Fred Astaire And Eleanor Powell’s Timeless “Begin The Beguine” Tap Still Wows Audiences

Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell’s iconic dance in Broadway Melody of 1940 is a cinematic gem in classic Hollywood dance sequences.

Known for their duet set to Cole Porter’s “Begin the Beguine,” this scene captured a rare moment where two of Hollywood’s top tap dancers faced off on the silver screen. Powell, in her shimmering white gown, and Astaire, dapper in his tuxedo, were perfectly matched not only in talent but in charisma and style.

While Astaire’s style is known for its smoothness and polish, Powell brings an athletic, powerful energy that complements him beautifully. Together, they create an elegant blend of technical precision and on-screen chemistry.

The mirrored floor creates a shimmering, dream-like effect, enhancing the visual appeal of their rapid taps and graceful spins. Their synchronization, especially during challenging moves like double spins and back-and-forth tapping sequences, is breathtaking and highlights the intense skill each brings to the stage.

Beyond the dance, the song choice, Cole Porter’s “Begin the Beguine,” brings a rich emotional depth to Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell’s tap performance. The song’s rhythm and melody sync effortlessly with their graceful moves, allowing Astaire and Powell to tell a story through their dance alone. While they each had impressive solo careers, this rare duet brought them together as equals, each enhancing the other’s strengths.

Though decades have passed since its release, this iconic dance performance continues to be widely shared on social media, with plenty of positive comments and discussions from viewers around the world.

One person wrote, “So Beautiful, So Classy, So elegant. No computer generated images. Just genuine talent, craftsmanship by the movie makers staff and of course, The Queen of Tap Eleanor Powell, and who else but Fred Astaire. Both are gone now, but how lucky that work lives on.”