BROADWAY'S GREATEST DANCERS- Page 2

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 6:27pm

While Bennett was certainly one of Broadway's greatest directors and choreographers, his career as a dancer was brief and undistinguished -- he never made it out of the chorus. He was in the ensemble of three flops -- SUBWAYS ARE FOR SLEEPING, HERE'S LOVE and BAJOUR. After that, still in his early 20s, he began his career as a choreographer and the rest is history.

While there are certain choreographers who also developed reputations as first-class dancers themselves -- Graham, Ailey, Robbins, Dunham, Jamison, Cole, Fosse, Champion et al -- Bennett's not one of them.

[catstagestud]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 9:14pm

Isn't Charlotte D'Amboise an extremely talented dancer? And at one point in his career Ben Vereen would've been on that list. What an interesting new thread. And like hardly any animosity which every other thread on here simply seems to thrive on.

[Glebb]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 9:25pm

I would add Yuriko (Kikuchi), Graham dancer and original Eliza in the stage and film versions of King and I.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 9:34pm

Robert Lambert, Tulsa in the Tyne Daly GYPSY (now a casting director) only appeared in one Broadway show but remains one of the most beautiful dancers I've seen to this day.

[BroadwayBaby]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 9:34pm

my fav broadway dancer hands down:

rachelle rak

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 9:41pm

I can't believe no one has mentioned Liza. What a travesty.
Updated On: 5/1/05 at 09:41 PM

[Glebb]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 9:44pm

LOL Elphaba3! :)
You made me chuckle.
Liza's dancing in LIZA WITH A Z is very good!

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 9:51pm

Definetely Ben Vereen!

[filmgirl325]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 10:37pm

Not only my favorite dancer, but my favorite actor...the late great Donald O'Connor.

[QtKt]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 11:07pm

Oh, most definately Donald O'Connor. Personal favorite of mine as well. "Make 'Em Laugh" was classic.
I would also say Gene Kelly and Bob Fosse.
You can't leave out Fosse.

[justme2]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 12:56am

I love to watch Astaire and Rogers in any movie, but it always annoyed me that people thought Fred made Ginger's career. That woman had a kick ass career going for years before Fred debuted in movies. She's one of the best Pre-code comedians and dancers of that era.

And I know this is an unpopular opinion, but Gene Kelly's dancing annoys me. It's way too easy to see his ego in all the dancing he does.

Posted: 5/2/05 at 12:59am

"Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did - only going backwards, and in heels."

[justme2]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 1:05am

I remember when that quote was making the rounds! And boy was I happy to see it! I had started watching 1930's dance movies way back when AMC used to show them (before Turner gobled up the rights to everything) in the middle of the night.

Ginger was a fantastic dancer. Fred was too, of course, but Ginger was the one I loved.

[dry2olives]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 1:34am

"Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did - only going backwards, and in heels."

But is that really the case? I watch their feet closely during their routines and it always seems like Astaire takes on the more intricate combinations. I'm not knocking her, but to me it really doesn't look like she's doing everything he does.

[justme2]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 1:40am

Naw....you're just watching Fred's feet instead of hers! (LOL).

Try watching her dance in other movies without Fred...she was just as good as he was.

[wildcat]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 4:19am

Miriam, what did you think of Valerie Bettis?

I'd add Sheila Bond
Gretchen Wyler
Muriel Bentley and Devra Korwin (two original Anita replacements in WEST SIDE STORY)
Elisabeth Seal
Matt Mattox
Carol Haney
Peter Gennaro
Buzz Miller

[Jwei123]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 6:34am

Reinking
D'amboise
Richardson
Hines

[dry2olives]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 9:30am

I'm surprised nobody's mentioned Ray Bolger.

[peach]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 10:16am

I think everyone on my list is pretty much covered already...that's what I get for joining the dance discussion late (darn).

PEACH'S PICKS (in no particular order)
Gwen Verdon
Chita Rivera
Anne Reinking
Charlotte D'Amboise
Leslie Caron

Ben Vereen
Bob Fosse
Gregory Hines
Gene Kelly (understand the earlier comments about technique - but his character and charisma are unbeatable. The combination of these with a pretty darn good technique makes for a fabulous dancer).

[onceadancer2]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 11:28am

Valerie Bettis - of course!

And Carol Haney and Buzz Miller

I forgot four ballet dancers who also graced the Broadway stage: Tamara Toumanova, Irina Baronova, Alexandra Danilova and Mary Ellen Moylan.

I found Ray Bolger to be more of a dancer eccentrique as they used to call them. Very little technique and not very good in placement. I would say that a lot of his choreographers had to paste the choreography around his limitations to make him look very good!

Miriam

[sabrelady]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 11:35am

Elenor Powell was one of the greatest technicians. She could do it all ballet ,tap, jazz but she always seemed a bit aloof. I remember her dancing w Astaire in a film and he might have not as well been there as far as she was concerned.Partnership is an undervalued ability!

[DancerGirl16]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 12:08pm

FOSSE!!!!

Posted: 5/2/05 at 12:20pm

Swen Swenson(Destry Rides Again, Wildcat, Little Me)

Excellent dancer. Just adding of course, my two favorites have been named. Chita and Gwen.
Updated On: 5/3/05 at 12:20 PM

[WISHIHADATONY]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 3:14pm

Thanks Miriam, always love your postings....hope life in Israel is being kind to you...The following would be Broadway's greatest dancers that I can recall. Sadly, most of the great chorus dancers names of the past are forgotten to me. But I do remember some...

Anyway:

Helen Gallagher
Chita Rivera
Gwen Verdon
Donna McKechknie
Tommy Rall
Bobby Van
Ann Reinking
Scott Wise
Ben Vereen
Liza Minnelli
Roger Minami
Obba Babbatunde
Ann Miller(fabulous in MAME and SUGAR BABIES)

[Gershwinfan]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 3:58pm

Joan McCracken. Watched her last night in "Good News," and all I could think of was, why doesn't this movie have her and Mel Torme in the leads, instead of June Allyson and Peter Lawford?

And we only have Joan dancing in one other feature film.