Andrew Choreographer

What an amazing man and artist. Sam Neill RIP.

Hello Everyone. Have a beautiful week. Happy Birthday Fred Kelly.

What do you think of the dance number?

Fred Kelly and Gene Kelly in, Deep in My Heart, 1954, performing, "I Love to Go Swimmin' with Wimmen."

Fred Kelly talks about his artistic collaboration with his brother Gene in the movie Deep in My Heart, 1954.

“Gene’s ideas included all I had jotted down, our minds were completely in synch.”

Film Choreographer: Eugene Loring.

Born: Fred Norbert Kelly, June 29th 1916. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. – Died: March 15th 2000. Tucson, Arizona, USA, Aged 83.

It is not often that you get to watch two extraordinary talented dancers performing together on the same production, even less opportunity to see Brothers of the same caliber perform. Fred Kelly’s contribution to the world of dance should never go unrecognized. In fact Fred Kelly is an Artist in his own right.

I would like to acknowledge my great appreciation to Michael Kelly the son of Fred, including the Kelly Family for their time and kindness towards me.

Mr. Kelly is a respected choreographer and dancer in his own right. He was also a Director of TV shows and a Dance Teacher/Educator.

As the youngest of five Kelly children Fred took up dance lessons at the age of 4. By the following year, with his siblings, Joan, James, Gene and Louise, they formed a Vaudeville act called Five Dancing Kellys.
In fact the Five Dancing Kellys stepped in for Vaudeville act, Seven Little Foys, who had missed their Pittsburgh performance at the Nixon Theatre.

Fred explained the “Five Dancing Kellys” signature routine.

''I remember the orchestra cracked up, laughing even at rehearsals. 'My big sister had the K, my brother James had the E, Gene had the L, my other sister had the other L and then I came in with the Y whenever I felt like it. It wasn't at all with the music; I just took a big breath and yelled Y.''

By age 7, Fred was performing on Showboats earning up to $50 a month. As he grew older, he would travel along the Ohio River and the Mississippi River to New Orleans performing on the Showboats.

During the 1920’s Five Dancing Kellys would work regularly, or even just Fred and Gene along with their Sister Louise performing a dance/comedy act.

In 1928, Mrs. Harriet Kelly took over a Pittsburgh dance school (Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood). It was here Fred would teach students ballroom and tap dancing, with dance lessons costing about 50 cents for a 20 minute lesson. Gene and Louise also taught at the dance school.

Whilst Mrs. Kelly taught Gene ballet, it was Fred who taught his Brother Gene to tap dance, so Gene could make extra cash and teach others to dance.

In 1932 Fred and Gene made two short films, “The Kelly Brothers” and “The Cap and Gown Revue.”

When Gene was not available to go on with his Broadway show, The Time of Your Life, 1939, it was on Gene’s suggestion that Fred step in for him. Gene stated:

"Naturally, there were certain divergences of style, but basically the steps were the same and Fred picked them up without any trouble. After all, he'd been a pro since he was five."

However, Fred’s role in the show had his dance scenes expanded from 6 to 11. Gene went on to star in the Broadway show, Pal Joey, 1940. Fred went on to win three Donaldson Awards (the precursor to the Tony Awards) and also went on to perform with the national tour.

Whilst serving in the U.S.A Army during WW2. Fred was recruited by Irving Berlin to entertain the troops in Europe, Middle East, The Far East and the Pacific in the production, “This Is the Army.” The stage play “This Is the Army” eventually became a movie that raised millions of dollars for the war effort. Fred staged and choreographed the “Mandy” number.

Whilst touring with the show in England, General Dwight D. Eisenhower recommended to the Royal Family, that Fred provided Ballroom and Tap Dancing lessons to both Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret.

Fred Kelly relates a story about this.

"In the 1950s, my brother Gene was at the palace for a command screening of 'An American in Paris.' Gene's going through the reception line and Queen Elizabeth comes running up to him and says, 'Oh, Mr. Kelly, is it true you're the brother of Fred Kelly?' "

Post Military Service, Fred would appear in the 1942 Broadway version of “This Is the Army,” with the show going on a National Tour.

For three years Mr. Kelly was the Choreographer for The Ice Capades.

Mr. Kelly was also a choreographer for nightclub acts at the Latin Quarter Club, New York City. It was during this time Mr. Kelly choreographed a show at another Nightclub. He was credited with creating a new dance by moving sideways and chanting “Cha Cha Cha.” Although at the time it was reported that Bandleader Not Tito Puente and Frederico Calais introduced the Cha-Cha to New York City at the Havana Madrid Club (51st at Broadway, New York City), on August 2nd, 1948. However it was acknowledged that it was indeed Fred who created the dance but had used a pseudo name Frederico Calais. Mr. Kelly was even credited with bringing the Mambo to a America.

