I took a cardio dance class at the gym recently and I was reminded of one of my favorite film genres – chick flick dance movies (that should be an official Oscar category). I just can’t get enough of the drama, the triumph over impossible odds, the seemingly effortless choreography, and the big dramatic breathtaking dance finale in which the characters fall in love on the dance floor…

Sigh. I love those movies. These are my personal top 10…and in no particular order.

• Dance with Me
  My friend Sam and I were obsessed with this move for a while. It stars Vanessa Williams and the dreamy latin pop star Cheyenne. Not only is he a looker but oh, can he dance…and that accent? Forget it. And the soundtrack is awesome.
• Dirty Dancing
  In high school I drove to the video store in a snow storm to rent this. I’ve seen it 100 times. But still, if it’s playing on cable and I find it randomly while channel surfing, I’m toast. I have to watch the whole thing. Nobody puts Baby in the corner.
• Step Up
  The newest flick on the list. A troubled guy finds life focus in dance. But will Tyler make it to the final showcase dance??? Will Miles get the girl?! This is a great gym-worthy soundtrack too.
• Moulin Rouge
  An offbeat flick for sure, but romantic and the music is incredible. Love Ewan McGregor.
• Flashdance
  You know you had the sweatshirt. My husband bought the album when he was a teen solely because of the photo of Jennifer Beals.
• Footloose
  Boy that preacher’s daughter is crazy! Ren lifts the spirits of the whole town through dance. And that dance he does in the big warehouse? Awesome. Maybe I should bust out that routine in the supermarket every now and then.
• Bring It On
  Ok, technically not a dance movie, but still good enough to make the list. Same formula, only cheerleading instead of dancing. I dare you not to do spirit fingers after watching this.
• Grease
  When this aired on TV one night I actually held my tape recorder up to the screen so I could tape every song on my new tape recorder. I should mention I was about 12.
• Saturday Night Fever
  If only nightclubs were still like that.
• White Nights
  Baryshnikov and Gregory Hines. Enough said.

Coming soon, the HeyGirlMommaGo Ultimate Dance Chick Flick Soundtrack.