← Previous Post
Next Post →

Pulling Rank: ’80s Cinematic Dance Battles

Kelly Stitzel June 18, 2012 3

Pulling Rank is a weekly column in which Kelly Stitzel ranks a variety of pop culture-related things with little to no commentary, but sometimes with audio or visual accompaniment. There’s no scientific method to the rankings; these are just Kelly’s opinions. You’ll probably disagree with her — just don’t be a dick about it.

One of my favorite things in life is 1980s dance movies, especially if the movie involves one or more (preferably more) dance battles. I’m obsessed with dance battles, so I figured I’d rank my favorites so you might share in my obsession. And please, let me know which ones are YOUR favorites in the comments.

1. Dance Battle #2 – Fast Forward (1985)

Nunchucks, you guys. NUNCHUCKS.

2. Roxy Battle – Beat Street (1984)

3. “Reckless” Dance Battle – Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo (1984)

I repeat: NUNCHUCKS!

4. Dance Battle #2 – Breakin’ (1984)

5. Subway Dance Battle – Beat Street (1984)

6. Dance Battle #1 – Breakin’ (1984)

7. Dance Battle #1 – Fast Forward (1985)

8. DTV Dance Off – Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (1985)

Print Friendly Version of this pagePrint Get a PDF version of this webpagePDF
TAGS » , , , , , ,
POSTED IN » Film, Pulling Rank, Recent Posts
About the author: Kelly Stitzel View all posts by
After shutting down her own blog, Looking at Them, in mid-2008, Kelly migrated over to Popdose, bringing with her Soundtrack Saturday, the most popular column from her old site. In addition to Soundtrack Saturday, which is on an indefinite hiatus, Kelly also contributes reviews and musings on music, film and a variety of other topics. She also writes the semi-regular Filminism column, in which she discusses her favorite female characters in film. Kelly is also an aspiring comedy writer who is just beginning an adventure in stand-up comedy and as a student at the Second City in Chicago.

Related »

Eurovison Song Contest 2013 Preview

Eurovison Song Contest 2013 Preview

Pulling Rank: 10 DiVinyls Songs You Should Be Listening to That Aren’t “I Touch Myself”

Pulling Rank: 10 DiVinyls Songs You Should Be Listening to That Aren’t “I Touch Myself”

Top 10 Popdose Articles Of All Time

Top 10 Popdose Articles Of All Time

Soundtrack Saturday Special Edition! Best Original Song 1987

Soundtrack Saturday Special Edition! Best Original Song 1987

  • jenS

    Great idea for a list Kelly – I especially liked #3.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_RLYL2ULDJYNEBJVZTKXGOQDJD4 Jon

    the Battle Scene at the Roxy from Beat Street is still the best and most cinematic treatments ever given to Break Dancing as an art form. I don’t think a break dancing battle has ever been given a better treatment, movie wise, with the sweeping crane camera moves, the lighting, 35 milimeter film, etc…That SCENE from Beat Street was (to me) one of the high points of the original Breakdancing craze in the 80′s, and that scene is still one of my favorite scenes out of all 80′s films- period…when Crazy Legs spins on his back then lands the move with his shoes on his hands….WHATTT? Classic.

  • http://www.discoskonfort.com/artists/drxl/ drxl

    When Beat Street first came out in theatres here, in Mexico City, there was a TV special with some scenes from the movie, including the Roxy battle. I recorded in VCR (VHS) and watched it over and over for what seemed like a million times.