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The Daily Insight

Who did Princess Diana want to dance with instead of John Travolta

Author

Gabriel Cooper

Updated on April 10, 2026

“Diana really wanted to share the floor with one of the world’s greatest ballet dancers, Mikhail Baryshnikov,” says Burrell.

Who did Princess Diana want to dance with at the White House?

John Travolta recently revealed that it was the First Lady who suggested he ask the Princess of Wales to dance during her famed White House visit. In a clip from the new special In Their Own Words: Diana, Princess of Wales, shared by People, Travolta remembers getting invited to the White House in 1985 to meet Diana.

Did Princess Diana dance with John Travolta at the White House?

John Travolta spoke about his famous dance with Princess Diana in a PBS special. The actor said it was Diana’s idea to dance with him when the two were at the White House in 1985. Travolta said it was the former first lady Nancy Reagan who made the dance happen.

Why did John Travolta dance with Princess Diana?

Travolta said he felt he “was an extra in a room of very important people“, and was nervous about accepting the invitation at all. He attended “with a very humble attitude,” he said, knowing he would be surrounded by world leaders and royalty.

Why did Mikhail Baryshnikov not dance with Diana?

If you’re wondering why Princess Diana danced with John Travolta, Clint Eastwood and Neil Diamond but not Mikhail Baryshnikov, the man who sat next to her at that fabulous White House dinner, it was because the ballet dancer had sore ankles and could not do so. . . .

Did Neil Diamond dance with Princess Diana?

Princess Diana made an impression during her 1985 visit to the White House. The late royal attended a dinner hosted by then-President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan, at which she danced with famous men like actor John Travolta and singer Neil Diamond.

Who taught John Travolta dance?

Deney Terrio is one of the original pioneers of the Disco Dance era and the coach and choreographer who taught John Travolta how to dance for the motion picture Saturday Night Fever. Of course Deney would have never been given the opportunity had he not been an incredible dancer and showman himself.

When did Princess Diana visit White House?

Princess Diana and Prince Charles’ 1985 visit to the White House has returned to the spotlight of late, as both Diana’s dance partner John Travolta and photographer Pete Souza have shared their recollections of the evening.

Is John Travolta considered a good dancer?

Travolta was probably the best innate dancer. He had some training in his youth but was not a serious dancer before his breakout films. He was an actor who could do a little dancing if the role called for it.

What celebrities were at Princess Diana's funeral?

Who was at Diana’s funeral? There were 2,000 people at the funeral in Westminster Abbey, including former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, US First Lady Hillary Clinton, South Africa President Nelson Mandela, Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, Mariah Carey, Richard Branson, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.

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When did Diana wear the revenge dress?

In June 1994, Princess Diana wore the knee-length, off the shoulder gown to a party hosted by Vanity Fair.

Did Diana dance with Mikhail Baryshnikov?

Though the princess had a wonderful time with the actor, she had hoped that Sex and the City actor and professional dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov would have asked her to dance. “Diana really wanted to share the floor with one of the world’s greatest ballet dancers, Mikhail Baryshnikov.

Who did Charles Dance with at the White House?

A fairy-tale moment with a real-life princess was captured by former chief official White House photographer Pete Souza when Princess Diana and John Travolta took to the dance floor at the White House during a dinner in honor of Prince Charles and his wife, on Nov 9, 1985, hosted by then-President Ronald Reagan and …

Who is Mikhail Baryshnikov wife?

Mikhail Baryshnikov and his wife Lisa Rinehart, a ballet-dancer-turned-writer-turned-filmmaker, describe life at the vacation home they built in Punta Cana two decades ago and have recently lovingly restored.

Where did Travolta learn dance?

His mother, herself an actress and dancer, enrolled him in a drama school in New York, where he studied voice, dancing and acting. He decided to combine all three of these skills and become a musical comedy performer.

Did John Travolta do his own dance moves in Saturday Night Fever?

Think of Saturday Night Fever, and you’ll probably picture that poster image of Travolta in a white suit, chest out, one arm pointing up, one arm pointing down — but it turns out that iconic pose wasn’t choreographed. In fact, it was an afterthought at the end of a long day.

Who did the dancing in Saturday Night Fever?

