In the 1957 film Funny Face, the intellectual-turned-model Jo Stockton (Audrey Hepburn) challenges the antiquated views of cynical fashion photographer Dick Avery (Fred Astaire). They’re sitting in a smokey Parisian beatnik bar, a très cool cave surrounded by a young avant-garde crowd… and Dick doesn’t think women should ever ask for a dance.
Jo protests, and pops off into one of the most iconic dance scenes in cinematic history.
“Isn’t it time you realized that dancing is nothing more than a form of expression or release? There’s no need to be formal or cute about it. As a matter of fact, I rather feel like expressing myself now. And I could certainly use a release!”
Directed by Stanley Donen and choreographed by Eugene Loring, Hepburn’s counter culture expression is a bursting, joyful, and electric interpretive dance that matches the scene’s saturated colors. The jazzy music is titled Basal Metabolism (How Long Has This Been Going On).
Watch more incredible dance scenes on TKSST, including:
• Donald O’Connor performs Make ‘Em Laugh
• How they made Fred Astaire’s famous dance scene in Royal Wedding (1951)
• Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers in Hellzapoppin’ (1941)
• The brilliant Lindy Hopping of Al Minns and Leon James
• Gene Kelly performs Singin’ in the Rain
• The Nicholas Brothers in the greatest dance number ever filmed
This Webby award-winning video collection exists to help teachers, librarians, and families spark kid wonder and curiosity. TKSST features smarter, more meaningful content than what's usually served up by YouTube's algorithms, and amplifies the creators who make that content.
Curated, kid-friendly, independently-published. Support this mission by becoming a sustaining member today.