!VAR HAGENDOORN

The Best Dance Music Videos

Most dance films are pretty boring. The same is true of the dancing in music videos. Choreographers want to make "Art" and not an interesting, engaging video and lack the budgets of music videos. Music video directors adhere to the unwritten laws of the music video.

There are some notable exceptions though. So without further ado, here's a list of some of my favourite dance music videos. Music videos that I enjoy watching from time to time.

Fatboy Slim: Praise You. Directed by Spike Jonze. What can I say? I love this video. It’s fun. It’s hilarious. The dancing is great. It radiates what many dance performances lack: enthusiasm and joy. Professional dancers can’t dance like this, because they will always make the movements too perfect.

Daft Punk: Around The World

RJD2: Work It Out. Featuring Bill Shannon. This video fills me with joy and happiness. Dance is the ultimate expression of freedom and joy. Another thing that I like about this video is that his performance is "real". Of course the presence of a camera always distorts and they may have done several takes, but still, the people, cars and busses passing by are real.

OK Go: Here It Goes Again. Directed by Trish Sie. This is one of the videos I frequently refer to in my lectures and papers.

OK Go: A Million Ways. Directed and choreographed by Trish Sie. Definitely my favourite music video of the year and one to which I will refer in my lectures and papers for years to come.

New Order: True Faith. Choreography by Philippe Découflé. Also by Philippe Découflé Fine Young Cannibals: She drives me crazy.

12 Stone Toddler: The Rabbit. Damn, this song/video rocks and swings! Think the opening scene of Mulholland Drive meets Donnie Darko.

DJ Format: You know something we don't know. One of my favourite b-boy videos of all time.

Fatboy Slim: Weapon of Choice. Directed by Spike Jonze. Great dancing, a pure expression of joy.

Kylie Minogue: Can't get you out of my head.

Sven Väth: Mind games. Choreographed by an old friend of mine, Jill Johnson and also features three other old friends, Jone San Martin, Alan Barnes and Irene Klein, all (former) dancers with the Ballett Frankfurt (now the Forsythe Company).

Dirty Vegas: Days go by. Great old skool breaking. Great location. Update December 2010: Still love this video.

Future Shock: Late at Night. Some old school "robot" breakdancing.

The Pharcyde: Drop. Not exactly a dance video, but I find the movements very inspiring. Yes I know it is played back in reverse.

Telepopmusik: Love can damage your health. Director: Jordan Scott. Stylish video with nice dancing (and a nice girl with a nice body, to be frank).