Like all enduring icons, John Travolta has aged with remarkable grace. At 65, he captivated audiences by sharing a playful dance lesson with James Corden. The segment began when Corden, hosting The Late Late Show, engaged English power couple Aaron and Sam Taylor-Johnson in a conversation about their Halloween costumes inspired by Travolta and Uma Thurman’s unforgettable Pulp Fiction characters. Both Sam and Corden expressed their admiration for the classic film, celebrated for its legendary dance sequence featuring Travolta and Thurman.
Corden eagerly invited Travolta to lead a dance lesson. Known for dominating the dance floor in films like Grease and Saturday Night Fever, Travolta demonstrated that his skills remain sharp, effortlessly charming everyone watching. He guided Corden, Aaron, and Sam through a series of lively dances, including the twist, the swim, the hip shaker, the mashed potatoes, and the iconic Batman. The segment’s simplicity, elevated by Travolta’s magnetic charisma, transformed it into an entertaining and joyful experience.
This memorable dance class aired on The Late Late Show with James Corden in an episode uploaded on December 5, 2019. The uplifting segment resonated widely on Corden’s YouTube channel, amassing 18.9 million views. Fans celebrated Travolta’s return to the dance floor, leaving comments like “The man’s still got it – true class never fades” and “John Travolta deserves to be called a national treasure. Such a kind, iconic, resilient, and positive figure.”
The iconic dance scene between Travolta and Thurman in Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction remains one of cinema’s most unforgettable moments. In the film, Travolta portrays Vincent Vega, a career criminal tasked with entertaining his boss’s wife, Mia Wallace, played by Thurman. During a stop at a lively venue, Mia insists on entering a dance competition, leading to their electrifying performance to Chuck Berry’s “You Never Can Tell.” The moves Travolta showcased on Corden’s show directly echo those from the original scene.
During the segment, Travolta shared fascinating insights into crafting the Pulp Fiction dance scene. He revealed that “Quentin was determined for us to perform the twist, a lively and fun dance, but its appeal can wear thin after a while.” Travolta elaborated, explaining, “I told Quentin that when I was growing up, novelty dances like the swim and the Batman were popular. I suggested we broaden the range of moves.” Convinced by Travolta’s vision, Tarantino embraced the idea, resulting in the creation of the now-iconic dance sequence.
