Top 20 Times Actors Learned a Difficult Dance for a Role

#20: Shirley Temple

“The Little Colonel” (1935)

At just six years old, Shirley Temple was already an accomplished leading lady and dancer. But she’d have to literally step up her game with tap titan Bill “Bojangles” Robinson in “The Little Colonel.” He personally trained her for the butler Walker’s elaborate staircase dance to escort Lloyd Sherman to bed. Robinson was amazed by how quickly young Temple picked up focusing on the rhythm of tap, rather than the footwork. The final sequence is a true technical marvel, but that’s not the only reason why it’s so iconic. The largest feat of “The Little Colonel” is that it features the first Hollywood dance sequence with interracial partners. Plus, Robinson and Temple forged a timeless friendship over his firm yet fun training methods.

#19: Richard Gere

“Shall We Dance?” (2004)

There was much work to be done for him to prepare for John Clark’s introduction to the ballroom in 2004’s “Shall We Dance?”. A tango routine with the one and only Jennifer Lopez was particularly daunting. So while the main cast trained together with Gary McDonald, he also held private sessions with Gere that would run up to eight hours. The actor opted to keep them confidential to help him also get into character. The hard work paid off, as Clark’s secret evolution from beginner to competitive dancer is as convincing as it is moving.

#18: Emma Stone

“La La Land” (2016)

The golden age of entertainment gave us some of the most iconic dance routines in movie history. What kind of genuine tribute would “La La Land” be without working in tap? For a while, Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling were rehearsing separately, possibly because of their different levels of dance experience. Stone admitted it felt like a mind game, hearing how well her co-star was doing while she struggled just to get the basics down. But once they were finally in the room together, she suddenly felt a lot better about her own skills. Their routine for “A Lovely Night” may not tap circles around Astaire and Rogers, but their authentic spirit and chemistry bring whimsy to their technique.

#17: Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence

“Silver Linings Playbook” (2012)

The intense psychological and romantic drama of “Silver Linings Playbook” came to a head with a genre-bending competitive dance routine. Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence had to nail it, though it may have benefited from the actors’ complete lack of dance training. Renowned choreographer Mandy Moore threw them in the deep end with an intense, weeks-long training course. The final sequence is dazzling in most places and charmingly clumsy in others. That’s because Cooper and Lawrence had to balance their newfound skills with a cathartic resolution to their characters’ emotional arcs and chemistry. Pat and Tiffany may not have won the competition, but the hard-working actors won many accolades along with our hearts.

#16: Christian Bale

“Newsies” (1992)

It was a shock when acclaimed child actor Christian Bale landed the Disney musical “Newsies.” Well, nobody was more shocked than he was. When the straight drama he was cast in changed genres during development, the method actor found himself in a “musical boot camp” that included gymnastics and martial arts. Bale could have stayed comfortably hidden during the group dance numbers. But the elaborate solo in “Santa Fe” revealed him to be a man of many talents. Bale is open about how the grueling production and commercial failure of “Newsies” bred regret for the experience. To the cult fanbase, however, that makes his charm and chops even more of a highlight.

#15: Ryan Guzman

“Step Up Revolution” (2012)

The “Step Up” franchise has generally been dedicated to casting experienced dancers. Even Channing Tatum had a street and club dancing background going into his four-week prep for the first installment. So mixed martial artist Ryan Guzman was definitely stunt casting for the lead role in “Revolution.” Choreographer Jamal Sims praised his athletic background for helping with muscle memory and coordination during a three-week crash course. Sean’s stunningly flexible hip-hop solos still looked like they required a lot of skill. Guzman’s real challenge was in making him look like a lover, not a fighter, during his gorgeous final routine with “So You Think Can Dance” alum Kathryn McCormick. All the same, his intense training delivered some knockout performances.

#14: John Travolta

“Saturday Night Fever” (1977)

It’s hard to imagine that John Travolta wasn't a complete natural on the dancefloor in “Saturday Night Fever.” After all, his mother was a professional dancer, and he launched his career in musical theatre. But the movie launched disco as a pop culture phenomenon by revealing the potential in getting down. This premise prompted Travolta to undergo a seven-month training regimen that involved studying various genres and exercising like a boxer. And still, Tony Manero’s especially intense solo routine was shot in close-ups to downplay potentially distracting mistakes. So Travolta forced director John Badham to reshoot the scene to showcase his prowess. The legendary final sequence popularized the genuine art of disco dancing, even if audiences weren't fully aware of Travolta’s commitment.

