Flashdance

I love watching films, which is one of the reasons I love the fact that I’m on Orange, so I can abuse my Orange Wednesdays. Good times. Year in, year out I find that Christmas provides me with the perfect excuse to sit back and watch more films than usual until my heart is content. And so, those that are close to me will know that it is not unheard of for me to have DVDs on my Christmas wishlist. ‘Flashdance’ was one of these such DVDs and despite the fact that I continually hinted (outright said) that I wanted it, I didn’t unwrap it on Christmas Day. Guy’s, seriously? It’s only £5.99 on Play.com and that’s the Special Edition disc! I’m far from ungreatful, I mean I loved the gifts I got, but the fact of the matter is that I’ve really been wanting to see this film for a while now, and so I decided to order it for myself and become more acquainted with one of the ‘film classics’ of the world.

“What a feeling, bein's believin'

I can't have it all, now I'm dancin' for my life

Take your passion, and make it happen

Pictures come alive, you can dance right through your life”

Irene Cara – Flashdance – What a Feeling

After watching the film, I couldn’t help but realise some great similarities to another film I’ve seen. A young lady living a life of hardship, the decision to combine modern day music with the sounds of authentic classical ballet music in her college entry audition and the originality behind the idea of merging dance moves from other dance specialism’s in her routine, are you seeing the same connection as me?

Not yet?

Well exchange the neatly shaped, straightened and gelled down hairstyles, baggy jeans, North Face winter jackets and leather boots typical of a modern day American teenager with the big, bouncy, often curly and sprayed into place hairstyles, legwarmers, shoulder pads and high waisted light denim Levi’s (you know the ones!) reminiscent of a decade gone by and there you have it. ‘Flashdance’ is the 80s equivalent of today’s ‘Save The Last Dance’ with more adult themes, but once you look past the 80s female bar dancer storyline the gist is the same. Strive for what you love...




The film follows the story of 18-year-old Alex Owens (Jennifer Beals) who questions her ability to realise her dreams of attending the Pittsburgh Conservatory of Dance, whilst working as a welder by day in order to pay the bills and save enough money to pursue her dreams, Alex also dances at a local bar by night. Being everyone’s agony aunt and best friend, along the way Alex also manages to find love, in the form of older man, and boss Nick Hurley (Michael Nouri), and be invited to audition at the Pittsburgh Conservatory of Dance.

Ok, ok so a pretty typical only happens in the movies small time girl makes her dreams a reality whilst falling in love along the way storyline. But taken for what it is, a feel good movie (which I am very pro), and coupled with a high octane 80s soundtrack, and some dance scenes which (sadly) made me realise just how inflexible I really am, in the least the film made for some good viewing, made me want to visit the gym asap and had me trying to rein act one or two of the dance moves afterwards.