Dance legend video inspiration: Happy Birthday fantastic Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire in his 1941 movie ‘You’ll Never Get Rich’.
Gene Kelly once said that the “the history of dance on film begins with Astaire“.
Considering that he was named the fifth Greatest Male Star of All Time by the American Film Institute, and was recognised for his importance and influence by such dancing greats as Rudolf Nureyev, Michael Jackson, George Balanchine and Mikhail Baryshnikov, here’s our humble hat tip and curtsey to the legend that is Mr Fred Astaire – born on this day, 10 May, back in 1899.
And in case you didn’t realise just how brilliantly smooth and masterful Fred Astaire really was, watch him in action with Rita Hayworth in this toe-tapping video. It’s a clip from their second movie together, “You Were Never Lovelier” from 1942.
Just for a fun twist, the music in this video is a remixed version of “Bossa Nova Baby” by Elvis Presley.
Ready for more are you?
Well here’s a classic favourite song and dance called “I’m Old Fashioned” from the same movie, again with the lovely Rita Hayworth. In fact, this particular song and dance sequence (stay with it, the dancing heats up as the song progresses) actually formed the central piece to Jerome Robbins’s New York City Ballet tribute to Astaire in 1983. Enjoy!
Category: Performance
