIt and FirstKiss. "Everybody swears we make the perfect pair, but dancing is as far as it goes. Girl, you've never moved me quite the way you moved me tonight." Clearly, the girl is giving a massive neon sign of a hint to her previously (possibly) ObliviousToLove partner, and everybody there thinks it's about time. |
| 196 | * Music/FrankSinatra's "Strangers in the Night" combines this with LoveAtFirstSight. |
| 197 | -->How was I to know\ |
| 198 | Love was just a glance away\ |
| 199 | A warm, embracing dance away? |
| 200 | * One of the happier memories in "Music/AllTooWell" is "dancing in the kitchen to the refrigerator light". |
| 201 | [[/folder]] |
| 202 | |
| 203 | [[folder:Theater]] |
| 204 | * Much like its animated predecessor, in ''Theatre/{{Anastasia}}'', Dmitry and Anya share a dance during the "Learn To Do It" montage and clearly feel a spark of something. Several scenes later, upon seeing their angst, Vlad lampshades this with the song "I Never Should Have Let Them Dance." |
| 205 | * Robert and Francesca in ''Theatre/TheBridgesOfMadisonCounty'' share a slow dance in her kitchen before finally giving in to their simmering passion. |
| 206 | * In the 2013 Broadway adaptation of ''Theatre/CinderellaRodgersAndHammerstein'', Cinderella and Prince Topher fall in LoveAtFirstSight when they meet at the ball, sharing an elegant waltz shortly after. |
| 207 | * In ''Theatre/CrazyForYou'', a modified production of the 1930 [[Music/GeorgeGershwin Gershwin]] hit ''Girl Crazy'', Bobby and Polly share one during the number "Shall We Dance?" |
| 208 | * Creator/DisneyTheatricalProductions: |
| 209 | ** In the stage version of ''WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast'', the titular couple do their iconic dance to the title song just like in the film, the only difference being they do not dance the entire song. |
| 210 | ** In the stage version of ''Theatre/TheLittleMermaid'', the [[CuteMute voiceless]] human Ariel learns dance as a nonverbal method of communication during Eric's "One Step Closer" number. |
| 211 | ** In the stage version of ''Theatre/Frozen2018'', Anna and Hans have an extended dance sequence during "Love Is an Open Door". |
| 212 | * ''Theatre/{{Ka}}'': An aerial version occurs when Twin Sister falls into the forest and meets the Firefly Boy. The two then have a midair dance on aerial straps as they fall in love. |
| 213 | * ''Theatre/TheKingAndI'' offers one of musical theatre's most iconic examples of this trope in the number "Shall We Dance?" as Anna teaches the King to dance the polka. The "romance" aspect is only subtext, but this moment is the closest they come to ever resolving their UnresolvedSexualTension, especially when the King insists on dancing in the authentic "European" style, with his hand on Anna's waist. |
| 214 | * Though she is initially reluctant, Prince Digby coxes Princess Althea into sharing a unique version of this in ''Theatre/TheLightPrincess''. The fact that Althea is constantly floating in the air complicates matters somewhat, but the dance is accomplished by Digby holding either her hands, her ankles, or the long, trailing ribbons tied to her wrists and waist to keep her from floating away. |
| 215 | * ''Theatre/MissSaigon'' is another atypical variation; Kim and Chris dance together, which seems to be the usual practice in the club before going off with a client, but there's only a hint of affection; they don't fall deeply in love until afterwards, and the scene that ''looks'' like a typical Dance of Romance is the reprise of the song they danced to when they first met. |
| 216 | * ''Theatre/RomeoAndJuliet'' first meet at the Capulet's party, so some adaptations have them dance before they first speak to one another. |
| 217 | * Sort of happens in ''Theatre/TheSoundOfMusic'': Maria and Captain Von Trapp, when the kids ask to be shown the Laendler. Whilst the audience (and the Baroness) can see this coming long before that, it's the first time either of the eventual couple give any inkling of noticing they love each other. |
| 218 | * ''Theatre/SweeneyToddTheDemonBarberOfFleetStreet'' has an interesting variation. Mrs. Lovett is [[MadLove interested]] in Sweeney for the entire first half, but he's totally oblivious. Then come "A Little Priest", he notices her in a different light and they waltz. The catch? This sudden romantic interest is due to her...[[ImAHumanitarian unsual]] [[MadeFromRealGirlScouts idea]] of how to dispose of the body of the man he just killed. |