Fred Kelly married Dorothy Greenwalt and they had three children.

Where there were no shows to work on, you would see Mr. Kelly at his dance school, Fred Kelly Dance Studio in Oradell, New Jersey, the dance school grew to approximately 300 students including one being John Travolta.

Mr. Kelly sold his dance studio in 1983, retired and moved with his wife to Tucson Arizona.

Fred Kelly passed away age 83 years.

Along with the hard work by Michael Kelly in lobbying The City of Pittsburgh. The City Pittsburgh acknowledged Fred Kelly for his contribution to the Arts and the City, on what would have been Mr. Kelly’s Centennial Birthday. There is now a proclamation for the City to celebrate the Fred Kelly Day on the 29th of June.

Did You Know?

Fred and Gene collaborated on three movies, Thousand Cheers, 1943 – Cover Girl 1944 and Deep in My Heart, 1954.

Deep in My Heart, 1954, is the only on screen film appearance that Fred and Gene Kelly danced together.

Fred Kelly created/is credited with introducing what we now call “Cue Cards.”

CBS hired Fred to be a Director for their new Show “Casey Crime Photographer.” Prior to Episode One being aired Live. Fred had to stand in for the main actor at the last minute in the main role. Whilst Mr. Kelly knew the blocking he was not familiar with dialogue, Fred had his script put on to Art Cards. And as they say, “The Show Must Go On.”

Fred taught dance and sociology at Princeton, Pace University, New York - Kings College at Cambridge.

Deep in My Heart, 1954 is an MGM biographical musical film on the life of operetta composer, Sigmund Romberg.

Choreography:

In 1959/1960, Mr. Kelly choreographed one of the largest shows in Rio de Janeiro at Copacabana, called “Night and Day. “

Other acts Mr. Kelly provided Artistic services to include, The Four Lads, The Four Aces.

Late 1950’s Mr. Kelly worked as a choreographer in Canada for the CBC show, “Showtime,” which is the show that Robert Goulet got his start.

Broadway:

Mr. Kelly has 4 Broadway credits for Choreographer and Performer.

The Time Of Your Life, 1940. – This Is The Army, 1942. – My Romance, 1948. – Follies, 1971.

Mr. Kelly won three Donaldson Awards (Tony Awards) in Acting, presented by Helen Hayes – Comedy, presented by Charlie Chaplin – Dance, presented by Antoinette Perry for his performance on the William Saroyan play “The Time of Tour Life.”

Movies/TV:

Post WW2 Mr. Kelly was one of the first Directors in the world of Television; he was hired by CBS and then NBC to be a Director for various TV Shows.

Mr. Kelly’s TV and Movies credits including Acting, This Is the Army, 1943 – Deep In My Heart, 1954. - CBS Show, Camera 3, 1974, “Time Step and other Times.”

He also has Choreography credits for, The Colgate Comedy Hour, 1950 – Cover Girl, 1944, (uncredited), Thousands Cheer, 1943, (uncredited).

Mr. Kelly was a Director on The Steve Allen Show, 1951 (TV Series). - Casey Crime Photographer, 1951. - The Colgate Comedy Hour. - Julia Child’s first cooking series on NBC. - Pinky Lee TV Show.

Awards:

Via - Dance Council of North Texas – They promote Scholarships, such as the, Gene, Louise & Fred Kelly Tap Scholarship.

Hello Everyone. Have a beautiful weekend.

Happy Birthday Sonia Arova.

What do you think of the performance?

Erik Bruhn and Sonia Arova. Coppélia. (Bell Telephone Hour, 19th November 1963).

Choreography: Erik Bruhn.

Original Choreography: Arthur Saint-Léon.

Sonia Arova (Sonia Errio).

(Prima Ballerina, Artistic Director).

Born: 20th June 1927, Sofia, Bulgaria. – Died: 4th February 2001, San Diego, California, USA. Age 73.

Erik Bruhn talks about meeting Miss Arova in 1947 at Metropolitan Ballet.

“When I had my first vision of Sonia Arova as a dancer, I thought she was fantastic. I had never seen a dancer move so beautifully. She was not exactly pretty, but the generosity and amplitude of her dancing made me fall in love with her instantly. I remember the company traveling by bus one day to some city or other and I was the last person to get on. There was no room for me to si. For some reason I found myself sitting on Sonia Arova’s lap and of course that was quite embarrassing, so I suggested that she sit on my lap, which she did for the next six hours! Well, on that day my love for her was sealed.”

