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The subtitle of this page, Making Love On the Dance Floor, maybe deserves a bit of explanation. It is said that a movie reviewer once commented on one of Fred Astaire's movies, "OK, dancing is a euphemism for sex. What else is there to say about this movie?" When Fred was asked why he and Ginger almost never kissed on the screen, he said, "I make love with my feet." It's true, Fred's dancing is pure courtship, and there is a lesson there for all of us.
When we first learn a new figure, a new amalgamation, a new dance, it is natural to focus on the steps and the technique, but if we want to feel good and look good, we have to go beyond technical accuracy and create an evocative human relationship with our partner. Without a relationship, the dance is just steps, just exercise, just earnest, unsmiling locomotion. But if the dance contains emotion and communication, then we have something more.
Fred shows us good dance position and clear dance steps, but he also shows that he really enjoys his partner and the entire dance. We can do this too. We can work to get the steps right, but we can also think about developing emotional responses that are complementary to the music and to the dance. We can think about communicating those emotions. We can create a relationship with our partner. We can at least smile.
First, let's look at the ten films he made with Ginger Rogers. He danced with many other partners, but Ginger was the most fun, by far.
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Flying Down To Rio, 1933
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(click on any thumbnail for a larger view)
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| The Gay Divorcee, 1934 |
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| Roberta, 1935 |
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| Top Hat, 1935 |
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| Follow the Fleet, 1936 |
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| Swing Time, 1936 |
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| Shall We Dance, 1937 |
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| Carefree, 1938 |
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| The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle, 1939 |
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| The Barkleys of Broadway, 1949 |
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| Fred and Ginger before there was Fred & Ginger
Fred Astaire's dancing career began with his sister, Adele, in vaudville and on Broadway.
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| Dancing Lady, 1933
Fred's first movie was also with "another woman," Joan Crawford.
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| A Damsel in Distress, 1937
With Joan Fontaine
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| Broadway Melody of 1940
With Eleanor Powell
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| Second Chorus, 1941
With Paulette Goddard
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| You'l Never Get Rich, 1941
With Rita Hayworth
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| Holiday Inn, 1942
With Virginia Dale
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| You Were Never Lovelier, 1942
With Rita Hayworth again
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| The Sky's the Limit, 1943
With Joan Leslie
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| Yolanda and the Thief, 1945
With Lucille Bremer
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| Ziegfeld Follies, 1946
With Cyd Charisse
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| Blue Skies, 1946
With Joan Caulfield
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| Easter Parade, 1948
With Judy Garland
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| Three Little Words, 1950
With Vera-Ellen
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| Let's Dance, 1950
With Betty Hutton
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| Royal Wedding, 1951
With Jane Powell
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| The Belle of New York, 1952
With Vera-Ellen again
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| The Band Wagon, 1953
With Cyd Charisse again
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| Daddy Long Legs, 1955
With Leslie Caron
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| Funny Face, 1957
With Audrey Hepburn
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| Silk Stockings, 1957
With Cyd Charisse a third time
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| Toward the end of his career, Fred began to dance on TV, often with Barrie Chase. In the movies, he took more dramatic roles — 1958–1981. |
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| Sources |
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- Search for other books or videos on dance steps, styling, or Astaire:
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If you would like to read other articles on dance position, technique, styling, and specific dance rhythms, you may visit the article TOC.
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Go beyond this manual. Good instructional books and videos, both new and used, are available at low prices at Amazon. Find other references on our Sources and Links pages.
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