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The quirky, low-budget Aussie film that became a global smash is now 25 years old.

Strictly Ballroom, released in August 1992, set Baz Luhrmann on a path to worldwide success, and launched the careers of Paul Mercurio and Tara Morice.

Consistently ranked in the top ten among Australia films at the all-time box office, the film is now considered an Australian classic. 

We celebrate its phenomenal success by sharing exclusive interviews, original costume sketches, posters and production documents from our collection.

Paul Mercurio and Tara Morice in the film Strictly Ballroom. They are dressed in Spanish style dancing costumes.

Strictly Ballroom 25 Years: Exclusive Interview with Paul Mercurio and Tara Morice

The stars of Strictly Ballroom, Tara Morice and Paul Mercurio, in an exclusive interview with the NFSA 25 years after the film's release.
Strictly Ballroom logo from film trailer

Strictly Ballroom extended trailer

An early two-minute trailer for Strictly Ballroom that previewed the film before its release in Australian cinemas on 20 August 1992.
Actor Paul Mercurio being interviewed at the Cannes Film Festival about the successful premiere of Strictly Ballroom

The Movie Show: Strictly Ballroom at Cannes

In this excerpt from episode 92/13 of SBS's The Movie Show, presenter Margaret Pomeranz interviews director Baz Luhrmann and actor Paul Mercurio about the stunning reception that Stric
Scott and Fran dance the flamenco in a scene from the film Strictly Ballroom

Paul Mercurio and Tara Morice talk about learning flamenco

Paul Mercurio and Tara Morice talk about learning to dance flamenco with dancer Antonio Vargas, who played Fran's father in Strictly Ballroom (1992). 
Detail of sketch of costume worn by Tara Morice in the film Strictly Ballroom

Costume sketch of Fran's Paso Doble Costume

Angus Strathie's sketch of the red and black beaded dress worn by Fran (Tara Morice) in the final scenes of Strictly Ballroom. 
Scott and Fran dance the rhumba in a scene from the film Strictly Ballroom

Paul Mercurio and Tara Morice talk ballroom dancing

Tara Morice and Paul Mercurio talk about dance rehearsals for the film and learning ballroom dancing styles. 

John O'Connell on working with actors

Strictly Ballroom choreographer, John 'Cha Cha' O'Connell, talks about the techniques he uses when working with actors. 

John O'Connell on filming the final dance scene of Strictly Ballroom

Strictly Ballroom choreographer, John 'Cha Cha' O'Connell, recalls the first day of the shoot and filming the final dance scene at a real ballroom dancing competition. 

Tara Morice talks about recording Time After Time

Tara Morice talks about recording Cyndi Lauper's classic song 'Time After Time' for the official Strictly Ballroom movie soundtrack in an exclusive interview with the NFSA.
Two ballroom dancers in a scene from the film Strictly Ballroom

Creating the look of Strictly Ballroom

Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin talk about creating the look of Strictly Ballroom in a behind-the-scenes interview about the making of the film.
A group of dancers in a flashback scene from the film Strictly Ballroom

John Paul Young talks about Strictly Ballroom

Singer John Paul Young talks about re-recording his hit song 'Love is in the Air' for the soundtrack of Strictly Ballroom (1992) and his reaction to seeing footage from the film for the fi
Logo for the 1992 Australian Film Institute Awards

Strictly Ballroom wins at the 1992 AFI Awards

This compilation highlights the award winners from Strictly Ballroom at the 1992 AFI (Australian Film Institute) Awards ceremony.
An overhead shot of John Paul Young on stage, flanked by dancers, performing Love is in the Air at the 1992 AFI Awards ceremony

John Paul Young at the 1992 AFI Awards

John Paul Young performs his hit song 'Love is in the Air (Ballroom Mix)' live at the closing of the 1992 AFI Awards ceremony.
Combined logos for Australian Film Institute, or AFI, and the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts, or AACTA

Strictly Ballroom - AFI Awards

At the 1992 AFI (Australian Film Institute) Awards, Strictly Ballroom received 13 nominations and won 8 awards, including Best Film and Best Director.
Close up of Fran in the film Strictly Ballroom, played by Tara Morice, peeks through a doorway of a dance studio.

Strictly Ballroom: 'I want to dance with you'

Scott (Paul Mercurio) dances alone while Fran (Tara Morice) watches from a hidden vantage point.
Close up head and shoulders shot of Paul Mercurio as Scott Hastings in the 1992 film Strictly Ballroom.

Strictly Ballroom: Scott breaks the rules

Ballroom dancing officials Les Kendall (Peter Whitford) and Barry Fife (Bill Hunter) sternly recall how Scott Hastings (Paul Mercurio) used 'unorthodox, crowd-pleasing moves’ at the championships.
Head and shoulders shot of Scott (Paul Mercurio) and Fran (Tara Morice) in Spanish costume dancing the Paso Doble at a ballroom dancing competition.

Strictly Ballroom: Triumph

At the Pan Pacific championships, Doug Hastings (Barry Otto) starts a handclap in support of son Scott (Paul Mercurio) and his partner Fran (Tara Morice).
Cover of a promotional booklet, 'Introducing Paul Mercurio', about the star of the film Strictly Ballroom

Introducing Paul Mercurio

An extract from a booklet introducing Paul Mercurio, the star of Strictly Ballroom, to media and promoting the release of the film in Australia in August 1992.

