Happy Birthday, Martha Graham

[filkertom]

On this date in 1894. If you haven't seen it yet, you really have to see today's Google logo.

What works of dance do you like best? I'm a sucker for the movies Singin' In The Rain and Tap, and I love watching Riverdance (although Michael Flatley leaves me cold). Dick Van Dyke can basically do no wrong, and it's a good thing that I don't actually have to choose between Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly, because I'm not sure I could. And here's a little Gregory Hines and Sammy Davis Jr. to make you just smile your ass off.

ETA: Yes, Virginia, there is a Google logo archive.

Comments

[onyxlynx]

The Google logo was so cool, I refreshed it thrice.

One doesn't often see videos in which someone's feet get kissed.

[filkertom]

Pretty much what I did. I've gotta find if they have an archive of all their cool logos. If they don't they should.

[janetmiles.livejournal.com]

White Nights. The duet with Baryshnikov and Hines. I have a book somewhere with a photo of them in mid-leap, and I swear to ghod the expressions on their faces make me think they're thinking:

Baryshnikov: Hm. My finger is 1/64th of an inch out of alignment.

Hines: What the hell am I doing up here?

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

You beat me to it.

But man oh man, does Hines ever have smooth and flowing down.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Here, ladies. Have the dance (http://youtu.be/haBZCrBHMm4).

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

*whew*

I'll be in my bunk....

[sveethot.livejournal.com]

Ai, que caliente!

[ericcoleman]

I've always preferred Gene to Fred, even though I really love Fred.

Gregory Hines solo at the end of Cotton Club is incredible.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5FuPxUtO6E (with the gunplay cut out, watch the movie, it's great)

The barn raising scene in Seven Brides For Seven Brothers is perfect.

And of course what Fred Astaire called the greatest dance number ever filmed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBb9hTyLjfM

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Roger that on those two clips. For that matter, Astaire doing "Drum Crazy (http://youtu.be/wTiEJqZMW7E)" in Easter Parade.

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen that movie and must sometime; that clip is *awesome*!

And you beat me to the 7 Brides for 7 Brothers.

I've always sorta preferred Fred to Gene but it's damned close.

And Baryshnikov, OMG. Best thing I ever won was tickets to his last concert in Kansas City; front row and then I got to meet him afterward. Yeah, it was awesome; he was utterly gracious.

Holy Crap. I'd never seen that with the Nicholas Brothers, thanks for posting it. And they really didn't seem that winded after that thing was done in one take. Wow.

[kshandra]

Holy Crap. I'd never seen that with the Nicholas Brothers, thanks for posting it. And they really didn't seem that winded after that thing was done in one take. Wow.

Takes a hell of a lot to render CAB FREAKIN' CALLOWAY into an afterthought, but they do it in that sequence.

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

You're absolutely right!

[rickvs.livejournal.com]

+1 on the Nicholas Brothers, but I saw more than one camera cut in there.

[admnaismith.livejournal.com]

Pilobolus. Definitely.

Honi Coles.

The number Tommy Tune and Michael Jeter did together in Grand Hotel.

[juglore.livejournal.com]

Not much of a dance fan but I really liked the dance between Gomez and Fester in The Adams Family.

[kshandra]

The Mamushka is fun...but Gomez and Morticia's tango in the second film is transcendent.

[shsilver.livejournal.com]

Dick Van Dyke can basically do no wrong

Burt's accent in Mary Poppins would beg to differ. Apparently in a recent production of The Sunshine in LA starring Dick and Jerry van Dyke, Jerry included a line about Burt's accent.

Love Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor dancing together in Singin' in the Rain since their styles are so different and the dances highlighted them both.

I'd consider Kelly is more of a hoofer and Astaire more of a classical dancers.

But I'll also have to make a call out for some of the women: Cyd Charisse and Vera-Ellen.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

I was talking dance, but I'll extend it to ever-damn-thing. I love his fake accent. :D And I love that he can take gentle abuse over it.

And I didn't mention...

...

...

... the one who isn't Vera-Ellen because I had the same reaction I always do to her: My brain seizes up and her unearthly perfection and mind-crippling hotness, and I hardly even have the wherewithall to process her stellar dancing skills. Her snaky dance in "Broadway Melody" from Singin' In The Rain is still one of the hottest things I've ever seen.

[shsilver.livejournal.com]

Another one is Ann Miller, who appeared in the Marx Brothers' Room Service and later a Campbell's Soup commercial for Stan Freberg.

[capt-video.livejournal.com]

That would be the gorgeous Cyd Charisse

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YWBOfsXsDA

It's those LEGS!!!!

[capt-video.livejournal.com]

Here she is with Astaire:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuJxYmJlEHY&feature=related

And with... Ricardo Montalban:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imxqup1_G9Q&feature=related

[starmalachite.livejournal.com]

I'm a frustrated classical ballerina. It may be just as well that I never convinced my parents to get me lessons, because it was clear from an early age that I was simply not going to be the required body type. So any form of ballet is fine with me.

(This also probably explains why I slightly prefer Kelly to Astaire; he's much more balletic.)

I especially geeked out over the Ovation network's Nutcracker danceoff last Christmastime -- they broadcast 5 versions from the traditional to the avant-garde-through-a-wormhole for viewers to vote on. They seem to do it each year, but that's the 1st time I watched.

BTW, I nearly saw Baryshnikov live once, but there was exactly *1* ticket left (standing room, of course) & I was with my husband... But I did get to see his frequent partner Natalia Markaova.

For modern dance, I 2nd the love for Pilobolus. Also: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

In film, ericcoleman beat me to posting that Mills Brothers clip. Besides what's been mentioned already, I love the dance scenes in "American in Paris" and "West Side Story" (so iconic that this commercial (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6CcxJQq1x8) referenced the opening number*with cats*) And "All That Jazz" is still astonishing.