| 219 | * ''Theatre/WestSideStory'' during the dance at the gym. Tony and Maria see each other for the first time and dance. It's a cha-cha, not a waltz, but it fits. |
| 220 | [[/folder]] |
| 221 | |
| 222 | [[folder:Video Games]] |
| 223 | * In ''VideoGame/EarthBoundBeginnings'', Ninten and Ana dance together when they're alone in a healing house, after which Ana asks Ninten if he loves her. Due to technical limitations, the "dance" itself involves the two of them moving around the room using their walking sprites. |
| 224 | * ''VideoGame/{{Farpoint}}'' have the astronauts, Dr. Grant Moon and Dr. Eva Tyson, dancing in the USS Pilgrim's wrecked hull after finally admitting their feelings for each other [[spoiler:and realizing the planet they're stranded upon turns out to be 3 billion lightyears away from earth and they will [[YouCantGoHomeAgain never see their respective families ever again]].]] It's the best they can manage, being the only two humans stranded on a deserted, uninhabited planet. |
| 225 | * ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII''. The scene where Rinoa persuades Squall to dance with her is where you first know that they're the OfficialCouple. (Well, y'know, besides [[CoverDrop the image on the cover]].) |
| 226 | * ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'', the FallingInLoveMontage between Maduin and Madonna depicts them dancing and floating all over the screen. |
| 227 | * In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemEchoesShadowsOfValentia'', [[BroodingBoyGentleGirl Prince Berkut and Lady Rinea]] have dancing as a shared theme. Their ''Cipher'' [[https://fireemblem.fandom.com/wiki/Berkut/Gallery?file=BerkutCipher1.png card]] and their shared introductory cutscene featuring them happily waltzing together, [[spoiler: and a Memory Prism shows that they met for the first time during a ball: Rinea was looking for a quieter spot, Berkut noticed and talked to her kindly (even [[YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre telling her to value her own worth]]), they hit it off, and decide to dance together in the gardens.]] |
| 228 | * In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsOfColdSteel I'', [[TheHero Rean]] has the option to dance with the ladies at the climax of the game if he has a high bonding affinity with them. For the guys, however, they skip out on the dancing and go straight to watching the other people dance while they just sit down in the distance. |
| 229 | ** In ''Cold Steel III'', there's another dance near the end of the penultimate chapter that involves all the old and new main characters, and the one between {{Deuteragonist}}s Juna and Kurt certainly [[HeldGaze gives off these vibes]], in contrast to that of their classmates Ash and Musse, which has some more hilarious expressions. |
| 230 | * In the Citadel DLC in ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'', Shepard and a supporting protagonist whom he/she is [[RomanceSidequest romancing]] can have a dance of romance. |
| 231 | * ''VideoGame/SidMeiersPirates'': The RomanceSidequest to woo a Governor's daughter involves several formal balls where the player character needs to dance adequately to advance the quest line. |
| 232 | * Elaine does this with Guybrush in ''VideoGame/TalesOfMonkeyIsland Chapter 4: The Trial and Execution of Guybrush Threepwood'', [[spoiler:although it is parodied as a "Freaky Waltz of Attempted Rape"]]. |
| 233 | * ''VideoGame/TheWalkingDeadSeasonFour'': In episode three, if [[PlayerCharacter Clementine]] romanced Violet and [[spoiler:didn't let Delta take her]], the two can slowdance in Clementine's room. |
| 234 | [[/folder]] |
| 235 | |
| 236 | [[folder:Visual Novels]] |
| 237 | * The first ''VisualNovel/GalaxyAngel'' has an animated cutscene for each route showing Tact and his chosen Angel dancing at the Fargo ball. The only exception is Forte, who doesn't get the chance to do so (due to her and Tact being busy foiling an assassination attempt on Prince Shiva), although she does get a proper dance scene in ''Moonlit Lovers''. |
| 238 | * In ''VisualNovel/SchoolDays'', the player can potentially get Makoto to dance with either of his two main love interests, [[TheOjou Kotonoha]] or [[GirlNextDoor Sekai]], in front of a bonfire. [[spoiler: But if Makoto doesn't stop Kotonoha's bullies before dancing with Sekai, Kotonoha sees them dancing... right after being raped by Taisuke.]] |
| 239 | [[/folder]] |
| 240 | |
