It was 1990. The world was suddenly, inexplicably obsessed with a hip-swiveling Brazilian dance craze called the Lambada. Within months, two rival film studios raced to the finish line to capitalize on the trend, resulting in a cinematic showdown between Lambada and The Forbidden Dance. While neither film won an Oscar, the cast of The Forbidden Dance became synonymous with a very specific, neon-soaked era of pop culture.
Let’s be real. Most people remember the movie because it tried to blend environmental activism with suggestively close dancing. It’s a wild premise. A tribal princess travels to Los Angeles to stop a corporate giant from destroying the rainforest, and her weapon of choice is... ballroom competition? It’s peak 90s. But beyond the campy plot, the actors involved actually had fascinating trajectories that go way beyond the dance floor.
Nisa: The Heart of the Forbidden Dance Cast
The movie lives and breathes through Nisa, played by Laura Harring. At the time, she was credited as Laura Martinez-Herring. She wasn't just a random actress picked for her moves; she was a former Miss USA (1985), the first Hispanic woman to take the crown. That’s a huge deal.
Harring’s performance in the film is surprisingly earnest given the material. She had to navigate the "fish out of water" trope while maintaining the dignity of a character fighting for her people. Honestly, her career after the Lambada craze died down is the most impressive of the bunch. While many actors from niche dance films fade into obscurity, Harring transitioned into high-art cinema.
You might recognize her from David Lynch’s masterpiece Mulholland Drive (2001). She played Rita, the amnesiac woman who becomes the center of a surrealist Hollywood nightmare. It’s a stark contrast to dancing in a mini-skirt to save trees. She later appeared in The Punisher (2004) and had a recurring role in Gossip Girl as Evelyn Bass. She proved she had staying power that far outlasted the 1990s.
Jason: The Rich Kid with the Moves
Then there’s Jason, the wealthy Los Angeles kid who falls for Nisa and teaches her how to navigate the city (and the dance competition). He was played by Jeff James.
James had that classic 90s leading-man look—think feathered hair and a soft-jawline charm. Before joining the cast of The Forbidden Dance, he was working steadily in television. If you grew up in that era, you might have spotted him on Day by Day or even The Love Boat.
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After the movie, James didn't quite hit the A-list heights that Harring did. He did some work in films like A Million to One (1997) and The Unborn II, but eventually, he drifted away from the spotlight. That’s the nature of the industry sometimes. You have your big breakout moment, the "Lambada Summer" hits, and then life takes you in a different direction.
The Supporting Players and Villains
Every dance movie needs a rival and a corporate baddie. Richard Lynch played Benjamin Maxwell, the greedy executive trying to bulldoze the Amazon. Lynch was a legendary character actor. Seriously, the guy had over 160 credits to his name. He was famous for his scarred, intense appearance—a result of a tragic real-life accident involving fire in the 1960s—which made him the perfect villain in everything from Battlestar Galactica to Halloween (2007). He passed away in 2012, leaving behind a massive legacy in the horror and sci-fi genres.
Then we have the "mean girl" of the dance floor, Johel, played by Barbara Brighton. She was the primary antagonist on the stage, providing the friction needed to make Nisa's victory feel earned. Brighton’s career mostly stayed within the realm of guest spots and smaller features.
We can't talk about the cast of The Forbidden Dance without mentioning the dancers themselves. The film utilized a mix of professional actors and actual Latin dance experts to ensure the Lambada looked authentic. This wasn't "Hollywood-ized" dancing; it was the real deal, characterized by that signature close-contact, syncopated rhythm that made parents nervous in 1990.
The Weird Cultural Context of 1990
It’s easy to poke fun at the movie now. But you have to remember how big the Lambada was. It was a global phenomenon. The song "Chorando Se Foi" by Kaoma was playing in every mall from Tokyo to Toledo. The film was produced by Richard L. Albert and released by Columbia Pictures, and it was actually shot in very few weeks.
They were desperate to beat the other movie, simply titled Lambada, to theaters. The Forbidden Dance actually won that race by coming out on the same day, March 16, 1990. It was a literal box office war.
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Behind the Scenes: The Crew
Direction came from Greydon Clark. He’s a cult favorite director known for making movies that know exactly what they are. He didn't try to make Citizen Kane. He made a movie about a sexy dance saving the earth. He also directed Without Warning and Joysticks. His style was fast, efficient, and perfect for the "mockbuster" or trend-chasing era of the early 90s.
The screenplay was handled by Sydneya Abbasi, based on a story by Menahem Golan. If that name sounds familiar, it should. Golan was one half of the legendary Cannon Films duo. He was the king of high-concept, low-budget cinema. His involvement explains why the movie has such a frantic, "everything-but-the-kitchen-sink" energy.
Why We Still Talk About Them
The cast of The Forbidden Dance represents a snapshot of a transition point in entertainment. We were moving away from the gritty 80s into the colorful, environmentally conscious 90s. It was the era of Captain Planet and FernGully, and somehow, this movie tried to bridge that gap with a Brazilian dance craze.
There is a genuine earnestness in the performances. Even if the dialogue is occasionally clunky, Laura Harring sells the desperation of her tribe. You believe she cares. That’s probably why she was able to move on to work with directors like Lynch—she had a screen presence that was too big for a dance movie.
Where to Find the Cast Today
If you’re looking to catch up with the stars, here is the current status of the primary players:
- Laura Harring: Still active in the industry, often appearing in independent films and prestige TV series. She remains a prominent figure in the Latin American acting community.
- Jeff James: Mostly retired from acting. He stays largely out of the public eye.
- Richard Lynch: Passed away in 2012. His final roles included work in Rob Zombie's The Lords of Salem.
- Greydon Clark: Continues to be a fixture at cult cinema conventions, often sharing hilarious stories about the "Lambada wars" of 1990.
Actionable Steps for Fans and Collectors
If you're feeling nostalgic and want to dive deeper into this specific moment in film history, here's how to do it without getting lost in the weeds.
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1. Watch the Double Feature: To truly appreciate the insanity of 1990, you have to watch The Forbidden Dance back-to-back with Lambada (the Warner Bros. version). It’s a masterclass in how two different studios interpret the exact same trend. One is about an underground dance club/high school teacher, and the other is about the rainforest. It’s wild.
2. Track the Soundtrack: The music is actually the strongest part of the film. Look for the original soundtrack on vinyl if you’re a collector. It features not just the Kaoma hits but several other era-appropriate Latin pop tracks that are hard to find on streaming services.
3. Follow the Legacy: Check out Laura Harring’s filmography in chronological order. Seeing her go from Nisa to a David Lynch muse is one of the most interesting "glow-ups" in Hollywood history. It’s a great example of how a "cheesy" debut doesn't define an actor's talent.
4. Explore the Genre: If you enjoy the "save the world through art" trope, look into other 90s films that tried similar things. It was a very specific sub-genre that hasn't really existed since.
The cast of The Forbidden Dance might have been assembled to capitalize on a fleeting fad, but they ended up creating a cult classic that people are still dissecting decades later. Whether you're in it for the nostalgia, the dancing, or the unintentional comedy, there's no denying the film has a strange, lasting charm. It’s a reminder that in Hollywood, sometimes the most "forbidden" things are the ones that stay with us the longest.