History Main / DancingIsSeriousBusiness

* The magical system in ''Literature/EmpireOfSand'' runs on ritual dances, which must be learned ''perfectly'' in order to not backfire.

* After a terrible Philadelphia Eagles game, a Website/{{Facebook}} member snidely commented that "the Eagles played like they were wearing tutus." Incensed at this, a member of the Pennsylvania Ballet offered up a [[https://www.indy100.com/article/an-american-football-fan-tried-to-mock-ballerinas-and-it-completely-backfired--WJZeeeln13x blistering editorial]] that described how difficult the life of a ballerina was and suggested that the comment was an insult to the dancers rather than the football players, capping it off with this gem: "So no, the Eagles have not played like they were wearing tutus. If they had, Chip Kelly would still be a head coach and we'd all be looking forward to the playoffs."

* ''Film/TheyShootHorsesDontThey?'' is a {{Deconstruction}} based on actual exploitative dance contests during the Great Depression. Dancing ''is'' serious business, but it's also not fun or quirky; it's brutal, gruelling, emotional and physical labor to the point where [[spoiler:death is better]].

* The movie ''Film/{{Breakin}}'' featured the classic "pinning of all hopes and dreams on a dance routine," but its strangely-titled sequel ''Film/Breakin2ElectricBoogaloo'' ratcheted up the crazy by not only using breakdancing as a means to save the [[SavingTheOrphanage perpetually-imperiled youth center]], but also as a form of ''combat''. No, not like a DanceBattler, but rather two teams of enemies facing off, breakdancing, and then deciding -- as a group -- who won the battle. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boL9o0u0Dig What, do you think we're kidding?]]

* Parodied on ''Series/FlightOfTheConchords'' with "Bret's Angry Dance." When the band breaks up, the only way to vent his frustrations is by dancing masculinely in a warehouse. Unlike Bacon, Bret [=McKenzie=] is a trained dancer, so he did the heavy lifting and heavier dancing himself.

* ''Film/FlashDance'' has Alex (played by Jennifer Beals) pining her own entire future on her audition for the Pittsburgh Conservatory.

** Also parodied in ''Film/HotRod'', although it's in a forest and the dancing... isn't that great.
** Also parodied in ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'' by Gazorpazorp.

* In the third episode of ''Anime/BlackButler'', Sebastian is dismayed to learn that Ciel doesn't know how to dance, and chides his young master for the oversight, as Ciel's position in society demands that he be able to perform appropriately at balls and gatherings. In fact, Ciel's fiancée is expecting him to dance with her that very night, so Sebastian insists upon teaching Ciel the basics of a waltz, over the young lord's frustrated objections. After all, [[{{Catchphrase}} what kind of butler would Sebastian be if he couldn't do that much?]]

* Legend has it that as a young ballet trainee in the Netherlands during UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, Creator/AudreyHepburn danced in silent performances to raise money for the [[LaResistance Dutch Resistance effort]].

%%* What ''Series/{{Bunheads}}'' is all about

* In ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'', with the fate of an entire planet at stake, Quill challenges [[spoiler:Ronan the Accuser]] to a dance-off. [[spoiler:It is a distraction. Ronan is extremely confused and temporarily stops his attempt to destroy the planet while he tries to figure out what is going on. This gives Rocket time to fix his BFG and destroy the source of Ronan's power.]]

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* Cited in the ''Series/ColdCase'' episode "Shuffle, Ball Change'', about the murder of a young man who aspired to be a dancer. When Vera makes disparaging remarks about the profession to one of the suspects (the kid's rival), the guy hits back with a blistering description of how difficult dance is and the commitment it requires. Later, when they are interviewing another suspect (the kid's teacher), he gives a similar speech and a flashback shows that he gave yet another similar speech to the kid himself.
* ''Series/HomeImprovement''. After Tim takes one of the boys to both the ballet and a basketball game, he later admits to Jill that he was genuinely impressed by the skill and athleticism demonstrated by the dancers.

* ''WesternAnimation/BarbieInTheTwelveDancingPrincesses'' practically revolves around this trope. Genevieve dances across the tiles in the princess' room to unlock the entrance to a secret pavilion. When [[TheVillain Rowena]] has the tiles destroyed to trap Genevieve and her sisters in the pavilion forever, Genevieve and her LoveInterest Derek have to [[spoiler: dance together]] to get out. At the end of the movie, Genevieve vanquishes Rowena once and for all by [[spoiler:[[ChekhovsGun fanning back]] towards Rowena a spell the latter cast to [[FateWorseThanDeath make one dance for eternity]]]].

* The basic premise of ''Theatre/AChorusLine'' is dancers auditioning to be in the chorus of a new Broadway musical, so dancing is key to the livelihoods of all the dancers. As we later find out [[spoiler: dance was also the way many of the characters were able to cope with or leave their dysfunctional home lives]].

* The Vanu Vanu of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' treat the Sundrop Dance with the utmost importance. The Sundrop Dance is a dance performed before battle that is a measure of the dancer's strength and can cow weaker opponents without any violence.

* What ''Series/{{Bunheads}}'' is all about
* As is ''Series/FleshAndBone''.

* ''Franchise/{{Zorro}}''
** In 1940 movie ''Film/{{The Mark of Zorro|1940}}'' the elaborate and energetic dance of Don Diego Vega (Tyrone Power) and Lolita Quintero (Linda Darnell) brings the two lovebirds closer together.
** As does the (far too sensuous for the time it is set in) dance of Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones in ''Film/TheMaskOfZorro''.

* Music/TheBeatles: "Little Child"
-->''Little child, little child won't you dance with me?''

Very common in music videos and in films that are ''about'' dancing. And naturally, this trope does not apply if the work is a musical.