JoJo Smith, a dance consultant for the John Travolta-starring Saturday Night Fever who became known as the “Choreographer to the Stars,” died Jan. 22 at the Actors Fund Home in Englewood, New Jersey, from stroke complications, his rep said. He was 80.

When did Neil Diamond dance with Princess Diana?

Princess Diana danced with Neil Diamond during a 1985 gala dinner at the White House. Pete Souza, a former White House photographer, captured the moment and shared the photo on Instagram. Diana also danced with John Travolta, who said dancing with her was “as if it were a fairytale.”

Did John Travolta do his own dancing in Urban Cowboy?

John Travolta did his own mechanical bull stunts. “These Texans just wanted to have a beer, a whiskey, and a fantastic time.” After spending a month there, Travolta returned to his California ranch, where he practiced at home on his own personal mechanical bull and dance floor.

Was John Travolta's mother a dance instructor?

Patsy Swayze taught John Travolta the Texas two-step in Urban Cowboy (1980) and served as the choreographer on two of her son’s films: Letters From a Killer (1998) and One Last Dance (2003). … Lisa was a student at Patsy’s dance studio, the Houston Jazz-Ballet Company, when she met Patrick, and they were married in 1975.

What is John Travolta dance background?

At the age of 12, John began appearing in local musicals and dinner-theater performances. He took a tap dancing class from Gene Kelly’s brother, Fred. When he turned 16, he dropped out of high school and moved to Manhattan to take up acting full-time.

Does Diana have a daughter?

DianaIssuePrince William, Duke of Cambridge Prince Harry, Duke of SussexHouseSpencer (by birth) Windsor (by marriage)FatherJohn Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer

How did Princess Diana's car crash?

The crash. At 00:23, Paul lost control of the vehicle at the entrance to the Pont de l’Alma tunnel. The car struck the right-hand wall and then swerved to the left of the two-lane carriageway before it collided head-on with the thirteenth pillar that supported the roof.

Who was driving Princess Diana's car?

Princess Diana died from injuries sustained in a car accident that occurred near midnight on Aug. 31, 1997. In an effort to evade the photographers who hounded her every move, Diana’s driver, Henri Paul, was under the influence and speeding at nearly twice the posted limit in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel in Paris.

What happened to John Travolta's wife and son?

Preston died in July 2020 after a two-year battle with breast cancer at age 57. The couple were married for just shy of 30 years and had three children together: Ella, Jett and Ben. Travolta’s late son, Jett, died in January 2009 at age 16 after suffering a seizure during a family vacation in the Bahamas.

What happened to Kelly Preston John Travolta's wife?

Death. On July 12, 2020, Preston died at the age of 57 at her home in Clearwater, Florida, two years after she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Her diagnosis was not widely publicized.

What happened to John Travolta's son Jett?

Nobody knows when they are going to go or when they are going to stay.” Travolta and Preston mourned the death of their eldest son Jett who died on Jan. 2, 2009, at age 16, after having a seizure while the family was on vacation in the Bahamas.

How long did John Travolta date Diana Hyland?

Diana HylandYears active1955–1977Spouse(s)Joe Goodson ​ ​ ( m. 1969; div. 1974)​Partner(s)John Travolta (1976-1977; her death)Children1

Why was Princess Margaret cremated in Slough?

PRINCESS Margaret wanted to be cremated because she found the alternative Royal burial ground “gloomy”, a life-long friend said last night. … Instead, she preferred the Royal Crypt at St George’s Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle, where her father King George VI is buried.

Did Tom Cruise attend Diana's funeral?

Among the 2,000 attendees at Princess Diana’s funeral were boldfaced names from the worlds of fashion, Hollywood, and politics. Here, Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Steven Spielberg, Sting, and Trudie Styler are seen among the mourners, which also included Tom Hanks, Mariah Carey, Richard Branson, and Luciano Pavarotti.

Where was Camilla during Diana's funeral?

The more immediate problem was whether or not Camilla should be present at Diana’s funeral as Charles would have wished her to be. In the days after the tragedy, Camilla remained inside her country home, the curtains firmly drawn. She spoke on the phone with Charles every day, but they didn’t meet, nor could they.