The School Where ‘Footloose’ Was Shot Asks Kevin Bacon For One Last Dance As Hit Film Turns 40

Payson High School students long for Kevin Bacon’s presence at their upcoming spring prom before the building gets torn down. They are campaigning with the support of Utah’s governor, Spencer Cox, to get Bacon to do one last dance in April as the hit film turns 40.

The school was established in 1967 and was the location for many scenes in 1984’s Footloose, where Bacon played Ren McCormack. The movie was a box office success and got nominated for Best Original Song at the 57th Academy Awards for featured songs “Footloose” by Kenny Loggins and “Let’s Hear It for the Boy” by Deneice Williams.

‘Footloose’ celebrates 40th anniversary

Jill Hammond was a sophomore at Payson when she was selected to choreograph alongside Bacon for a dance number. The scene took over two weeks to shoot, and although it never made the final cut, Jill was grateful for the experience. “It’s not just a great film— it’s this small Utah town’s claim to fame. Kevin was charismatic and kind,” she gushed. “Even though he was just starting back then, you knew he was going to be a star someday.”

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She reminisced about seeing Footloose “for the first time in the theater for my 16th birthday” as well. “I remember when the trailers came out, we pointed out our friends, and the back of my head,” Jill said. “No matter how old you are, you know the song ‘Footloose.’” The current sophomore class president, Lauren Krout, proudly remarked that “seeing those spots every day and attending a school where I recognize Kevin’s locker…feels like I’m in the movie.”

Senior Rubie Rauff was not so impressed when she first saw the film, however the campaign for Bacon’s last dance gave her second thoughts. “I didn’t process how cool it was before. I wasn’t alive when it was filmed in Payson, but I realize how proud our town is of this movie,” the 18-year-old said. “So many people want him to come, and I feel it’s become more possible.”

Rubie has contributed significantly to the ongoing movement to catch Bacon’s attention by encouraging the community and contacting the Leave The World Behind star’s non-profit group, SixDegrees.org. The student body publicity officer and school’s social media manager, Olivia Vincent, is also hopeful that the film icon will show up to their prom, as he commented on one of their TikTok posts. The #BackToPayson trend kicked off last year on Bacon’s 64th birthday and is still on as the kids have their fingers crossed.