After years of watching musicals I have come to this conclusion. IMHO there are two outstanding dance sequences on film, which is the best dance sequence?
Top of the roof, America, from West Side Story or barn raising from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.
Or do you have something better? Thanks, lemme know, BBJones

I know America is a great dance sequence (as well as a great song) but is it really *that* great so it could be picked among one off the two best dance numbers ever? As for me I would judge the dance sequence in Good Morning (Singing in the rain) equal to America. But its really hard to tell one dance number above the ones Ive seen.

I am not entirely sure why this is a "worldwide controversy" but this is what I think about the numbers mentioned thus far.



"America" is a tour de force and the revised number is set up very well in the film. (I don't think that the Shark boys should ever be put into the number on stage.) There are some odd choices for some of the shots, but the choreography is so dynamic that this is almost negated.



Probably the most successful of the three numbers as a piece of film, this is a crackerjack number and a crackerjack piece of storytelling. For me, it is probably the best filmed of the numbers mentioned here, although I absolutely adore the choreography of "America".



"Good Mornin'" is loads of fun, but it's a weaker piece of film for me simply because the whole thing is directed outwards to the camera as though it were a live audience in front of a stage. Who are they singing to, exactly? This number should be staged and filmed so that the integrity of the fictional, albeit stylised, world inside the film is maintained. Still, it's so joyous.