Fred Astaire - Musical Tap Dance in the 20th Century
Musical Tap Dance in the 20th Century
By: Kiley Vanasdal
Fred Astaire growing up
    Fred Astaire was born on May 10, 1899 in Omaha Nebraska and died in Los Angeles California on June 22, 1987(“Fred Astaire”). Fred Astaire’s real name is Frederick Austerlitz (“Fred Astaire”). Fred Astaire was an American dancer that starred in motion pictures and also danced on stage for people (“Fred Astaire”). Fred Astaire is most commonly known for his musical comedy films that he was in with Ginger Rodgers (“Fred Astaire”). “He is regarded by many as the greatest popular-music dancers of all time” (“Fred Astaire).  Fred Astaire was born into well off financially family (“Fred Astaire”). Fred Astaire first started studying dancing when he was the age of four (“Fred Astaire”). In 1906, his sister and him performed an act together, which became popular as a vaudeville attraction (“Fred Astaire”). Their first performance was in Keyport, New Jersey when Fred was the age of 6 and a half years old (“Fred Astaire Biography”).”Fred and Adele (his sister) grew up dancing together in vaudeville, and were bonafide stars while still in their teens and twenties, with smash hits on the New York and London Stages” (“Fred Astaire Biography”). In 1915, Fred Astaire and his sister was in Mary Pickford’s film Fanchon the Cricket (“Fred Astaire”). In 1917, Fred Astaire and his sister made their debut on Broadway’s Over the Top (“Fred Astaire”). Fred Astaire and his sister performed on stage in 1922 For Goodness Sake, in 1927 Funny Face, and in 1931 The Band Wagon; all of these performances made Fred and his sister famous at the international level (“Fred Astaire”). The picture to the left is of Fred Astaire from Fred Astaire Pictures. Web. 6 Apr 2011. <http://fredastairepictures.com/>.
Fred Astaire
    In 1933, Fred Astaire was in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s Dancing Lady and was considered a featured dancer in this production with the Three Stooges, Joan Crawford, and Clark Gable ("Fred Astaire"). In 1933, Fred was in Flying Down to Rio, which was produced by RKO Radio Production with Ginger Rodgers (“Fred Astaire”). “They were a sensation, stealing the picture from stars Delores del Rio and Gene Raymond, and public demand compelled RKO to feature the pair in classic series of starring vehicles throughout the 1930 with The Gay Divorce (1934), Top Hat Swing Time (1936) often cited as the best a lot” (“Fred Astaire”).  Ginger Rodger’s class and earthiness and Fred’s elegance were said that together made Fred have sex appeal (“Fred Astaire”). “Their dance routines, often in the midst of sumptuous Art Deco settings, were intricate tap or graceful ballroom numbers that served as sophisticated statements of romantic love” (“Fred Astaire”). The picture to the left is of Fred Astaire with Ginger Rodgers from Fred Astaire Pictures. Web. 6 Apr 2011. <http://fredastairepictures.com/>.
Fred Astaire's dance style and films
     Fred Astaire’s dance style that made him popular was his “relaxed, light, effortless, and largely improvised” (“Fred Astaire”). Fred Astaire was a very hardworking dance performer, who would practice his dance routines for as many hours as needed to perfect them, because he was a perfectionist (“Fred Astaire”). “Working in collaboration with legendary choreographer Hermes Pan for his films with Rodgers, Astaire eschewed the then-popular Busby Berkley approach to filmed musicals and its emphasis on special effects, surreal settings, and chorus girls in ever-changing kaleidoscope patterns” (“Fred Astaire”). Fred Astaire also performed with other partners, which include Eleanor Powell, Lucille Bremer, and Rita Hayworth in 1939 after his last film of RKO Astaire-Rodgers film (“Fred Astaire”). “He retired temporarily in 1946 but returned to the screen in 1948 and appeared in a series if Technicolor musicals for MGM that, next to his films with Rodgers, constitute his most highly regarded body of work” (“Fred Astaire”).  In 1948 Easter Parade, 1949 The Barkleys of Broadway (empty shoes dance), 1951 Royal Wedding (ceiling dance and use of a hat rack), and 1952 “The Belle of New York (dance on air) were the films that made Astaire the most famous because of his dance routines that he performed in them (“Fred Astaire”). “The best of Astaire’s films during this period was The Band Wagon (1953), often cited as one of the greatest of film musicals; it featured Astaire’s memorable duet with Cyd Charisse to the song “Dancing in the Dark” (“Fred Astaire”). Fred Astaire’s last musical for MGM was in 1957 Silk Stockings (“Fred Astaire”). “He continued to dance with new partner Barrie Chase for several Emmy Award-winning television specials throughout the 1950’s and ‘60s; and he danced again on-screen in Finian’s Rainbow (1968) and for a few steps with Gene Kelly in That’s Entertainment, Part II (1976)” (“Fred Astaire”). Fred Astaire contributes to that art of dance and is commonly known for his American vocal style (“Fred Astaire”). “Astaire received much praise from jazz critics for his innate sense of swing and his conversational way with a song” (“Fred Astaire”). The picture on the left is of Fred Astaire with Cyd Charrise from Fred Astaire Pictures. Web. 6 Apr 2011. <http://fredastairepictures.com/>.
    The video below shows Fred Astaire performing his ceiling dance in the Royal Wedding (showing his dance style) this video below was from "Fred Astaire-Royal Wedding-Famous Ceiling Dance." Web. 6 Apr 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8n7WQIXQDs>.
Fred Astaire's more films and awards
  “Astiare’s most notable dramatic roles were in On the Beach (1959); The Pleasure of His Company (1962); The Towering Inferno (1974), for which he received an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor; and Ghost Story (1981), his final film” (“Fred Astaire”). Fred Astaire contributed to the film in 1950, so he was awarded and honorary Academy Award (“Fred Astaire”). “He received a Life Achievement Award from the American Film Institute in 1981” (“Fred Astaire”). Fred Astaire stated in 1959 in Steps in Time (his autobiography), “I have no desire to prove anything by it. I just dance” (“Fred Astaire”).  “Fred Astaire brought to the screen a completely unique persona; his style, his innate grace, his singing voice, and of course, the dancing are all inimitable” (“Fred Astaire Biography”). “The charm, the elegance, the true class of the man still shine today” (“Fred Astaire Biography”).
Why I chose to write about Fred Astaire's dance style and achievements and how Fred Astaire's dance style affects me when I think about his dance style or watch him dance
      I chose Fred Astaire’s dance style because it intrigues me. The way he looks like he is floating across the room when he dances amazes me. I also choose to write about Fred Astaire and his dance style because it also intrigues me about his elegance of his movements when he dances. I chose to write about Fred Astaire and his musical tap dance style compared to Bill “Bojangles” Robinson and Gene Kelly because his elegant dance style interested me more than the other two's dance styles of musical tap.
      Fred Astaire’s dance style affects me when I think about it or watch him dance by making me want to get up and dance with him. I feel this way because he is so elegant when he dances and I want to be that graceful when I dance. When I watch Fred Astaire dance it makes me feel entertained and want to keep watching him dance. Also when I watch Fred Astaire dance, it makes me want to be in the 20th century dancing with him.
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