@Saturn_Dreams (Saturn Dreams) posted a new topic, subject "Best dance routine in a music video". It read:

   I saw the thread about Sia's new video for Elastic Heart which of course reminded me of Chandelier from last year, both featuring great dance routines by Maddie Ziegler. But I have to say that even over a year later, I can still watch Arcade Fire's video for Afterlife on repeat and not tire of it. It's not a music video per se because it's a live performance, but you'd be hard pressed to tell either way. A great song by a talented band featuring an enchanting actress (Greta Gerwig) and directed by a creative director (Spike Jonze) makes it all come together, IMO.
    
    So, if we were to have a music video dance-off, which one would you put up as your contender?
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After which, @monstro (monstro) added

    My absolute favorite is “Miss You Much” by Janet Jackson.
    
    Daft Punk's Around the World is also pretty good.
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To which @RiCu (RiCu) replied

    To get to the third post and not have a mention of MJ's Thriller seems remiss.
    
    Utah Saints video for Something Good is excellent and well worth checking out, not just a great routine but a factual account of the origin of The Running Man. Can't link as on phone, sorry.
    
    Although probably not a great bit of dancing OK Go's dance on the video for Here I Go Again deserves a mention for having the band dance on treadmills.
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To which @campp (campp) replied

    Maybe not what you are looking for, but I've always enjoyed Christopher Walken and Fatboy Slim Weapon Of Choice.
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So @epbrown01 (epbrown01) replied

    Saturn_Dreams:
    
    > I saw the thread about Sia's new video for Elastic Heart which of course reminded me of Chandelier from last year, both featuring great dance routines by Maddie Ziegler. But I have to say that even over a year later, I can still watch Arcade Fire's video for Afterlife on repeat and not tire of it. It's not a music video per se because it's a live performance, but you'd be hard pressed to tell either way. A great song by a talented band featuring an enchanting actress (Greta Gerwig) and directed by a creative director (Spike Jonze) makes it all come together, IMO.
    > 
    > So, if we were to have a music video dance-off, which one would you put up as your contender?
    
    Are we including K-pop? Gotta be “Growl” by EXO or “I've Got A Boy” by Girls Generation, though I know many would argue “Catch Me” by TVXQ.
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So @Purd_Werfect (Purd Werfect) replied

    Not sure if this meets your qualifications, but I get mesmerized watching World Order do their thing.
    
    And of course, I'd be remiss not to mention Jaan Pehechaan Ho.
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To which @Soul_Brother_Number_Two (Soul Brother Number Two) replied

    I vote for Benny Lava.
    
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdyC1BrQd6g
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Then @amarinth (amarinth) said

    Paula Abdul - Cold Hearted is just a great dance video.  
    More recent, Pink - Try
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@Freudian_Slit (Freudian Slit) replied

    RiCu:
    
    > To get to the third post and not have a mention of MJ's Thriller seems remiss.
    
    I'd add his Smooth Criminal to the list.
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Then @Son_of_a_Rich (Son of a Rich) said

    Not what you're looking for, but it _is_ dancing, there* is *music, and it _is_ on video.
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@DrDeth (DrDeth) replied

    campp:
    
    > Maybe not what you are looking for, but I've always enjoyed Christopher Walken and Fatboy Slim Weapon Of Choice.
    
    I came here to say that.
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So @jnglmassiv (jnglmassiv) replied

    campp:
    
    > Maybe not what you are looking for, but I've always enjoyed Christopher Walken and Fatboy Slim Weapon Of Choice.
    
    That was the first to pop into my mind, too.  
    I also liked Jamiroquai - Virtual Insanity, though, yeah, maybe gimmicky.
    
    It REALLY helps that I like both songs.
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So @Saturn_Dreams (Saturn Dreams) replied

    Great suggestions, some classics and some unconventional. I wasn't thinking of Bollywood movie clips when I made this thread but Benny Lava was pretty cool, even without the translated “lyrics”.
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To which @wombattver (wombattver) replied

    Son_of_a_Rich:
    
    > Not what you're looking for, but it _is_ dancing, there* is *music, and it _is_ on video.
    
    Gosh, I could name so many that are great and innovative… but really, can anyone outdo the Nicholas Brothers in that clip? Good Golly!!
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To which @Elemenopy (Elemenopy) replied

    I like most of the videos posted. Paula Abdul always had fun choreography.
    
    Here's two favorites of mine that are live performances but **should **be official videos:
    
    Wrecking Orchestra dancers doing a Tron thing
    
    Yulia and Riccardo–Hello Baby
    
    The latter were my idols back when I was teaching ballroom dance and doing some choreography.
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Then @SaharaTea (SaharaTea) said

    I've always loved the bad-ass choreography in Janet Jackson's video for “Rhythm Nation.”
    
    Elemenopy:
    
    > I like most of the videos posted. Paula Abdul always had fun choreography.
    
    That she did. She choreographed most of the videos from Janet Jackson's album _Control_. Her own videos were fun to watch too, my favorite being “Straight Up.”
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To which @Soylent_Juicy (Soylent Juicy) replied

    Okay I have a question about the “Smooth Criminal” dance. I know that they put nails in the floor and the dancer's shoes have little v's cut in them to slide onto the nail to facilitate that _lean_ that they do. My question is: how do the dancers not trip or snag on the nails in the floor otherwise?
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After which, @Cara_mel (Cara mel) added

    Soylent_Juicy:
    
    > Okay I have a question about the “Smooth Criminal” dance. I know that they put nails in the floor and the dancer's shoes have little v's cut in them to slide onto the nail to facilitate that _lean_ that they do. My question is: how do the dancers not trip or snag on the nails in the floor otherwise?
    
    My understanding is that the lean was performed with cables in the video. On stage however, you'll see that the lean is performed over to the side of the stage, which is blacked out first (while one guy dances with the old-fashioned bomb). As Michael and his dancers get set up, the lights come on, they do the lean, then dance away from that area.
    
    According to the patent, the bolts rise out of the stage platform, which is then retracted to become flush with the stage floor.
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Then @Hampshire (Hampshire) said

    Gotta love the running man
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Then @RiCu (RiCu) said

    Hampshire:
    
    > Gotta love the running man
    
    Beat you to it in post 3 / thanks for posting the link.
    
    RiCu:
    
    > Utah Saints video for Something Good is excellent and well worth checking out, not just a great routine but a factual account of the origin of The Running Man.
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