Memorable Film/TV Dance Scenes and “Justified’s” Boyd Crowder

It’s funny how a dancer can watch a TV show or a movie, and while it may be filled with brilliant acting, an incredible script, beautiful scenery, action, suspense, or whatever, all you have to do is throw in a few dance steps (especially if it’s not technically a musical) and that will be the thing that a dancer remembers most.

Take that movie “13 Going On 30” from 2004 starring Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo, and Andy Serkis.  There’s some recollection that it was a cute, romantic story, but for a dancer it becomes, “Oh, Yeah!  That’s the movie where they burst out in that Michael Jackson Thriller Dance”!

Thriller Dance from “13 Going on 30” (In photo: Jennifer Garner and Andy Serkis with other dancers)

Then, there was the television show, “Cheers”.  Although “Cheers” was on for eleven seasons from 1982 to 1993, what a dancer will recall most is typically the episode called, “Dance, Diane, Dance”, in which the main character by that name (played by Shelley Long), decides to audition for the Boston Ballet.

Shelley Long auditions for the Boston Ballet on Cheers

So, when a dance scene shows up unexpectedly in either a television show or on film, it can have quite an impact.  A particular instance that comes to mind is in the FX TV show “Justified”, which  is set in Kentucky (i.e., Lexington and the eastern hill country of Kentucky), an area known for its Bluegrass.  One of the main characters, Boyd Crowder (played by Walton Goggins, who is actually a champion clogger), is by most accounts, a villain in the story.  Yet, somehow, no matter what the character does, you just can’t help but root for him.  In one episode from the second season, following some serious hillbilly wheelin’ and dealin’, a victorious Boyd Crowder emerges and says to his patiently waiting, but eager-to-leave girlfriend, “Ava.  Let’s dance.  Right now.”

At that moment, considering all the things that have preceded this point in the storyline, just seeing these characters having fun on the dance floor is truly unforgettable.

Here’s the video:

And,…since we’re talking about clog dancing, we can’t miss the awesome, Hillbilly Dave from the annual Hillbilly Days Festival in Pikeville, KY!

Hillbilly Dave (Pikeville, KY)-Video

Also, see our page: Clog Dancing

Tags: 13 Going on 30, Ballet, Boston Ballet, Boyd Crowder, Clog dancing, Cloggers, Clogging, Entertainment, Hillbilly Dave, Hillbilly Days, Jennifer Garner, Justified, Shelley Long, Television, Thriller, TV, Walton Goggins