One of Wicked’s most iconic songs included a subtle reference to Dorothy Gale, a character who is expected to appear in the franchise’s upcoming sequel, Wicked: For Good. Wicked has exceeded expectations in terms of success, and critics reviewing Wicked have praised the performances, soundtrack, and references to the Broadway musical. Winning the Golden Globe for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement, Wicked has become a global phenomenon and has quickly risen to become one of the most acclaimed musical movies of all time.

Loosely based on the 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked serves as a prequel to The Wizard of Oz, originally written by L. Frank Baum. Director Jon M. Chu’s adaptation explores how Elphaba Thropp (Cynthia Erivo) rose to become the Wicked Witch of the West, the most feared and hated figure throughout Oz, and the events that took place in the Emerald City before Dorothy Gale arrived. While there is only a glimpse of her at the start of the movie, Dorothy is anticipated to appear in the upcoming sequel, Wicked: For Good, and one song from Wicked made a clever reference to her arrival in Oz.

“Dancing Through Life” Spinning Library In Wicked Is Known As The Tornado Wheel

Fiyero Performs “Dancing Through Life” As Part Of His Arrival At Shiz

One of the students who enrolls at Shiz University is Fiyero Tigelaar (Jonathan Bailey), whose rebellious nature and appearance quickly captures the attention of all the students, particularly Galinda (Ariana Grande-Butera). Fiyero shows little care for studies and is more interested in having fun; this is shown throughout the song “Dancing Through Life,” one of the most popular songs on Wicked’s iconic soundtrack. During the song, Fiyero performs an energetic routine in the Shiz University library, and shows off his acrobatic skills in the library’s rotating section, further impressing and exciting Glinda and her fellow students.

The spinning library section was known behind the scenes as the Tornado Wheel, due to its ability to rotate in three separate sections (via Broadway World). Wicked’s director, Jon M. Chu, and cinematographer, Alice Brooks, revealed that the wheel stood 45 feet tall, 180 feet long, and 145 feet wide, and it was extensively designed by the production team to allow the dancers to perform their routine safely (via Vanity Fair). Brooks also considered the team’s work on the wheel essential to the scene’s success, as “we knew if ‘Dancing Through Life’ works, we have our movie.“

Wicked’s Tornado Wheel Is A Subtle Reference To Dorothy & The Wizard Of Oz

It Subtly References Dorothy’s Upcoming Arrival To Oz During Wicked: For Good

Wicked’s team has spoken about the difficulties faced with filming the “Dancing Through Life” segment with the tornado wheel. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the movie’s choreographer, Christopher Scott, revealed that there were safety concerns over allowing Jonathan Bailey to perform in the tornado wheel, stating “he needs to carry on because we can’t injure our Fiyero.” Bailey later described “having to run and swing” through the tornado wheel was the segment’s most challenging aspect (via Collider). The tornado wheel used in “Dancing Through Life” offers a subtle reference to Dorothy’s upcoming arrival in The Wizard of Oz.

In The Wizard of Oz, a tornado carries Dorothy and her house away from her hometown of Kansas; her house ends up crushing the Wicked Witch of the East, whose origins are also explored in Wicked. The tornado wheel used in Wicked depicts a connection between the two movies and allowed Fiyero to make a dramatic entrance into Shiz, similar to Dorothy’s entrance in The Wizard of Oz. While the length of Dorothy’s role in Wicked 2 hasn’t been confirmed, the tornado wheel allowed Wicked to provide a clever reference to her upcoming arrival in Oz.

Sources: Broadway World, Vanity Fair, Entertainment Weekly, Collider