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Hollywood Celebrities Who Can Dance

05/16/2018

There are plenty of great actors out there. But what about those who can act and dance? Those are the ones who look as great on the screen as they do in a pair of dance shoes. And there are more than you think. In fact, here's a look at just a few different Hollywood celebrities who are double threats and can both dance and act:

Justin Timberlake

It seems like Justin Timberlake can do it all, whether singing, acting and especially dancing. He's proven many times, in his broad-ranging portfolio of work, that he is a talented dancer. He even has many moves that are all his own. Beyond dancing and making music, he's great at producing songs you can dance to, as well. With "Can't Stop the Feeling!," he even earned his sixth #1 on Dance Club Songs.

Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez actually began her career as a Fly Girl dancer on the TV show In Living Color before starring in her breakout role in the film Selena. After that, she began working more and more in the world of music and found major success with a variety of dance hits. Back in the day, she was also a backup dancer for the wildly popular group, New Kids on the Block.

Penelope Cruz

You may not know this, but Penelope Cruz trained professionally as a ballet dancer. In fact, she studied classical ballet for nine years at Spain's National Conservatory and she also trained in Spanish ballet.

Neve Campbell

Best known for her starring role in Scream, Neve Campbell was actually a student at the National Ballet School of Canada before making the switch to acting. She quit after too many injuries, especially with her joints. She even has arthritis in her neck and hips due to dance; although it seems like dancing will always be her first love.

Hugh Jackman

Hugh Jackman has certainly earned acting accolades in a variety of movies from Les Miserables to The Prestige. But he has also shown the world that he has dancing chops, too, by appearing in many different musicals, including The Boy from Oz for which he won a Tony. In fact, he even trained in musical theater at the prestigious Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts at the Edith Cowan University.

Catherine Zeta-Jones

Besides being known for her acting abilities, Catherine Zeta-Jones is also a trained dancer and singer, as well. She even got her first start in musical theater at the young age of 15, appearing as the lead in the British revival of the musical 42nd Street. In the movie Chicago in 2002, she got a chance to show the world just what should could do in a pair of dance shoes.

Jenna Elfman

Jenna Elfman, best known for her role on the series Dharma and Greg is also another award-winning actress who is classically trained in ballet. But like Neve Campbell, after a series of injuries, she actually switched to acting. She also judges dancing as a guest judge on So You Think You Can Dance.

Patrick Swayze

The late Patrick Swayze grew up in a dance studio owned by his mother in Houston and so, of course, was a natural at dance on the stage and on the screen. He also trained at New York City's the Harkness and Joffrey ballet schools, and eventually went on to marry a fellow dancer, Lisa Niemi.

Amy Adams

Like Neve Campbell and Jenna Elfman, Amy Adams was just another aspiring ballerina who eventually became an actress. She studied dance at a local school in Castle Rock, Colorado and even began dancing professionally at the Boulder Dinner Theater before moving to the Chanhassen Dinner Theater in Minnesota. Like so many other dancers before her, an injury got in the way of her dance dreams. However, the good news is that she's done well on the silver screen.

Neil Patrick Harris

Neil Patrick Harris, a.k.a. Doogie Howser, MD and Barney from How I Met Your Mother, has more than just acting abilities. He's showcased his dancing abilities in a variety of different roles, including as host of the Tony Awards.

Audrey Hepburn

One of the most beloved celebrities of all time, Audrey Hepburn trained to be a ballerina before she decided to focus her efforts on acting. But she had quite a different experience in the world of dance. In fact, according to Biography.com, "During her screen test for Roman Holiday, she recalled performing ballet for audiences that were afraid to applaud because they didn't want the Nazis to catch them."

Has all this inspired you to put on your favorite dance shoes and learn celebrity dance moves?

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