Dancing in Jeans

As most of you know, I'm a former actress, and I earned a BFA in Musical Theater from the wonderful Syracuse University.  So with that in mind, it probably comes as no surprise that I'm also an enormous fan of movie musicals from the 1940's and 50's.  I LOVE cinema classics like "High Society," "On the Town," "White Christmas," "State Fair," "Meet Me in St. Louis," and my all-time favorite, "Singin' in the Rain!"


I love EVERYTHING about "Singin' in the Rain," particularly the title song, performed with masterful perfection by the brilliantly talented Gene Kelly.  Gene is my favorite performer, from that era or any other.


Gene had an athletic style of dance that he blended perfectly with his ballet and tap training.  The resulting performances were original, creative, and never successfully topped by any other, in my opinion.  He came along when amazing dancers like Fred Astaire were popular.  Gene had an enormous amount of respect for Fred's classy style, and said once about his idol: 


"I...envy his cool aristocratic style, so intimate and contained.  Fred wears top hat and tails to the manor born -- I put them on and look like a truck driver!"


Gene was determined to prove to the world that male dancing need not be effeminate, but rather athletic and female "swoon-worthy."  He didn't think it should be performed solely in Fred's tuxedos, either (particularly because he was convinced he looked terrible in them!).  He wanted to portray "every man" characters, saying, "I didn't want to move or act like a rich man.  I wanted to dance in a pair of jeans.  I wanted to dance like the man in the streets."  

I guess everyone's viewed the famous lamp post swinging, umbrella twirling title number from  "Singin' in the Rain."  I think this number is so brilliant not only because of Gene's superb execution of his own choreography, but also for the wonderful mood he creates.  Have you ever fallen so deeply in love that it made you grin like an idiot, and the only thing to do was run outside and dance in the rain?  THAT'S what Gene captures for us in this piece!


But, if you'll indulge me, I'd like to offer this less popular number from "It's Always Fair Weather,"  made four years after "Singin's" success.  Gene was always looking for new, creative ways to present dance numbers onscreen.  Throughout his long career, he danced with newspapers, squeaky floors, sawdust, chairs, mops, an animated mouse, and garbage can lids!  This one, however, he choreographed for ROLLER SKATES!!  Notice how they're not the modern boot skates of today, either, but those old metal strap-ons that kids wore in the 50's!  Watch how effortlessly he glides, stops PERFECTLY on his mark, then begins to TAP, for crying out loud!!


I think it's just awe-inspiring, and I'd love to share it with you on this lovely Tuesday morning! It's over four minutes long, and I obviously think it's all terrific, but if you're pressed for time, the really amazing stuff starts to happen around 2:15 in!  Enjoy!  And please let me know what you think!  (Please ignore the French subtitles!  This was the only version I could successfully download!)


Thanks for Reading!!  (And watching!!)