Miss Arova talks about the artistic journey with Mr. Bruhn.

“He was just a natural dancer. And to be partnered with him was absolutely marvelous. We had a spontaneous rapport. We didn’t need to tell each other anything. What happened between us on stage was completely natural – we had a total understanding.”

Did You Know?

At the age of fifteen, Miss Arova made her debut with the International Ballet in 1942.

Miss Arova was a Ballerina/Guest Artist with the Original Ballet Russe, London Festival Ballet (English National Ballet), Royal Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, including being the Artistic Director of the National Ballet of Norway.

Miss Arova danced with Rudolph Nureyev (New York debut) in Don Quixote, Pas de Deux with Chicago Opera Ballet, March 10th 1962, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

Hello Everyone, Have a beautiful day. Happy Belated Birthday John Brascia.

What do you think of the dance number?

John Brascia, Danny Kaye, Vera Ellen. White Christmas, 1954. Choreography.

Choreographer: Robert Alton.

Assistant Choreographer: Joan Bayley.

Born: May 11th 1932. Fresno, California, USA. – Died: February 19th 2013. Santa Monica, California. Aged 80.

Christina Brascia McNown said of her dad and Miss Allen’s bond.

“There was no one he liked dancing with more than Vera because nobody loved to dance more than her. It was her passion and love of dance that was thrilling and contagious.”

Did You Know?

Mr. Brascia made his Broadway debut in 1953 in Havel Flagg and eventually won a Donaldson Award (10th Awards) for Best Male Dancer, and he also won The Outer Circle Award for Best Supporting Performance for his portrayal of Willie in Hazel Flagg.

Hello Everyone, Have a beautiful day. Happy Birthday Ann Miller.

What do you think of the dance number?

Ann Miller in Small Town Girl, 1953, performing My Gaucho.

Choreographer: Busby Berkeley.

Assistant Choreographer: Alex Romero.

Ann Miller.

Born: Johnnie Lucille Collier. April 12th 1923, Houston, Texas, USA - Died: January 22nd 2004, Los Angeles, California, USA. Aged 80.

Miss Miller’s dance lessons started at about age 5 years, by the age of 9, she was helping support her family from dancing. Eventually Miss Miller in 1936 (age 13 years) was working as a showgirl at the nightclub Bal Tabarin (now known as Bimbo's 365 Club).

Whilst Miss Miller was on stage performing one evening at the Bal Tabarin nightclub, in the audience was Lucille Ball and RKO Talent Scout – Comic, Benny Rubin.

Miss Miller was reliable told at a later time, Lucille Ball had said to Benny Rubin.

“That girl is a marvelous dancer, and you ought to get her a screen test. She could give Eleanor Powell a run for her money.”

Subsequently after the screen test, Miss Miller was offered a 7 year contract with RKO Pictures.

Although Miss Miller already had 3 small uncredited roles in movies, one being at RKO Pictures, Anne of Green Gables, 1934. Her first screen credit would not come until 1937 movie, New Faces of 1937, starring Milton Berle. This movie was to be the first of a series of movies, where new talent (or performers from stage/radio) would be introduced to movie goers. Miss Miller went on to make five more movies, one of those films was Stage Door, 1937, where Miss Miller played Ginger Rogers dance partner.

Then, Miss Miller was loaned out to Columbia Pictures for the film, You Can't Take It with You, 1938, this movie went on to be Nominated for 7 Academy Awards, Winning 2 Awards, one of those award wins was for Best Picture.

By now Miss Miller was earning $200 per week and after two more movies with RKO Pictures, she was released from her contract.

Miss Miller headed to Broadway, and picked up a role in George White's Scandals of 1939. Broadway Producer/Director George Abbott took an interest in Miss Miller’s exceptional talent, and when RKO had hired him to direct the film version of the Rodgers and Hart hit Too Many Girls (1940), he brought Miss Miller with him to Hollywood, including her wage set at $3000 per week. Mr. Abbott had also produced the Broadway show of Too Many Girls, 1939 – 1940.

After the movie production wrapped up, Mr. Abbott offered Miss Miller further work on Broadway, but instead she chose to stay and work in Hollywood.