[valarltd.livejournal.com]

I'm a dancer from a young age (tap and ballet as a child, square and ballroom through school, musical theater, folk and eastern dance as an adult)

I enjoy well choreographed ballrooms, but I like more modern stuff too.

Twyla was at her best for Hair http://youtu.be/EhbxI5eVnM4

And eastern dancers will always get me
http://youtu.be/qyXrfAZwqSQ

And folk dancing is more fun to do than watch (this is one of my faves, the Black Nag)
http://youtu.be/NeptyElGY38

[capt-video.livejournal.com]

I've always loved the 4th of July number in the massively under-rated "Holiday Inn":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlgAj_29Z7U

I can't find a clip, but the Nicholas Brothers preformed on the Oscars (I think)in the late '80s/early '90s, doing the same style of athletic tap routine as the "Stormy Weathers" clip above! They were in their 60's or 70's at the time!!!

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Found it (http://youtu.be/JvsSVub-yCw). Performing with Savion Glover. Tight, loving little community they've got there. Kinda reminds me o' somethin'.... :D

[redaxe.livejournal.com]

I love the numbers in the recent stage revival of Kiss Me, Kate. The nearly eleven-minute "It's Too Darn Hot" that opens Act II is particularly awesome.

Likewise, the recent version of Oklahoma (the one with Hugh Jackman). Pretty much every bit of movement in there is to die for.

"You Can Count On Me" from On the Town, and the Cuba and crapshoot sequences in Guys and Dolls. (Wiki notes the rumor that Disney, who owns the rights, wants to remake this with Hugh Jackman as Sky Masterson. If so, I'm there, opening weekend.)

Finally, this one, which (seen in That's Entertainment) as a child, taught me to appreciate the form:

Gene Kelly and Jerry Mouse-Anchors Aweigh from Kasio on Vimeo.

[capt-video.livejournal.com]

Oh, how could I have forgotten Marge and Gower Champion:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i32py5ZNV-s&feature=related

My Dad, who taught me to love old movies, says they are the finest dance team EVER!

[nightmarewriter.livejournal.com]

Whenever I want a smile, I go watch the tap dance from the period samurai slasher pic Zatoichi... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bT5_My6X3w4
I can never get over the tap *sandles*, and obvious fun they were having.

My favorite Gene Kelly dance was done on roller skates... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aus1PA5-SyI

My hubby prefers this one... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6prWV23jAw He does a passable D'artagnion, who dances as he fights.

I also like this free-form ballet to the internet meme-song Numa Numa. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSjQajzyAF4

And even Fred Ataire gave props to this one... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBb9hTyLjfM

[markbernstein.livejournal.com]

Of the two movies you mention, my favorite dance bit in Singin' In The Rain is Moses Supposes, and while I think Tap as a movie is a little cheesy, the challenge dance (which, dammit, I can no longer find on YouTube - was it deleted?) is one of my all time favorite scenes.

Going way back, I've gotten hooked on the videos I've found of Eleanor Powell, possibly the most overlooked of the all time greats. (She shows up about a minute in to this clip, and starts dancing half a minute later.)

Moving way forward, the finest tapper in the world today is almost certainly Savion Glover.

And if you love dance, check out "So You Think You Can Dance" - the season 8 premiere is May 26th, two weeks from tomorrow. Here's a clip from last season, featuring Twitch, who came in second in season 4, and Alex, who would have won last season if he hadn't been knocked out by injury. And here's Lauren and Kent, who finished first and second, respectively, last season.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

I would agree with you on "Moses Supposes" -- there's an amazing double hip-swivel Gene and Donald do that always makes me gasp in awe -- except for the existence of "Broadway Melody" and the dream-within-a-dream. And the title number. And "Gotta Dance". And... oh, heck with it, I'm gonna go watch the whole thing again. ;)

The Tap challenge doesn't seem to be on YouTube except for thirty-or-forty-second snippets, but I found it on a Russian site (http://rutube.ru/tracks/1621735.html?v=ef904238dfb5ae2a63b5784d11673ca3).

[markbernstein.livejournal.com]

I didn't say "Moses Supposes" was the best dance in SitR, just that it was my favorite. :)

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Oh, that. :D Definitely mine too, the one I go back to. And that hip move I mentioned is at 2:16 of the YouTube vid you linked to. Just... awesome.

[thistlethorn.livejournal.com]

That Google logo was such a delightful surprise when I stumbled upon it earlier today, Googling for who-knows-what (I'm gettin' old; I don't remember)! So clever, amnd beautifully rendered and articulated.

[sveethot.livejournal.com]

Back in my younger, slimmer, blonder days, my BFF & I went to see Gregory Hines at a tap dance revue in Denver. We were seated in the second row on the left side of the theater. Each dancer would come out of the left wing, dance across the stage, and exit. Gregory came out, made eye contact with me, lost his place in the dance, and had to kind of pull himself together. He completed his solo and then had other dances, both solo & w/the other dancers, but he never really danced anywhere else on the stage but on the left side, rarely breaking eye contact with me. My girlfriend, who had a crush on him, gave me the big stink eye later. By the time we left, I had a little crush on him, too.

I have never been paid a better compliment than having Gregory Hines lose his timing because of me. My self esteem has shot up just remembering it.

[danceswithlife]

All that Jazz got mentioned, but I bought The Little Prince on DVD so I could watch Fosse dance in it--I think that may be the last dance he filmed before his death.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Thanks for reminding me! I've got All That Jazz on the DVD rack. Hell of a film.