The Dance Films of the '80s Quiz

Estimated Completion Time
3 min
The Dance Films of the '80s Quiz
Image: Herbert Dorfman/Corbis Historical/Getty Images

About This Quiz

The '80s could be called the glory days of dance movies. "Footloose," "Flashdance," "Dirty Dancing" … what more could you ask for? This quiz will test your knowledge of the slick moves and plot twists of '80s dance movies.
Who's the main character in "Footloose"?
Ren McCormack
Steve Holt
Brock Stanwell
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Kevin Bacon played Ren, the outsider who dances his way in.

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What's the name of the small town where Ren moves with his family in "Footloose"?
Meers
Geary
Bomont
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bomont is in an unnamed state, but the movie is based on events that happened in Elmore City, Oklahoma.

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Who plays Ariel's strict preacher father in "Footloose"?
Martin Sheen
James Caan
John Lithgow
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Lithgow plays the Rev. Moore, who finally dances in the end.

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Who performs the "Footloose" theme song?
Kenny Loggins
Tom Petty
Steve Miller
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Kenny Loggins, the king of '80s movie themes, does the honors for "Footloose."

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What's Baby's real name in "Dirty Dancing"?
Anne
Frances
Miriam
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Nobody puts Frances in a corner" doesn't have the same ring to it …

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What's the name of the resort where Baby and her family stay in "Dirty Dancing"?
Kellerman's
Wilderman's
Pressman's
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"At Kellerman's, the friendships last long as the mountains stand."

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What's the opening song in "Dirty Dancing"?
"Hey Baby"
"Be My Baby"
"Where Are You Tonight?"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

As the opening credits roll, we hear the Ronettes' "Be My Baby."

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This song, which hit No. 1 in 1961, plays in "Dirty Dancing" as Baby and Johnny practice in the woods.
"Wipe Out"
"Love Is Strange"
"Hey Baby"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Baby and Johnny dance across a log and practice their lift as "Hey Baby" plays.

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Which rapper made his film debut in the 1984 film "Breakin'"?
Ice Cube
Ice-T
Eazy-E
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ice-T appeared in "Breakin'" as "Rap Talker."

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Kelly is the main female character in "Breakin'." What is Kelly's break-dancing name?
Special K
K-Popp
Krazy K
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Lucinda Dickey played Kelly, otherwise known as "Special K.'

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The two main break-dancers in "Breakin'" are Ozone and ______.
Psycho
Carbo
Turbo
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ozone and Turbo take Special K under their wings and show her the ropes of the break-dancing world.

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What's the name of Ozone and Turbo's rival dance gang in "Breakin'"?
Electro Rock
Justice Crew
Toxic Twist
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ozone and Turbo have some pretty intense dance battles with Electro Rock.

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Just nine months after the original "Breakin'" was released, "Breakin' 2" came out. What is its subtitle?
"Dancing Shoes"
"Electric Boogaloo"
"Rock With the Crew"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

We have to admit, "Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo" is a pretty irresistible title.

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Who's the main character in "Flashdance"?
Chris Martin
Alex Owens
Debbie Grant
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Alexandra "Alex" Owens is the heroine.

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What's Alex's day job?
welder
firefighter
carpenter
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Eighteen-year-old Alex is a welder by day.

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What's Alex's night job?
dance teacher
convenience store cashier
exotic dancer
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Alex is an exotic dancer by night.

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What's Alex's dream job?
fashion designer
ballerina
actress
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Alex aspires to be a ballerina.

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Irene Cara performed the theme song to "Fame" and also starred in it. Which role did she play?
Coco
Leslie
Doris
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Cara got a Golden Globe nomination for her work as Coco Hernandez in the 1980 movie.

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Which "Fame" character won a spot in the school even though he didn't officially audition?
Wilson
Leroy
Dan
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Leroy came to the audition with a friend and wowed the stodgy judges with his wild dancing.

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What was Leroy's secret?
He couldn't read.
His dad was in jail.
He was gay.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Leroy was finally revealed to be illiterate.

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What was the name of the "Fame" school?
High School of Dance and the Arts
Manhattan School of the Arts
New York School of Performing Arts
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It was called the New York School of Performing Arts in the movie, but it was based on the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts.

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What's the 1985 dance movie that stars Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gregory Hines?
"Blue Angels"
"Red Dawn"
"White Nights"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The two dance stars teamed up for "White Nights."

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Two big songs came out of "White Nights." One was this hit by Lionel Richie.
"All Night Long"
"Say You, Say Me"
"Dancing on the Ceiling"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Say You, Say Me" hit No. 1 and won Richie the Oscar and Golden Globe award for best original song.

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The other song that came out of "White Nights" was "Separate Lives," a duet by Marilyn Martin and this major '80s pop star.
Phil Collins
Bryan Adams
George Michael
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Martin and Phil Collins also hit No. 1 with "Separate Lives."

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Where does the climactic dance performance in "White Nights" take place?
Siberia
St. Petersburg, Russia
Moscow
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Baryshnikov and Hines dance together at the Kirov Theatre (now known as the Mariinsky) in St. Petersburg, Russia.

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What's the "Saturday Night Fever" sequel that came out in 1983?
"Staying Alive"
"Take Five"
"Night Fever"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In "Staying Alive," Tony Manero is seriously struggling in his quest to become a professional dancer, but glory is eventually his.

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Which actress performs in "Staying Alive," "Flashdance" and "Dirty Dancing"?
Cynthia Rhodes
Jennifer Grey
Julie Bovasso
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

1980s dancer-of-all-trades Cynthia Rhodes plays Tina Tech in "Flashdance," Tony's unappreciated girlfriend, Jackie, in "Staying Alive" and the tragic Penny in "Dirty Dancing."

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Who wrote and directed "Staying Alive"?
John Travolta
Robert Zemeckis
Sylvester Stallone
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Sylvester Stallone was also tapped to play the Broadway director, but he didn't want to detract attention from Travolta.

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In "Staying Alive," what's the name of the Broadway show Tony stars in?
"Satan's Alley"
"Devil's Due"
"Lucifer's Payback"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Tony is first cast in a minor role in "Satan's Alley," but he eventually gets the lead and brings down the house with his improvised moves.

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This 1989 movie paid homage to a classic Southern dance.
"Shag"
"Twist"
"Limbo"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Shag," set in the '60s, followed a group of girlfriends on a road trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

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You Got:
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Herbert Dorfman/Corbis Historical/Getty Images