John Travolta demonstrates his enduring dance skills in a cheeky lesson with James Corden and Aaron Taylor-Johnson

John Travolta has matured like a fine wine, much like other legends. At 65, he gave James Corden a playful dance lesson, proving he still has the moves. Early in the episode, Corden asked English power couple Aaron and Sam Taylor-Johnson about their Halloween transformations into Uma Thurman and John Travolta’s iconic Pulp Fiction characters. As Sam and Corden reminisced about the beloved film, featuring the unforgettable dance scene with Travolta and Thurman, the stage was set for something special.

Corden couldn’t resist asking Travolta to show them some dance moves. Known for his roles in Saturday Night Fever and Grease, Travolta once ruled the dance floor, and he demonstrated that he still could. He taught Corden, Aaron, and Sam various dance steps, including the mashed potato, hip shaker, twist, swim, and, of course, the Batman. Though the routine was simple, Travolta’s charisma made the segment highly entertaining.

On December 5, 2019, an episode of The Late Late Show with James Corden was uploaded, featuring Travolta’s dance lesson. With 18.9 million views on Corden’s YouTube channel, the heartwarming video became a hit. Fans were thrilled to see Travolta back on the dance floor, leaving comments like, “You never lose class, John Travolta,” and “John Travolta should be recognized as a national treasure.” The admiration for Travolta was clear—his charm, legendary status, strength, and upbeat energy resonated with viewers.

The dance scene between Travolta and Thurman in Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction is one of the most iconic moments in cinema. In the film, Travolta plays Vincent Vega, a seasoned criminal tasked with entertaining Mia Wallace, the boss’s wife, played by Thurman. When they arrive at the venue, Mia is eager to enter the dance contest, leading to their performance to Chuck Berry’s “You Never Can Tell.” The moves Travolta demonstrated on Corden’s show are the same ones he performed in that legendary scene.

The segment on The Late Late Show also revealed interesting details about Travolta’s influence on the creation of the famous dance scene in Pulp Fiction. “Quentin was set on us doing the twist, which is fun, but there’s a limit to how long you want to watch it,” Travolta explained. He suggested to Tarantino that they incorporate novelty dances like the swim and the Batman, which were popular during his youth. Travolta’s suggestion convinced the director, leading to the creation of the now-iconic dance sequence.

On December 5, 2019, an episode of The Late Late Show with James Corden was uploaded in which Travolta taught a dancing class. With 18.9 million views on Corden’s YouTube account, the sentimental video proved to be highly successful. Supporters expressed their delight at seeing Travolta back on the dance floor with remarks like “You never lose class, John Travolta,” and “John Travolta should be recognized as a national treasure.” I adore the guy; he’s charming, legendary, strong, and upbeat.

One of the most recognizable moments in all of cinema is the dance sequence between Travolta and Thurman from the Quentin Tarantino-directed film Pulp Fiction. In the movie, Travolta plays career criminal Vincent Vega, who is tasked with providing entertainment for Thurman’s character, Mia Wallace, the boss’s wife. When they get to the venue, Mia is determined to participate in the dance competition, so they start dancing to Chuck Berry’s “You Never Can Tell.” The original scene includes the maneuvers Travolta performs on Corden’s show.

Interesting details on Travolta’s contribution to the creation of the dancing scene in Pulp Fiction were disclosed in the Corden segment. “Quentin was dead set on both of us doing the twist, which is a very fun dance, but there’s a limit to how long one wants to watch someone doing the twist,” the leading man clarified.

“So I said to Quentin, there were novelty dances like the swim and the Batman when I was growing up,” Travolta added. “Perhaps we should broaden the spectrum on this,” I suggested. The director was persuaded by Travolta’s novelty dances, and the legendary dance scene was born.