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See Also
See Again
© NL BeeldGetty Images
0 / 31 Fotos
Jennifer Lopez
- The lovely Jennifer Lopez began as a backup dancer and worked her way into acting and singing slowly. Oh, and three of her love affairs have been with her own backup dancers!
© Getty Images
1 / 31 Fotos
Sarah Jessica Parker
- Sarah Jessica Parker went to ballet school in New York and has continued to be a patron of the art. She even started the New York Ballet Gala to celebrate her passion.
© Getty Images
2 / 31 Fotos
Patrick Swayze
- 'Dirty Dancing' (1987) star Patrick Swayze spent a lot of time in dance studios. His mother ran a dance school and his wife was a ballet star–no wonder he was so graceful on screen!
© Getty Images
3 / 31 Fotos
Audrey Hepburn
- Audrey Hepburn was top of her class at Arnhem Conservatory in the Netherlands during WWII, but had to stop due to her physique not suiting a professional career.
© Getty Images
4 / 31 Fotos
Deborah Kerr
- Deborah Kerr from 'The King and I' (1956) trained as a ballet dancer and at 17 made her professional dancing debut in London. Of course, acting would eventually become her focus.
© BrunoPress
5 / 31 Fotos
Mads Mikkelsen
- Actor Mads Mikkelsen started as a gymnast and ballet dancer, but chose to hide it from his fellow classmates because he was embarrassed.
© Getty Images
6 / 31 Fotos
Natalie Portman
- Natalie Portman studied dance until she was 13. Her dance background helped her become the lead in 'Black Swan' (2010).
© Getty Images
7 / 31 Fotos
Channing Tatum
- It's no surprise that this 'Step Up' (2006) hunk began as a dancer. But it's also true that 'Magic Mike' (2012) is just as close to home-Channing Tatum also used to work as a stripper.
© Getty Images
8 / 31 Fotos
Vin Diesel
- Vin Diesel has kept his previous life as a break dance coach a bit of a secret, but it existed. He performed on the streets of New York as a young adult.
© Getty Images
9 / 31 Fotos
Penélope Cruz
- The Queen of Spanish Cinema, Penélope Cruz was first a ballerina at Spain's National Conservatory before she turned her talents to acting.
© Getty Images
10 / 31 Fotos
Brigitte Bardot
- The iconic Brigitte Bardot attended the Conservatoire de Paris before gracing our screens. Her continued preference for ballet flats in everyday life made ballerina pumps trendy.
© Getty Images
11 / 31 Fotos
Diane Kruger
- Diane Kruger attended the Royal Ballet School and aspired to be a lifelong dancer. But she injured her knee and instead turned to modeling and acting.
© Getty Images
12 / 31 Fotos
Elisabeth Moss
- Elisabeth Moss went to the School of American Ballet in New York. She has also produced a documentary called 'Ballet Now' (2018).
© Getty Images
13 / 31 Fotos
Catherine Zeta-Jones
- Catherine Zeta-Jones was a national tap-dance champion as a child, which won her roles in London's West End.
© Getty Images
14 / 31 Fotos
Christopher Walken
- Christopher Walken was also a tap dancing prodigy, and even performed alongside a young Liza Minnelli. But he eventually ditched musicals when they became unpopular.
© Getty Images
15 / 31 Fotos
Colin Farrell
- Colin Farrell was a professional country line dancer, and also dabbled in Irish dancing as a kid.
© Getty Images
16 / 31 Fotos
Madonna
- Madonna moved to New York first to become a professional dancer, but her singing triumphed.
© Getty Images
17 / 31 Fotos
Christian Bale
- Christian Bale was the only boy in ballet class at the Royal Ballet School in London, apparently attracting many young ladies.
© Getty Images
18 / 31 Fotos
Charlize Theron
- Charlize Theron trained as a ballerina in South Africa before she transitioned to the world of acting.
© Getty Images
19 / 31 Fotos
Mia Wasikowska
- 'Alice in Wonderland' (2010) star Mia Wasikowska would have been a professional ballerina were it not for a bad ankle injury at the age of 14.
© Getty Images
20 / 31 Fotos
Neve Campbell
- Neve Campbell attended the National Ballet School in Canada before hitting the big screen.