Love Is In The Air (Ballroom Mix)

Official video clip of the Ballroom Mix version of 'Love is in the Air' performed by John Paul Young for the movie Strictly Ballroom. 
Tara Morice and Paul Mercurio embrace while dancing against a sunset backdrop in a scene from the film Strictly Ballroom

Time After Time by Tara Morice and Mark Williams

Tara Morice and Mark Williams perform 'Time After Time' for the official soundtrack to the film Strictly Ballroom. 
Head and shoulders portrait of composer David Hirschfelder looking into camera

David Hirschfelder talks Strictly Ballroom

Composer David Hirschfelder talks about his work on the film Strictly Ballroom (1992). 
Invitation card with details of the Strictly Ballroom screenings at the 1992 Cannes Film Festival

Strictly Ballroom Cannes Film festival screenings

An invitation card with details of the screening details for Strictly Ballroom at the Cannes Film Festival in May 1992.
Detail from a poster for the film Strictly Ballroom, featuring close-ups of the faces of actors Tara Morice, Paul Mercurio and Sonia Kruger

Strictly Ballroom alternate Australian poster

An alternate Australian poster design prepared for the home viewing release of Strictly Ballroom and based on the successful US marketing campaign for the film. 
British Academy of Film and Television Arts logo for their BAFTA Film Awards

Strictly Ballroom - international awards

An infographic showing Strictly Ballroom's nominations and awards received from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (Golden

Strictly Ballroom Swedish poster

Swedish one-sheet film poster for Strictly Ballroom, released in that country on 11 December 1992 with the subtitle 'De förbjudna stegen' ('The forbidden steps').
Detail of costume sketch of Paul Mercurio's character in Strictly Ballroom

Costume sketch of Scott's Samba Costume

Hand-drawn sketch of a men's ballroom dancing costume in a scrapbook alongside inspirational photographs of other ballroom dancing outfits.
Ballroom Dancing logo from French Strictly Ballroom poster

Strictly Ballroom French poster

French film poster for Strictly Ballroom, where it was released as Ballroom Dancing on 2 September 1992. 
Baz Luhrmann directing the film Strictly Ballroom

Producer Tristram Miall talks about Baz Luhrmann

In this excerpt from an interview with producer Tristram Miall, he talks about hiring first-time director Baz Luhrmann for the film Strictly Ballroom (1992).
Extract from a diagram of annotated dance steps, part of the promotional materials for the film Strictly Ballroom

Strictly Ballroom dance steps

An annotated diagram of dance steps, part of the promotional materials for the release of Strictly Ballroom in 1992.
Detail of costume sketch for yellow ballroom gown from the film Strictly Ballroom

Costume sketch of Liz Holt's yellow ballroom gown

Angus Strathie's costume sketch for a yellow ballroom gown worn in Strictly Ballroom by the character Liz Holt, played by Gia Carides.
Cropped section of a Strictly Ballroom film poster that shows a gold ribbon against a blue background. On the ribbon are the words "A life lived in fear is a life half lived"

Strictly Ballroom movie poster

The Australian one-sheet film poster for Strictly Ballroom featuring Paul Mercurio, Tara Morice, Gia Carides and Barry Otto.
Costume sketch detail of pink ballroom gown featured in the film Strictly Ballroom

Costume sketch of Kylie's pink ballgown

Angus Strathie's costume sketch for a pink ballroom gown worn in Strictly Ballroom by Kylie (played by Lauren Hewitt).
An overhead shot of shops on a street corner topped by a Coca Cola sign, in a scene from Strictly Ballroom

Strictly Ballroom: 'A microcosm for the world at large'

Director Baz Luhrmann introduces us to the themes behind his first feature film, Strictly Ballroom, in this behind-the-scenes video interview from 1992. 
Strictly Ballroom logo as it appears in the film's trailer

Strictly Ballroom film trailer

A short film trailer for Strictly Ballroom, ahead of its release in Australian cinemas on 20 August 1992.
Strictly Ballroom
1990s

More to Explore

Still frame from Strictly Ballroom film showing Fran (Tara Morice) in red flamenco dress and Scott (Paul Mercurio) in dark pants and gold bolero jacket, in a dance pose.

Strictly Ballroom: Behind the Curtain

The NFSA is celebrating 25 years of the little Aussie film that became a global smash hit.

Australian cinema
1990s
Strictly Ballroom
Baz Luhrmann
Paul Mercurio
Tara Morice

Baz Luhrmann's 'lost' project

Film historian and writer Jeannette Delamoir uncovers the truth behind 'Crocodile Creek', a community musical that unfolds amidst the 1867 anti-Chinese riots at the Crocodile Creek goldfield.

musical
theatre
community
directors
Baz Luhrmann
Strictly Ballroom flashback scene three couples dressed overly garishly in ballroom dancing costumes

Strictly Ballroom turns 25

The NFSA is celebrating the 25th anniversary of Strictly Ballroom with a bold new online exhibition and curated collection.

Strictly Ballroom
1990s
Australian cinema
Baz Luhrmann