Who doesn't love a great jazz movie? Jazz dancing became a craze during the 80's. Besides starring in the newly popular music videos on MTV, jazz dancers made their way into big-screen movies. The following dance movies of this decade gave jazz dancing a tremendous boost in popularity.

Fame (1980):

Debbie Allen, portraying a dance instructor for high school students, amazed audiences with her amazing talent for jazz dancing.

Dance students danced and danced their way into professional careers. Many teens around the world entered jazz dance classes with the hopes of achieving their own fame.

Flashdance (1983):

In a movie full of energetic dance performances, Jennifer Beals won the hearts of many young dancers and introduced a new dance style called breakdancing. Once again, a group of young dancers realized their dreams of dancing stardom.

Stayin’ Alive (1983):

John Travolta danced under the lights as he tried to make it as a professional Broadway dancer. His characteristic hip swing is still mimicked on dance floors today.

Footloose (1984):

Kevin Bacon dances into the heart of a town where music and dancing is banned. Audiences loved the music, as well as the dancing.

Dirty Dancing (1987):

Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze provocatively danced their way into fame in this coming-of-age film about a young girl’s crush on her summer camp dance instructor.