© Getty Images
21 / 31 Fotos
Jamie Bell
- Jamie Bell played Billy Elliot precisely because he was a child dancer. He said that the film was very similar to his own life.
© Getty Images
22 / 31 Fotos
Jennifer Garner
- As shown by her 'Thriller' performance in '13 Going on 30' (2004), Jennifer Garner is a great dancer. It's no surprise, really, since she started when she was a kid.
© Getty Images
23 / 31 Fotos
Zoe Saldana
- The Queen of Film Franchises was a professional ballet dancer, but had to stop because she did not have the right feet for it.
© Getty Images
24 / 31 Fotos
Alfonso Ribeiro
- Alfonso Ribeiro, who played Carlton in ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,' was a tap dancer, and even did a Pepsi ad with Michael Jackson.
© BrunoPress
25 / 31 Fotos
Kelly Bishop
- 'Gilmore Girls' star Kelly Bishop trained as a ballet dancer at San Jose Ballet School and performed as a dancer before her acting career took off.
© Getty Images
26 / 31 Fotos
Jessica Brown-Findlay
- 'Downton Abbey' actress Jessica Brown-Findlay began ballet at the early age of two. Sadly an ankle injury at 17 caused her to hang up her pumps.
© Getty Images
27 / 31 Fotos
Jenna Elfman
- 'Dharma & Greg' actress Jenna Elfman started ballet at the age of five, and has appeared in many music videos as a result.
© Getty Images
28 / 31 Fotos
Kat Graham
- Kat Graham was a backup dancer before she made her name in 'The Vampire Diaries.' As a dancer, she appeared on stage with the likes of Missy Elliott and Bow Wow.
© Getty Images
29 / 31 Fotos
Heather Morris
- Before she landed a role on 'Glee,' Heather Morris was a backup dancer for Beyoncé. She later received a perfect score on 'Dancing with the Stars.' Sources: (Women's Health) (The Delite)
© Getty Images
30 / 31 Fotos
© NL BeeldGetty Images
0 / 31 Fotos
Jennifer Lopez
- The lovely Jennifer Lopez began as a backup dancer and worked her way into acting and singing slowly. Oh, and three of her love affairs have been with her own backup dancers!
© Getty Images
1 / 31 Fotos
Sarah Jessica Parker
- Sarah Jessica Parker went to ballet school in New York and has continued to be a patron of the art. She even started the New York Ballet Gala to celebrate her passion.
© Getty Images
2 / 31 Fotos
Patrick Swayze
- 'Dirty Dancing' (1987) star Patrick Swayze spent a lot of time in dance studios. His mother ran a dance school and his wife was a ballet star–no wonder he was so graceful on screen!
© Getty Images
3 / 31 Fotos
Audrey Hepburn
- Audrey Hepburn was top of her class at Arnhem Conservatory in the Netherlands during WWII, but had to stop due to her physique not suiting a professional career.
© Getty Images
4 / 31 Fotos
Deborah Kerr
- Deborah Kerr from 'The King and I' (1956) trained as a ballet dancer and at 17 made her professional dancing debut in London. Of course, acting would eventually become her focus.
© BrunoPress
5 / 31 Fotos
Mads Mikkelsen
- Actor Mads Mikkelsen started as a gymnast and ballet dancer, but chose to hide it from his fellow classmates because he was embarrassed.
© Getty Images
6 / 31 Fotos
Natalie Portman
- Natalie Portman studied dance until she was 13. Her dance background helped her become the lead in 'Black Swan' (2010).
© Getty Images
7 / 31 Fotos
Channing Tatum
- It's no surprise that this 'Step Up' (2006) hunk began as a dancer. But it's also true that 'Magic Mike' (2012) is just as close to home-Channing Tatum also used to work as a stripper.
© Getty Images
8 / 31 Fotos
Vin Diesel
- Vin Diesel has kept his previous life as a break dance coach a bit of a secret, but it existed. He performed on the streets of New York as a young adult.
© Getty Images
9 / 31 Fotos
Penélope Cruz
- The Queen of Spanish Cinema, Penélope Cruz was first a ballerina at Spain's National Conservatory before she turned her talents to acting.
© Getty Images
10 / 31 Fotos
Brigitte Bardot
- The iconic Brigitte Bardot attended the Conservatoire de Paris before gracing our screens. Her continued preference for ballet flats in everyday life made ballerina pumps trendy.
