𝐅𝐈𝐘𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐁𝐀 𝐅𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐔𝐀𝐑𝐘
━ 𝑑𝑎𝑦 2. 𝑑𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑔 - 𝑙𝑖𝑏𝑟𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑣𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑧𝑑𝑢𝑠𝑡
There are two lenses through which the pivotal dance sequences in Dancing Through Life can be viewed.
First, let’s look at what Jon Chu has to say:
"Alice (Brooks, director of photography) and I always talked about how the truth is in the darkness and the lie is in the light. Dancing Through Life is a lie, for instance, so there is a lot of light coming in. By the time we get to the Ozdust, we’re playing in the shadows."
Fiyero’s dance = the lie vs Elphaba’s dance = the truth
Okay, moving on—parallels! Look at them.
The way the song is structured, Fiyero arrives at school, and as he starts dancing, more and more people in the library follow his movements exactly. He even says, "Once again, the responsibility to corrupt my fellow students falls to me." This tells us that this is his MO—everywhere he goes, he starts dancing, and people inevitably follow. He’s a natural leader, effortlessly pulling people into his rhythm with charm and charisma.
And, as Jon Chu confirms, this whole scene is bathed in light—because it’s all a huge lie.
Elphaba’s dance, on the other hand, is the complete opposite. No one can naturally match her movements. People don’t flock to her—they avoid her. They’re afraid of her. Even Galinda, the first to join her, is actively discouraged from doing so, and yet—she does anyway.
The Ozdust duet is a beautiful microcosm of Elphaba’s struggles and overarching story. Without Galinda stepping in, no one else would have joined. And yet, by the end of the scene, everyone is dancing her dance—because of Galinda.
But here’s the real point:
Fiyero is doing Elphaba’s dance too.
And as the lyrics "your life could end up changing" play, he stares after her—longingly.
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