| 241 | [[folder:Webcomics]] |
| 242 | * In ''Webcomic/CrimsonKnights'' [[spoiler:Judoch]] shares a romantic waltz with [[spoiler:Erikr]] while they participate in the Silea's celebration at the palace of queen Olda. |
| 243 | * ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'': The ball at Albia's court as a few: |
| 244 | ** After years of strips required to get the Baron and Lucrezia out of their heads so they could even have such a moment, Gil and Agatha finally share a quiet dance together, [[https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20200525 much to Tarvek's consternation.]] |
| 245 | ** When Agatha realizes Higgs isn't going to dance because he's hoping to avoid breaking his cover she goes far out of her way to ensure [[https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20200909 Zeetha and Higgs get some time together on the dance floor that doesn't make things suspicious.]] Albia shortly makes it clear she is already aware there's something up with Higgs since he does not have the mental tie to her like her actual subjects. |
| 246 | [[/folder]] |
| 247 | |
| 248 | [[folder:Web Original]] |
| 249 | * An important romantic scene in ''Literature/HandsHeldInTheSnow'' features Emi and Beatrice dancing together at a very fancy party. |
| 250 | [[/folder]] |
| 251 | |
| 252 | [[folder:Western Animation]] |
| 253 | * ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'': While [[Characters/AvatarTheLastAirbenderAvatarAang Aang's]] feelings for [[Characters/AvatarTheLastAirbenderKatara Katara]] had been somewhere on the spectrum between PrecociousCrush and UnrequitedLove for quite a while, their dance scene in "The Headband" was the first time it looked like his attraction might be reciprocated. (A certain [[CanonDiscontinuity trip through a cave]] notwithstanding.) |
| 254 | * Happens to Kick and Kendall in the episode "Dancing With the Enemy" on ''WesternAnimation/KickButtowski'' when they both share their first mutual hint of being attracted to one another (Kendall being the only one that sort of have hinted at it for a second or two previously)... however, the moment is broken thanks to an off-screen classmate who is apparently an on board shipper for this couple. |
| 255 | -->'''Kick:''' You're so elegant...\ |
| 256 | '''Kendall:''' And you're so awesome...\ |
| 257 | '''Off-Screen Kid:''' KISS HER!\ |
| 258 | * needle scratch* |
| 259 | * Scarecrow and The Queen Of Night have one of these in ''WesternAnimation/MagicAdventuresOfMumfie'' episode "Scarecrowella". |
| 260 | * [[Characters/TheOwlHouseLuzNoceda Luz Noceda]] and [[Characters/TheOwlHouseAmityBlight Amity Blight's]] [[DanceBattler dance to defeat Grom]] in ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'' episode "Enchanting Grom Fright" has extreme romantic overtones, especially since [[spoiler:it's confirmed to the audience less than a minute after the dance is over that Amity is in love with Luz.]] |
| 261 | * A brief and one-sided example in ''WesternAnimation/StarVsTheForcesOfEvil'' episode "Blood Moon Ball". During a magical moon-influenced dance, [[Characters/StarVsTheForcesOfEvilStarButterfly Star Butterfly]] is clearly smitten with her dance partner until he reveals himself to be [[Characters/StarVsTheForcesOfEvilMarcoDiaz Marco Diaz]], who just thought he was rescuing her from the party. |
| 262 | * The ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' episode [[WholeEpisodeFlashback "The Answer"]] gives Ruby and Sapphire a romantic dance (which doubles as a {{Fusion Dance}}) during the song "Something Entirely New." The choreography and setting are a blatant shoutout to Aurora and Philip's "Once Upon a Dream" dance in ''WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty''. |
| 263 | ** Earlier in the season, during the WholeEpisodeFlashback "We Need to Talk", Rose and Greg have one on the beach when Greg wants to show Rose that he is committed to their relationship and have her take him more seriously. As Garnet said, "it worked". |
| 264 | * ''WesternAnimation/SymBionicTitan'': After Ilana misses the dance she worked so hard on (to set up the theme, as it reminded her of her home planet). Lance decides to cheer her up by putting on a hat and sharing a dance with her. Jason and Maribel's dance from earlier (after said couple abandoned them earlier) could be seen as this, although not the dance between Kimmy and her ex-boyfriend Brandon. |
| 265 | [[/folder]] |
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