© Getty Images
11 / 31 Fotos
Diane Kruger
- Diane Kruger attended the Royal Ballet School and aspired to be a lifelong dancer. But she injured her knee and instead turned to modeling and acting.
© Getty Images
12 / 31 Fotos
Elisabeth Moss
- Elisabeth Moss went to the School of American Ballet in New York. She has also produced a documentary called 'Ballet Now' (2018).
© Getty Images
13 / 31 Fotos
Catherine Zeta-Jones
- Catherine Zeta-Jones was a national tap-dance champion as a child, which won her roles in London's West End.
© Getty Images
14 / 31 Fotos
Christopher Walken
- Christopher Walken was also a tap dancing prodigy, and even performed alongside a young Liza Minnelli. But he eventually ditched musicals when they became unpopular.
© Getty Images
15 / 31 Fotos
Colin Farrell
- Colin Farrell was a professional country line dancer, and also dabbled in Irish dancing as a kid.
© Getty Images
16 / 31 Fotos
Madonna
- Madonna moved to New York first to become a professional dancer, but her singing triumphed.
© Getty Images
17 / 31 Fotos
Christian Bale
- Christian Bale was the only boy in ballet class at the Royal Ballet School in London, apparently attracting many young ladies.
© Getty Images
18 / 31 Fotos
Charlize Theron
- Charlize Theron trained as a ballerina in South Africa before she transitioned to the world of acting.
© Getty Images
19 / 31 Fotos
Mia Wasikowska
- 'Alice in Wonderland' (2010) star Mia Wasikowska would have been a professional ballerina were it not for a bad ankle injury at the age of 14.
© Getty Images
20 / 31 Fotos
Neve Campbell
- Neve Campbell attended the National Ballet School in Canada before hitting the big screen.
© Getty Images
21 / 31 Fotos
Jamie Bell
- Jamie Bell played Billy Elliot precisely because he was a child dancer. He said that the film was very similar to his own life.
© Getty Images
22 / 31 Fotos
Jennifer Garner
- As shown by her 'Thriller' performance in '13 Going on 30' (2004), Jennifer Garner is a great dancer. It's no surprise, really, since she started when she was a kid.
© Getty Images
23 / 31 Fotos
Zoe Saldana
- The Queen of Film Franchises was a professional ballet dancer, but had to stop because she did not have the right feet for it.
© Getty Images
24 / 31 Fotos
Alfonso Ribeiro
- Alfonso Ribeiro, who played Carlton in ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,' was a tap dancer, and even did a Pepsi ad with Michael Jackson.
© BrunoPress
25 / 31 Fotos
Kelly Bishop
- 'Gilmore Girls' star Kelly Bishop trained as a ballet dancer at San Jose Ballet School and performed as a dancer before her acting career took off.
© Getty Images
26 / 31 Fotos
Jessica Brown-Findlay
- 'Downton Abbey' actress Jessica Brown-Findlay began ballet at the early age of two. Sadly an ankle injury at 17 caused her to hang up her pumps.
© Getty Images
27 / 31 Fotos
Jenna Elfman
- 'Dharma & Greg' actress Jenna Elfman started ballet at the age of five, and has appeared in many music videos as a result.
© Getty Images
28 / 31 Fotos
Kat Graham
- Kat Graham was a backup dancer before she made her name in 'The Vampire Diaries.' As a dancer, she appeared on stage with the likes of Missy Elliott and Bow Wow.
© Getty Images
29 / 31 Fotos
Heather Morris
- Before she landed a role on 'Glee,' Heather Morris was a backup dancer for Beyoncé. She later received a perfect score on 'Dancing with the Stars.' Sources: (Women's Health) (The Delite)
© Getty Images
30 / 31 Fotos
Celebrities who were professional dancers
Curious to know which ones had twinkle toes?
© Getty Images
Ever wonder how some celebrities all of a sudden have fantastic dance moves in films like 'Black Swan' (2010), 'Dirty Dancing' (1987), and 'Step Up' (2006)? It's no coincidence–many famous figures had a thirst to perform from day one, but not all as actors and singers.
Many of our favorite stars began in the world of dance, learning the art of movement from a young age. Curious to know which ones had twinkle toes? Click through this gallery and find out.
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