# Strictly Ballroom

Strictly Ballroom is a 1992 Australian romantic comedy film about Scott Hastings, a championship ballroom dancer who wants to dance non-Federation steps and his unlikely dance partner, Fran, a seemingly plain and ordinary dancing student.
    Directed by Baz Luhrmann. Written by Baz Luhrmann, Andrew Bovell and Craig Pearce, adapted from the short 1986 play of the same name.

## Doug Hastings

* We had the chance but we were scared. We walked away. WE LIVED OUR LIVES IN FEAR!
* Shall we dance?

## Scott Hastings

* We're telling a story. The rumba is the dance of love. Look at me like you're in love. [Fran follows this instruction perhaps a little too enthusiastically] That's it. Good.

## Other

* Fran: A life lived in fear is a life half lived.
* Barry Fife: [referring to Ken Railings] Let's not forget, Les, that a Pan Pacific Champion becomes a hero, a guiding light to all dancers, someone who'll set the right example.
* Barry Fife: If you can't dance a step, you can't teach it, and if you can't teach it - we might as well all pack up and go home. With young Liz available again, you've got a chance to get your status quo vadis back... so to speak.

## Dialogue

    Liz: What do I want? I'll tell you what I want! I want Ken Railings to walk in here right now, and say "Pam Short’s broken both her legs, and I want to dance with you!"
    [We witness Pam Short in a car accident. Then the door flies open, and Ken walks into the dance studio.]
    Ken: Pam Short’s broken both her legs, and I want to dance with you.
    Kylie: That was unexpected.
    Scott: Look, a beginner has no right to approach an Open Amateur.
    Fran: Yeah, well an Open Amateur has no right to dance non-Federation steps, but you did, didn't you?
    Scott: But that's different.
    Fran: How is it different? You're just like the rest of them! You think you're different, but you're not, because you're just, you're just really scared! You're really scared to give someone new a go, because you think, you know, they might just be better than you are! Well, you're just pathetic, and you're gutless. You're a gutless wonder! [shouting] Vivir con miedo, es como vivir a medias!
    Barry: Where do you think we'd be if everyone went around making up their own steps?
    Scott: Out of a job.
    Shirley Hastings: And what about Les? He's taught you everything you know and you're just throwing it back in his face!
    Scott: I'm bored with it!
    Shirley Hastings: I don't believe I'm hearing this! I have been with your father for twenty-five years—do you think I get bored? Of course I do!
    Wayne: What's wrong with you?
    Scott: That's what I've been trying to find out for the last three weeks, Wayne! What is wrong with me? What is so wrong with the way I dance?
    Fran: What happened to a life lived in fear and all that stuff?
    Scott: Fran...
    Fran: You really are a gutless wonder!
    Scott: There's a reason for this.
    Fran: I don't want to hear!
    Scott: Listen to me!
    Fran: No!
    Scott: It's hard for me too, Fran.
    Fran: Hard? Hard? How hard do you think it's been for me? To get you to dance with me in the first place? Frangipannidellasqueegymop. Wash the coffee cups, Fran, how's your skin, Fran? Hard?
    Scott: You don't understand.
    Fran: I understand. You've got your Pan Pacifics to win, and I'm back in Beginners, where I belong.
    Scott: Liz...
    Liz: Piss off!
    Scott: Liz!
    Liz: Get away from me! I'm not dancing with you, all right? I'm not dancing with you 'til you dance like you're supposed to!

## Cast

* Paul Mercurio — Scott Hastings
* Tara Morice — Fran
* Bill Hunter — Barry Fife
* Pat Thomson — Shirley Hastings
* Gia Carides — Liz Holt
* Peter Whitford — Les Kendall
* Barry Otto — Doug Hastings
* John Hannan — Ken Railings
* Sonia Kruger — Tina Sparkle
* Kris McQuade — Charm Leachman
* Pip Mushin — Wayne Burns
* Leonie Page — Vanessa Cronin
* Antonio Vargas — Rico
* Steve Grace — Luke
* Lauren Hewett — Kylie Hastings
* Kerry Shrimpton — Pam Short

## External links

* Strictly Ballroom quotes at the Internet Movie Database
* Strictly Ballroom at Rotten Tomatoes