In 1961′s West Side Story, instead of using guns and knives, the Jets, a gang of white teens, battle the Sharks, their Puerto Rican immigrant rivals, with snaps and ballet steps. Staged by Jerome Robbins, one of Broadway’s most famous choreographers, the opening rumble sets the scene — literally showcasing the New York City neighborhood where the story is set (though the rest of the film was shot in Los Angeles) — and establishes the machismo-filled tension between the two groups. Originally based on William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the movie went on to win the Best Picture Oscar for, among other things, successfully bringing together the two worlds of classical dance and gang warfare.
