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The art of the dance
The American Film Institute theater over in Maryland is having a Gene Kelly film festival. (AND a Dickens film festival!! How lucky am I!? The festivities are because it's their centennial and bicentennial, respectively.) Here's a picture of the display in the lobby:
I saw An American in Paris last week and Brigadoon today. Watching Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse dance, I remembered something Cyd once said -- that her husband always knew when she had been working with Gene, because she would come home bruised all over. He worked all his dancers -- himself included -- like slaves.
But my word, to watch those two dance, you'd never dream it -- they move together like it's the most natural, effortless thing in the world. Those lifts, ACK, THOSE LIFTS!! I'm not much for strenuous physical activity, but if I'd ever had a chance to dance with that man, I wouldn't care if every square inch of me was bruised. I'd happily be a slave for you, Gene Kelly.
. . . Wait, that didn't come out right. :-)~
ANYWAY. Have a pas de deux. (Ignore fake-looking Scotland in the background; they wanted to shoot on location, but the studio stuck them on the back lot instead, to save money. Still, the dancing's what matters!) I only wish you all could have seen it on the big screen with me.
I saw An American in Paris last week and Brigadoon today. Watching Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse dance, I remembered something Cyd once said -- that her husband always knew when she had been working with Gene, because she would come home bruised all over. He worked all his dancers -- himself included -- like slaves.
But my word, to watch those two dance, you'd never dream it -- they move together like it's the most natural, effortless thing in the world. Those lifts, ACK, THOSE LIFTS!! I'm not much for strenuous physical activity, but if I'd ever had a chance to dance with that man, I wouldn't care if every square inch of me was bruised. I'd happily be a slave for you, Gene Kelly.
. . . Wait, that didn't come out right. :-)~
ANYWAY. Have a pas de deux. (Ignore fake-looking Scotland in the background; they wanted to shoot on location, but the studio stuck them on the back lot instead, to save money. Still, the dancing's what matters!) I only wish you all could have seen it on the big screen with me.