BROADWAY'S GREATEST DANCERS

[onceadancer2]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 12:19pm

I just received a private message from one of the posters asking me who Broadway's greatest dancers were. I can really only post from my own experience dancing professionally and those who I saw later after I stopped dancing. I'm sure there are others who should be added to the list.

You'll notice on my list that I have not listed very many men. That is because the male dancers from my generation were not particularly well trained. Of course, this has changed over the years. Concerning the women, they were just as good then as they are today.

FEMALE DANCERS:

Adele Astaire
Betty Bruce
Nina Whitney
Eleanor Powell
Rabana Habsburgh
Joyce Thackeray
Deborah Schoenberg
Holly Howard
Daphe Vane
Georgia Hiden
Grace McDonald
Heidi Voessler
Vera Zorina
Tamara Geva
Vera Ellen
Bambi Linn
Joan McCracken
Annabelle Lyon
Lidya Franklin
Nelle Fischer
Sono Osato
Janet Reed
Allyn Ann McLerie
Kate Friedlich
Bobbi Bennington
Anita Alvarez
Janet Collins
Maria Karnilova
Gwen Verdon
Helen Gallagher
Chita Rivera

MALE DANCERS:

Fred Astaire
Paul Haakon
Duke McHale
Charles Laskey
James Mitchell
The Nicholas Brothers
Tommy Rall
William Weslow
Harold Lang


Miriam

Updated On: 5/1/05 at 12:19 PM

[Phantom2]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 12:20pm

This is a great thread!!

[riv]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 12:23pm

What about Gene Kelly?

Posted: 5/1/05 at 12:28pm

Thank you, Miriam, for that.

The talent of those you identified, and so many other dancers, yourself included, are the backbone of the Broadway musical, past and present.

A Toast to the Dancers of Broadway!

Hat's off to Michael Kidd, too.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 12:29pm

Interestingly enough, I've really only heard of the last 4 women listed......

Was Maria Karnilova really that great of a dancer? All I think when I hear her name are the roles in Fidder and Zorba......Then, when I got the original Gypsy Recording, I saw she was Tessie and I thought that was interesting, but I guess she can dance!!!!!!

Also, Wasn't Anne Reinking supposed to be one of the best dancers ever on broadway?????? Updated On: 5/1/05 at 12:29 PM

[starlight2]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 12:36pm

Thank you onceadancer2, you have brought new life, excitement and knowledge to this board! Sounds like you were really "in the trenches". Thank you for sharing!

[LittleFish8386]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 12:39pm

Tommy Tune
Gene Kelly
Bob Fosse
Karen Ziemba



to name a few

[bobbysworld]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 12:42pm

Elizabeth Parkinson---she rocked my world in Movin' Out

[maybethistime]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 12:51pm

Ann Miller

[apdarcey]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 12:53pm

definitely parkinson should be there bobby. i would put ann reinking on the list too.

Posted: 5/1/05 at 12:54pm

Michael Bennett

The dancers of the origninal Public Theater and Broadway production of A CHORUS LINE.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 1:00pm

Michael Berresse

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 1:02pm

Maria Karnilova was a ballet star BEFORE she ever appreared on Broadway.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 1:02pm

I know a lot of people on this board have not seen him in action yet, but I believe Noah Racey should be on this list.

[apdarcey]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 1:05pm

rath, i was thinking that, but thought maybe he's too young to be included on this list.

Posted: 5/1/05 at 1:08pm

Gregory Hines.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 1:11pm

At some point, Noah Racey will definitely be on that list. He's so great, but probably needs more exposure.

What's he up to, anyway?

Updated On: 5/1/05 at 01:11 PM

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 1:43pm

Miriam,

Thank you so much for the list. I've always heard that Adele Astaire was far more talented than her brother Fred, to the point that when she married and retired from show business, many thought that Fred would never be heard from again.

Do you agree that Adele was more talented than Fred?

[starlight2]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 1:44pm

I soooo agree with Ann Miller! Also, who was the woman in White Christmas that was such an incredible dancer with DAnny Kaye?

[onceadancer2]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 2:03pm

Thanks for the many replies.

I was of two minds regarding Gene Kelly. Overall, he was not a very good technician and his dancing, at least when I knew him, lacked polish. It was more rough and raw. I would say it lacked a certain balance and proportion. I know that there are those of you who don't agree with me, but I'm going to hold fast to my belief: a good dance hoofer, but really not more.

Margo, Adele Astaire, at least as I can remember her, was really the spitfire and the pulse of the team. She carried the comedy and she was the main object when the Astaires danced together. To put it bluntly, when she stepped on the stage, your eyes were pulled in her direction. Astaire, at least in his films, developed a personality and a dance persona all his own. While he was always a witty and personable dancer on stage, I believe he came into his own once he had to establish a rationale and belief in his own dancing that was not impacted by anyone else. And as he gained confidence, he became bolder and more charismatic. Perhaps that is why his other female partners were usually in his shadow. Being on his own forced him to become his one and only!

Miriam

Updated On: 5/1/05 at 02:03 PM

Posted: 5/1/05 at 2:06pm

Miriam - thank you, as always, for your perspective.

These threads are the reason it's worthwhile to sift through the chaff.

[kikki327]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 3:25pm

the greatest dancers on Broadway now are:
Elizabeth Parkinson
John Selya
Desmond Richardson
Ashley Tuttle
Nancy Lemenager
Benjamin G. Bowman
Ted Banfalvi
and the entire cast of Movin' Out

[ashley0139]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 4:40pm

My first thought was Michael Bennett, but someone already mentioned that so I have nothing more to add. It's very interesting though.

[mint0621]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 4:52pm

Rasta Thomas! What an amazing dancer...

I also second Ashley Tuttle, although she's more of a ballet dancer than a Broadway dancer, but she's currently on Broadway so I guess that counts?

[Cyndy]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 5:07pm

I'm not a dancer so can't talk as to technique, but of today's Broadway dancers Andy Pellick (currently in La Cage)just amazes me.