October 10, 2025
Students From โ€˜Footlooseโ€™ High School Surprise Kevin Bacon on TODAY


The bond between Kevin Bacon and the high school where he filmed โ€œFootlooseโ€ is only growing stronger.

Bacon appeared on TODAY on April 3 to promote his new Prime Video series, โ€œThe Bondsman.โ€ Coincidentally, students from Payson High School, in Payson, Utah โ€” where โ€œFootlooseโ€ was filmed โ€” happened to be on the Plaza. They paid tribute to Bacon by performing some of the sweet dance moves he did as Ren McCormack in the iconic โ€˜80s flick.

After his interview, Bacon walked onto the Plaza to see the students busting a move and admitted he didnโ€™t remember the steps to the dance.

Students from โ€˜Footlooseโ€™ high school surprise Kevin Bacon on TODAY: โ€˜Zero degrees of separationโ€™
Students from Payson High School show off some “Footloose” dance moves when Kevin Bacon was on TODAY.Nathan Congleton / TODAY

โ€œI do not,” he said when asked if he could still do the dance. “And I donโ€™t want to injure myself.”

Bacon visited Payson High School in 2024 to help celebrate the 40th anniversary of โ€œFootloose,โ€ after students there campaigned for him to return.

โ€œIt was amazing. We loved it,โ€ Bacon said during his April 3 interview while reminiscing on his school visit.

During an earlier interview with Bacon that morning, Craig had said the school reached out to say they would be in New York City on a field trip and had asked if they could stop by the Plaza. It just so happened that it was the day Bacon would be on the show.

โ€œItโ€™s like theyโ€™re stalking you now,โ€ Craig joked.

Fast forward to the Plaza, and after the group of students danced, Craig said he felt destiny was at play.

โ€œThis was clearly meant to be,โ€ he said.

โ€œZero degrees of separation. Here you are. Kevin, thank you so much,โ€ Savannah Guthrie said, alluding to the popular โ€œSix Degrees of Kevin Baconโ€ game, in which people try to connect the actor to any actor in Hollywood within six steps.

Kevin Bacon as Ren in "Footloose."
Kevin Bacon in “Footloose.”CBS / Getty Images

โ€œIf Iโ€™d known, I wouldโ€™ve worn my letter jacket,โ€ Bacon joked when standing next to the students.

While visiting the school in 2024, he couldnโ€™t believe how much time had passed.

โ€œItโ€™s one of those things where itโ€™s changed, things have been built up a lot,โ€ he said at the time of his return.

โ€œBut sort of the essence of it is definitely still here.ย A young woman said to me, โ€˜You know, my grandfather was in school here when you were doing the movie.โ€™ Your grandfather?? If going through the 40th anniversary wasnโ€™t enough. I was like, โ€˜Wow, OK. Check yourself, buddy.โ€™โ€

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