Photo via YouTube screen-grab March 17, 1938– Рудо́льф Хаме́тович Нуре́ев: "The main thing is dancing, and before it withers away from my body, I will keep dancing till the last moment, the last drop." I remember my mother sitting me down on an early summer day in … [Read more...]
#QueerQuote: “It’s Not Just Steps…” – Entertainer, Cyd Charisse
In The Band Wagon (1953), screen-grab via YouTube Here is the full quote from Cyd Charisse (1922 - 2008): "I think that in all my dancing I play a role. To me, that's what dancing is about. It's not just steps." Fred Astaire: "When you dance with Cyd Charisse, you stay … [Read more...]
#WomenWeLove: Remembering Dancer, Eleanor Powell
MGM postcard, Wikimedia Commons Eleanor Powell (1912-1982): "I'd rather dance than eat." She was a magnificently talented movie-musical performer who proved to be too good for Hollywood. Too good at her specialty, tap dancing, for the studio execs and powerful male stars … [Read more...]
Celebrating Rosie Perez’s Birthday with 10 of Her Best Performances
Do The Right Thing via YouTube Rosie Perez first got my attention for her performance as Tina in Spike Lee's now classic Do the Right Thing (1989). She has been nominated for an Academy Award and three Emmy Awards, including one for her choreography on In Living Color … [Read more...]
#BornThisDay: Dancer, Frederic Franklin
June 13, 1914 - Frederic Franklin: "The Ballet needs choreographers. Can you name a major American choreographer? I can't. I believe the future of companies and dancers depends on new works and first-rate choreographers. The Royal Ballet just did a new production of Sleeping … [Read more...]
#BornThisDay: Dancer/ Actor/ Choreographer/ Director, Robert Helpmann
Helpmann via The Royal Ballet School Collections, White Lodge Museum April 9, 1909 – Robert Helpmann: "The trouble with nude dancing is that not everything stops when the music stops." Sir Robert Helpmann was an international ballet star and … [Read more...]
#BornThisDay: “The God of Dance”, Vaslav Nijinsky
March 12, 1889 - Vaslav Fomich Nijinsky: I danced frightening things. They were frightened of me and therefore thought that I wanted to kill them. I did not want to kill anyone. I loved everyone, but no one loved me, and therefore I became nervous. He was born on this day in … [Read more...]
#BlackHistoryMonth: Remembering Entertainer Bill “Bojangles” Robinson
Photo via YouTube Bill "Bojangles" Robinson (1878 - ) "Everything is copacetic." If I should think of Shirley Temple, and I rarely do, I think of how Bill Robinson was Temple's master teacher and longtime friend who worked with her in six films. Robinson had already … [Read more...]
#BlackHistoryMonth: Remembering Florence Mills
Florence Mills (1896-1927): "I belong to a race that sings and dances as it breathes. I don't care where I am so long as I can sing and dance. The wide world is my stage and I am my audience. If I didn't feel like that I wouldn't be an artist. The things you do best for other … [Read more...]
#BlackHistoryMonth: Remembering Dancer, Mel Tomlinson
Photograph by King Douglas Mel Tomlinson (1954-2019) was one of the few dancers to star with three major companies: Dance Theater of Harlem, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre and New York City Ballet. He was a powerful, proud performer, his beautiful big black body … [Read more...]
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