As a dancer and choreographer, I watch the Oscars less for the glamorous dresses and thank-you speeches and more for the always-paltry-in-number dance clips. (The Tony Awards are really where the dance performances are, amirite?) But last night’s Academy Award broadcast—in addition to a real-life, surprise-twist ending that I believe lit’rally no one saw coming—actually had a few dance bits worth mentioning. Here were my three favorites:
1. Justin Timberlake’s opening dance scene. Somehow, despite its massive overexposure, I’m not yet tired of this catchy tune. (Probably because I danced in it with the Pantsuit Nation, but still. It’s fun.) I definitely daydreamed for a minute or two about the chance to be one of his backup dancers—the choreography was fun, everyone got to wear fancy clothes, and a through-the-audience stroll is always a pick-me-up. I don’t care who you are.
2. Moana star Auli’i Cravalho getting hit in the head by an errant flag during her performance. Girl kept right on singing like the professional she is, of course. But it’s so much fun to watch this clip on repeat:
3. The dancers who performed in the La La Land “Best Song” nomination montage number. Thankfully, we got to see professionals onstage (no offense, Emma and Ryan—you were great, but it’s a real treat to see the real dancers feeling out John Legend’s soulfulness), albeit all too briefly. It’s easy to see why everyone’s obsessed with Mandy Moore’s genius work on this film.
Did you have a favorite dance moment? We want to know!