In the preceding years Miss Miller kept busy with work in the industry, appearing in over 25 movies initially between/at RKO, Columbia Pictures and Republic Pictures. In 1948 Miss Miller was signed to MGM, appearing in her first MGM Musical, Easter Parade, 1948. Over the years at MGM, Miss Miller would appear in 13 movies, to name a few, On the Town, 1949 – Two Tickets to Broadway, 1951 – Lovely to Look At, 1952 – and Small Town Girl, 1953.

She would also go on to make regular appearances on TV shows, such as, The Ed Sullivan Show, have a night club act, going on tour in Stage Productions of Can-Can, Panama Hattie, and Hello Dolly and appear in Broadway Shows. Miss Miller’s last feature film was, Mulholland Drive, 2001.

Miss Miller went on to appear as Mame Dennis in the Tony Award Winning Broadway show, Mame (1966 – 1970), a role once originally played by Angela Lansbury. The show’s Choreographer, Onna White worked with Miss Miller to add a tap routine to the musical number (Act 2) That's How Young I Feel. At the 20th Tony Awards, Mame was nominated for 8 Awards, Winning 5 Awards.

Then in 1979 Miss Miller would appear opposite Mickey Rooney (his Broadway debut) in the musical tribute to Burlesque, Sugar Babies, the show appeared on Broadway for 3 years. Miss Miller and Mr. Rooney continued to appear together in the production of Sugar Babies on a National and International Tour for several years.

At the 34th Tony Awards, Sugar Babies was nominated for 8 Awards, with no Award wins. Miss Miller did receive her first and only Tony Nomination from the show in the category Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical.

She also received at the 1988 Laurence Olivier Awards a Nomination for Sugar Babies (Savoy Theatre) in the category, Outstanding Performance of the Year by an Actress in a Musical.

Ann Miller has the last word.

“I made it with my lucky legs, my mother and a lot of backbreaking hard work.”

Did You Know?

Miss Miller was a 2004 Inductee into the International Tap Dance Hall of Fame.

You can see Miss Miller’s tap shoes “Joe” and “Moe” on display at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC.

Hello Everyone, Have a beautiful day. Happy Birthday Debbie Reynolds.

What do you think of the dance number?

Debbie Reynolds in, The Gazebo 1959, performing, “Something Called Love."

Choreographer: Alex Romero (Uncredited)

Debbie Reynolds.

Mary Frances Reynolds.

Born: April 1st 1932. El Paso, Texas, USA. – Died: December 28th 2016. Los Angeles, California, USA. Age 84.

Miss Reynolds brought so much joy through her artistry/various roles over a long and distinguish career to many people around the world. Miss Reynolds always the elegant lady, from Mother to Film Star and Entertainer. She knew how to be an artist with dignity.

In 1948, age 16, Miss Reynolds was crowned Miss Burbank, California. At the time, Talent Scouts were in the audience, which eventually lead to a contract with Warner Brothers and her first film appearance in “June Bride” 1948. Miss Reynolds would only make two films (The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady, 1950) at Warner Brothers.

Warner Brothers Talent Executive, Mr. William Orr is credited for changing Miss Reynolds first name to Debbie.

From Warner Brothers, she moved to MGM, her first film for the studio was in, “Three Little Words” 1950. One of her most notable roles came in her third film starring opposite Gene Kelly in the classic, “Singin' in the Rain” 1952.

Miss Reynolds spoke about her time on the set of “Singin' in the Rain.”

"What Gene taught me was tremendous discipline and never give up and you're never good enough. He believed that I could do it, but I never danced before Singin' in the Rain, and I had to learn to dance. Months I was locked in a soundstage to get me -- never equal -- but up at least to cut the role."

Miss Reynolds summed up her life very eloquently regarding her Lifetime Achievement Award.

“Every moment adds up to a life, and that’s why I am here with you for an achievement award that they say I’ve earned. The Golden Era of Hollywood. Fortunately, that’s really my life. My life is golden.”

Did You Know?

Miss Reynolds was also great preserver of Hollywood/Golden Age of Hollywood memorabilia, her vast collection at one stage was about 5000 various items from Marilyn Monroe’s white halter dress from 1955’s “The Seven Year Itch”.

– In the collection of posters is the only surviving three-sheet for Singin' in the Rain. – "Cowardly Lion" costume from The Wizard of Oz. - Audrey Hepburn Ascot Dress from My Fair Lady.

In an interview, Miss Reynolds speaks about preserving Hollywood History.

"They literally threw away our history and I just got caught up in it. The stupidity and the lack of foresight to save our history. Oh yes, they gave them away if you came up and said that you have something you had to offer. It was no matter about the history."