The stage performance of Rogers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma was a beautiful integration of book, song and dance. The three elements add richness and aesthetic quality in very distinctive ways. Dance is a form of expression using rhythmic movements of the body. Facial expressions and the use of body language through dance offer portrayals of feelings that compensate for dialogue. The choreography done by Agnes de Mille integrates dance into the lives of the frontiersmen (and women) of the Oklahoma territory. The 20th Century Fox film version released in 1955 had key differences than the current Broadway musical. One of the main differences other than a little extra dialogue was the utilization of dance. In the film dance was not used as a primary asset to the production. The impact of dance could be described by comparing the stage performance with the film.

There are two main plots running parallel...