Dancing with Disney:
Social Dance in Disney Movies
In this exhibit, you’ll find some of the best examples of social dancing in Disney movies, from the Waltzes of Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Beauty and the Beast to the Swing dances of The Parent Trap, The Jungle Book, and Princess and the Frog.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
Polka
Music: The Silly Song
In the very first Disney movie, Snow White and Dopey (standing on Sneezy’s) shoulders dance a bit of Polka.
Cinderella (1950)
Waltz
Music: So This Is Love
Cinderella and Prince Charming waltz under the moon until midnight.
Sleeping Beauty (1959)
Waltz
Music: Once Upon a Dream
After awakening from her slumber, Aurora waltzes with Prince Phillip in the royal ballroom. If the music sounds familiar (outside of the context of the movie), it’s because the melody of Once Upon a Dream is based on the "Grande valse villageoise" from Tchaikovsky’s 1890 ballet version of The Sleeping Beauty. If the dancing looks familiar, it’s because this scene reuses animations from the dance scene in Cinderella.
The Parent Trap (1961)
Bandstand Swing
Teenagers dance mid-century American Bandstand-style Swing at a fancy dress party.
Mary Poppins (1964)
Polka
Music: Step in Time
Mary Poppins dances a Polka with the chimney sweeps on the rooftops of London. (The Polka part starts at 2:30.)
The Jungle Book (1967)
Lindy Hop
Music: I Wanna Be Like You
King Louie, Baloo, Mowgli, and the monkeys dance a bit of Lindy Hop. (The partnered part starts at 3:20.)
Robin Hood (1973)
Polka & Lindy Hop
Music: The Phony King of England
If the dancing in this scene looks familiar, it’s because it reuses dance animations from Snow White and The Jungle Book.
Beauty and the Beast (1991)
Waltz
Music: Beauty and the Beast
Building on the classic waltzes that came before it, this scene reuses animations from Sleeping Beauty, and in turn, Cinderella.
Enchanted (2007)
Hesitation Waltz
Music: So Close
The music in this scene is in fast 3/4 time, but the dancers—quite reasonably—slow things down, so we’ll technically call this one a Hesitation Waltz.
WALL·E (2008)
Space Dancing
Music: Define Dancing
Despite the fact that it features robots and is set in space, I firmly maintain that this is still one of the most romantic dance scenes in this exhibit.
High School Musical 3: Senior Year (2008)
Waltz
Music: Can I Have This Dance?
Who wouldn’t want to waltz with Zac Efron/Vanessa Hudgens on a rooftop in the rain?
Princess and the Frog (2009)
Swing / Polka
Music: Down in New Orleans
This scene features a variety of Swing dances (and a bit of Polka).
Toy Story 3 (2010)
Paso Doble
Music: Hay Un Amigo En Mi
Often described as Flamenco, this dance by Buzz and Jessie is actually a Paso Doble inspired by Cheryl Burke & Tony Dovolani. (The dancing starts at 3:10.)
Tangled (2010)
Folk Dancing
Music: Kingdom Dance
A variety of folk dance movements are interspersed throughout this lively castle street scene.
Frozen (2013)
Fusion
Music: Love Is an Open Door
This scene gives off lovely “my life is a musical” vibes. Since there isn’t any defined basic they’re dancing, let’s call what they’re doing Fusion.
Cinderella (2015)
Waltz
Music: La Valse de L’Amour
The dress, the hair, the prince, the ballroom. Everything about this Waltz is #goals.
Beauty and the Beast (2017)
Fusion
Music: Beauty and the Beast
I would call this Waltz Fusion, since it features some Waltz movements, but given that the song is in 4/4 time, let’s just call it Fusion.
Aladdin (2019)
Partnered Bollywood
Music: Harvest Dance
I love the Cyrano de Bergerac vibes of Genie leading Aladdin through this partnered Bollywood piece with Jasmine.
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Slow Dancing
Music: It’s Been a Long, Long Time
Slow dancing is social dancing—arguably the most popular form of social dancing in the world! And it doesn’t any get better than this moment when Steve finally gets his dance with Peggy.
Elemental (2023)
Slow Dancing
Music: Steal the Show (instrumental)
Okay, this Slow Dance moment between Wade and Ember is pretty great too, that is, until filial piety gets in the way.
Updated: March 2025
First Displayed: March 2025