Strictly Ballroom

A life lived in fear is a life half-lived.

Strictly Ballroom is a 1992 Australian ballroom dance film. Young Scott Hastings (Paul Mercurio) has the makings of a superb dancer, and he's being groomed to win the coveted Pan-Pacific Latin Championships. Secretly, however, he longs to try some new, original steps in his dancing. When the authorities of the ballroom dance world (his mum Shirley, his uncle Len, and local ballroom head honcho Barry Fife) discover this, they pressure him to conform. But then he meets ugly duckling dance student Fran (Tara Morice), who thinks he should follow his dreams—and offers to dance with him. Though initially scornful, Scott agrees. But the powers that be aren't just going to let him do his crazy, crowd-pleasing steps without a struggle. After all, it's been tried before, and ruthlessly dealt with. And Barry Fife will do almost anything to ensure things remain...strictly ballroom.

Strictly Ballroom was directed by Baz Luhrmann of Moulin Rouge and Australia fame and is the first in his Red Curtain Trilogy (the other two areWilliam Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge). It's the Australian chick flick (Dirty Dancing? What's that?), and its climactic dance scene finds its way onto most Best Movie Dance Scene lists.

Plentifully embellished with tulle, sequins, and cheese.

Tropes used in Strictly Ballroom include:
  • Beautiful All Along: Fran begins this way, and gets better.
  • Catch Phrase: "A life lived in fear is a life half-lived" from Fran. Also, "Gutless wonder!"
  • Dance of Romance: The achingly tender dance to Doris Day singing Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps.
  • Dance Party Ending
  • Dancing Is Serious Business: Played with hilariously: everyone in the movie treats the grandly-named Pan-Pacific Championships like the biggest thing in the world...but it sure looks like a small regional competition...
    • But it is justified when you consider he may need the kudos of winning to make a successful professional/teaching career in dance.
  • Did Not Do the Research: Fran's grandmother implies Scott needs rhythm, overlooking the fact that if he danced out of time, even at an amateur competition, judges would be required to award zero marks.
  • The Glasses Gotta Go
    • Justified. Fran only seems to falter when she isn't looking at Scott, so taking off her glasses forces her to pay more attention to him and, hence, the dance.
  • Greek Chorus: Arguably, Scott's adorable little sister Kylie and her pint-sized dancing partner.
  • Heel Face Turn: Liz.
  • The Ingenue: Fran
  • Ironic Echo: "A life lived in fear is a life half-lived." Or could that be an Awesome Echo? "WE LIVED OUR LIVES IN FEAAAR!!!"
  • Lady in Red: Fran!
  • Land Down Under: Set in Sydney. Filmed primarily in Marrickville and Pyrmont (suburbs of Sydney).
  • Large Ham: A far larger proportion of the cast than seems strictly fair.
  • Mr. Fanservice: Paul Mercurio. That is all.
  • Pimped-Out Dress: Taken to ridiculous lengths by everyone, even Fran at the climax though hers is more flamenco inspired at least, still glitzy. The men's outfit's aren't to be sniffed at either especially when Scott borrow's Fran's father's golden sequined toreador's jacket.
  • Running Gag: Wayne's got to practice his bogo pogo...
  • Serious Business: Ballroom dancing. Made 100% funnier when you realise that most of the characters are amateurs with day jobs. Wayne is a mechanic, Ken sells spa baths, and Shirley Hastings sells makeup!
    • Maybe not that funny. It's not too easy to imagine there'd be a real market for ballroom dancers unless you're a paid instructor, so they'd likely only take it really seriously when they're on the floor. The only ones who treat dancing as an art form are Scott, Fran and Fran's parents
  • Shrinking Violet: Fran starts out this way.
  • Slow Clap: Played straight and totally awesomely.
    • For the record: This happens because a now-defeated Barry tells Scott and Fran to leave the stage. They man up and refuse, and Doug starts it in solidarity. Then Fran's family chip in, reminding them to listen to the rhythm. What really pushes this over the top is when Scott remembers his lessons and starts to dance the paso doble...at which point, everyone starts.
  • Tactful Translation

Grandma: (in Spanish, subtitled) Hot Stuff can shake his tail feather, but he knows chickenshit about rhythm.
Fran: Grandma wants to teach us.

  • Twerp Sweating: An unusual variation. After Scott drops Fran off late at night, her father starts to chase him off. But when Scott tells him he dances, Dad makes him come around back and demonstrate in front of all his buddies and family while they laugh at him. They warm up to him before the night is over.
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