#13: Rob McElhenney

“It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia” (2005-)

The adventurous comedian Rob McElhenney never ceases to astound fans with his physical dedication to Mac’s transformations through the years. It wasn’t enough for “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” to be uncharacteristically thoughtful about the character eventually coming out as gay. The Season 13 finale “Mac Finds His Pride” ends with him powerfully expressing that process through interpretive dance. McElhenney was completely inexperienced when he trained for months to perform the profoundly emotional routine with accomplished ballerina Kylie Shea. The scene itself is hilariously random, but the performance’s legitimate skill and soul are what make it one of the most iconic moments in the show’s history. Certainly, it was a triumph in both Mac’s characterization and McElhenney’s artistic range.

#12: Chadwick Boseman

“Get On Up” (2014)

From the voice to the swagger, there is no truly replicating the Godfather of Soul James Brown. Chadwick Boseman nonetheless poured his soul into “Get On Up” all the way to the concert scenes. Their elaborate staging demanded up to eight hours of training in Brown’s signature dance style over the course of two months. On top of that, Boseman had to simultaneously mimic one of the most distinctive singing voices in music history. Then there was projecting the drama in uniting a heartbroken nation for Brown’s legendary Boston Garden performance after the death of Martin Luther King. There will never again be a talent like James Brown, but the same can be said about Chadwick Boseman.

#11: Rita Moreno

“West Side Story” (1961)

Even the most gifted dancers cast in the 1961 adaptation of “West Side Story” required extensive training for the spectacular musical numbers. Rita Moreno herself had not danced professionally in almost a decade, and found limited use for Spanish style in jazz ballet. So she enrolled in every available class at a Eugene Loring dance school, practicing up to ten hours almost every day. That’s on top of the training regimen she shared with the cast. Over a month and more than a hundred takes later, Moreno’s spotlight number “America” was widely praised as the highlight of one of the great masterpieces in musical cinema. Her commitment had to have helped her chances of taking home that Oscar.

#10: Jennifer Grey

“Dirty Dancing” (1987)

Despite Grey's impressive skills, this is one of those times when art totally imitates life. Patrick Swayze had been dancing practically since birth, while Grey was still pretty green when it came to picking up the steps. And if you've ever worked with someone way less experienced, you know patience doesn't always win. Luckily, Swayze channeled that frustration into Johnny. According to Grey, that lift wasn't rehearsed, either. She'd been too scared to try it, so what we see is pretty much her first real attempt. She joked to The Guardian, “I don't know how all these people who re-enact it have the guts to throw themselves into the arms of anyone other than Patrick Swayze.”

#9: Zendaya and Zac Efron

“The Greatest Showman” (2017)

We can't talk about “The Greatest Showman” without mentioning the slick coordination between Zac Efron, Hugh Jackman and Daniel Cloud Campos in “The Other Side.” But for this one, we're taking things airborne. We already knew Zendaya could dance, but now she was flying. She did all her own aerial choreography, which meant building core strength, learning to move gracefully through the air, and trusting her partner wouldn't let her faceplant. On top of that, they had to move as one, syncing every spin and catch. What they pull off together is both breathtaking and emotional. A love story told through weightless motion and stunts that still make us gasp no matter how many times we watch it.

#8: Channing Tatum

“Hail, Caesar!” (2016)

Anyone who's seen this actor move knows he's got rhythm. But for “Hail, Caesar!”, he had to learn a whole new language: tap. As Burt Gurney, a Gene Kelly type, he performs a fast, full-length tap number… despite never having tapped before. What takes some dancers a decade to master, Tatum had to cram into just three months. His choreographer and teacher, Christopher Gattelli, didn't go easy on him either. Still, Tatum credits Gattelli for helping him push through what often felt like mission impossible. With tap, musicality's everything those shoes don't lie. He said the hardest part was dancing on a table. He didn't want to fall off, but with that tempo, he couldn't afford to miss a beat, either.

#7: Kevin Bacon

“Footloose” (1984)

A townwide ban on dancing wouldn’t have mattered much to Kevin Bacon. He had such little experience with the art form that he didn’t know how central it would be to “Footloose” when he first auditioned. But as he realized how important that liberty was to Ren McKormick, Bacon threw himself into a grueling three-week prep fit for a pro. Choreographer Lynne Taylor-Corbett even extensively incorporated acrobatics. The virtuosity that Bacon displays throughout “Footloose” isn’t just a fantasy of a teenage rebel’s footwork. Some doubling aside, Ren’s iconic warehouse solo was defined by the actor’s layered emotional expressionism. Though he was reluctant about becoming a superstar through a dance movie, Bacon made it a worthy display of his serious talent.

