The evening\u2019s first onstage dance moment was both hilarious and unexpected. To wrap up his opening monologue, ceremony host Jimmy Kimmel joked<\/a> that if any awardee\u2019s speech went on too long, rather than being played offstage with the typical music, they would instead be danced off by a group of \u201cNaatu Naatu\u201d performers. The audience burst into laughter as six of the dancers surrounded Kimmel doing the hallmark hook step<\/a>, enthusiastically edging him off to kick off the awards. <\/p>\n Next was the weirdly wonderful performance of best picture winner Everything Everywhere All at Once<\/em>\u2019s track \u201cThis Is a Life,\u201d which was nominated for best original song alongside \u201cNaatu Naatu.\u201d An ensemble of dancers in white costumes reminiscent of martial arts uniforms joined the band Son Lux<\/a>, singer\/songwriter David Byrne<\/a> and best supporting actress nominee (and former Broadway performer) Stephanie Hsu in their delightful and wacky performance of the song<\/a>, complete with an onscreen cameo from EEAAO<\/em> digital star Raccacoonie<\/a>. In a quirky number studded with extraordinary martial-arts\u2013esque feats, slow-motion moments and an ending contraction held for an impressively long time, the dancers of \u201cThis Is a Life\u201d took the multiverse track to the next level.<\/p>\n About an hour and a half into the ceremony came the much-awaited performance of \u201cNaatu Naatu,\u201d featuring Prem Rakshith’s film choreography. Expectations were high for this anti-colonial \u201cbanger,\u201d as described by presenter Deepika Padukone, but the cast\u2014which included a surprisingly low number <\/a>of South Asian performers\u2014exceeded nearly all with its rip-roaring Technicolor performance fit for the Broadway stage (RRR: The Musical<\/em>, anyone?). The dancers\u2019 infectious energy and powerful execution of the iconic choreography added to the list of the evening\u2019s triumphs\u2014for film, song, South Asian representation and, inarguably, dance.<\/p>\n The Oscars may historically be all about the little gold man, but after nights like last night it is clear to us the power that strong performances make. While we\u2019ll still wonder why there isn\u2019t a category for best choreography<\/a> yet, the dance world has a lot to be proud of from this year\u2019s crown jewel film event. <\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n The post Most Memorable Dance Moments: The 2023 Academy Awards<\/a> appeared first on Dance Magazine<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The 2023 Academy Awards ceremony was a particularly memorable one\u2014and not just because the iconic \u201cred carpet\u201d was, for the first time<\/p>\n![\"\n\nOnstage](\"https:\/\/www.dancemagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/95_TC_0614-1024x683.jpg\")
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