March 8: Today in Dance

Born Today: Cyd Charisse

The slinkiest dancer who ever lived is the incomparable Cyd Charisse (1922–2008). After recovering from polio as a child, Charisse studied ballet and danced with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and joined the Freed Unit at MGM, making appearances in musicals during the 1940s. However, it was not until the early 1950s that she began starring in larger films, dancing with Gene Kelly (1912–1996) in Singin in the Rain (1952) and with Fred Astaire (1899–1987) in The Band Wagon (1953), widely considered to be two of the best musicals produced during the “Golden Age” of movie musicals (1930s-1950s). Charisse retired from dancing by the end of the decade and had her Broadway debut in 1992, starring in Grand Hotel, choreographed by fellow Texan Tommy Tune (1939-).

Also Born Today: Ballerina Lynn Seymour (1939-) who danced with the Royal Ballet and later appeared in landmark productions by Matthew Bourne (1960-) — Swan Lake (1996) and Cinderella (1997), and tap dancing sensation, Dianne Walker (1951-), who participated in the resurgence of the art form in the 1980s and beyond.

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Movies: Roberta released in 1935, Royal Wedding released in 1951, The Young Girls of Rochefort released in 1967

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Check out more about dance at: https://www.dawndavisloring.com/todayindance

Dawn Davis Loring is delighted to announce the publication of her first book on dance: Dance Appreciation, co-authored by Julie L. Pentz. Available from Human Kinetics and from Amazon and other booksellers.

Open Mind, Insert Dance