#6: Renée Zellweger

“Chicago” (2002)

Of the three actors on the “Chicago” poster, only one had formal dance training. For the others, it was a whole new challenge. Richard Gere had to learn tap from scratch, and his loud frustration during rehearsals even became a running joke on set. Director Rob Marshall had hoped to tap into Renée Zellweger's cheerleading background, but as it turned out, she had virtually no dance experience. In just six weeks, she had to learn to sing and dance, and she treated the art as an extension of her acting skills. The fact that she keeps up effortlessly with Catherine Zeta-Jones speaks volumes. Fortunately, Marshall felt that her inexperience actually worked in her character's favor.

#5: Michelle Williams

“Fosse/Verdon” (2019)

Anyone who knows Fosse knows how intricate his choreography is. Add Gwen Verdon to the mix, and you've got something in a league of its own. So when Michelle Williams stepped into Verdon's jazz shoes, her work was cut out for her. After all, she was recreating some of the most iconic numbers in history. Choreographer and Fosse expert Dana Moore said they worked tirelessly to nail every nuance, just as Moore had once done with Fosse himself. Williams also took on a grueling schedule and admitted she often arrived on set full of doubt, but also with the belief that, somehow, it would come together. And if you've seen the series, you know it absolutely did.

#4: Frank Sinatra

“Anchors Aweigh” (1945)

While few could rival Ol’ Blue Eyes when it came to singing, dancing didn't come quite as naturally. Thankfully, he had one of Hollywood's best by his side: Gene Kelly. Kelly was known to be a tough teacher, but he admired Sinatra's dedication, once saying he trained like a prizefighter. It probably helped that Kelly also choreographed the movie and could tailor steps to suit Sinatra's strengths. Even so, it reportedly took eight weeks of practice and 72 takes to land the version we know and love. But watching him move so seamlessly next to a dance legend proves all that hard work and their undeniable chemistry absolutely paid off. You'd never guess it didn't come easily.

#3: Dick Van Dyke

“Mary Poppins” (1964) / “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” (1968)

No matter how many times we watch “Mary Poppins,” it still blows our minds that Dick Van Dyke danced like that with zero formal training. That number is nearly ten minutes long, seriously athletic, and yet he keeps up like he came out of the womb kicking his knees up. Apparently, as a young man, he based his workouts on Broadway dancers, which might explain his stamina, but not his skillful rhythm and coordination. Still, if you asked him what the hardest routine of his career was, he'd point you elsewhere. “Me Ol’ Bamboo” needed props, stamina and serious teamwork. Apparently, it took 23 takes to nail. And by the last one, he said he practically made it through by the skin of his teeth.

#2: Natalie Portman

“Black Swan” (2010)

Ballet blends athleticism, artistry and endurance like almost nothing else. It's no wonder Nina Sayers’s ambition triggered the breakdown at the center of “Black Swan.” And it’s no surprise that dance rehearsing was crucial to Natalie Portman’s Oscar-winning performance. She'd spend two hours a day for six months on core strength, then add three-hour ballet classes for another six, followed by daily eight-hour choreography sessions. She also had to channel Nina’s emotional weight while moving with the grace of a true dancer. Portman later described the process as intense, but really fun, too. It couldn’t have been more intense than the controversy surrounding the extent to which ballerina Sarah Lane took the lead. Still, Portman’s power on the screen cannot be overstated.

#1: Donald O’Connor

“Singin’ in the Rain” (1952)

This film is a full-blown downpour of tough choreography. We've all heard about Debbie Reynolds's grueling training under Gene Kelly but at least her story didn't end with a hospital stay. The “Make ‘Em Laugh” number is brilliant but brutal. Donald O'Connor hurls himself around the set like a human cartoon, pulling off stunts most of us wouldn't dare unless we fancied a trip to the ER. As the only performer in the scene, there's nowhere to hide. Then, thanks to a camera glitch, he had to do the entire thing again. And O'Connor, who smoked like a chimney, powered through. Barely. He ended up in the hospital for a few days. The routines are a masterpiece, but boy, did it cost him.

Who are some other actors who surprised you with their dance moves? Get on the floor in the comments below.