My life has been a blur of ballet training for years, dancing for hours, performing for minutes and living for seconds. But the ultimate feeling a dancer gets when he or she looks back on there memory of it all, the feeling of the most depth and fullness isn't that of happiness or unhappiness but rather prideful exhaustion. Giving something artistic to a world that needs it more everyday due to the gradual grayness and loss of hope the earth develops threw wars and famine, racism, sexism and other nonsense that has ruined or at least darkened the lives of so many; to dance on a stage that becomes it's own little world where nothing else matters but art and technique one has learned out of at least fifteen years of training. In ballet you move with your body but you dance with your soul.  

Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers are quite possibly considered the most famous dancing duo ever to hit the movie screen though many people even today know there names there actual story and what they gave to the public during times of depression is a much deeper and grander story...

Fred Astaire had been a Broadway success with his sister Adele Astaire from a very early age but eventually of course they grew up and Adele got married so he was on his own. Getting to Hollywood in the early 30s Fred was screen tested for MGM in hopes that he could bring his top hat and ties to the movie business but his review was very idiotic to say the least. "Can't act, can't sing, balding, can dance a little. who hires these people! anyways once he got a supporting part in the movie Flying down to Rio he was partnered with a very young Blondie beauty (Miss Rogers) who had been a striving actress since she was a teen and before had worked in the Ziegfeld Follies she had all the talent but like Fred hadn't yet risen to stardom and unknowingly they would get there together. There next film was Roberta in which they again played supporting roles but it was no use because with little effort they stole the show just as they had in Flying down to Rio, it was time to test there dancing magic and other talents in leading roles...

Top Hat was there first big musical movie and also considered there best film together, the dancing was shear entertainment, the songs were wonderfully unforgettable, the comedy was great, and all who doubted Fred's abilities were put to more then shame. the famous Fred n' Ginger made many more films together including Swing Time, Carefree, Shall we dance, Follow the fleet and the story of Vernon and Irene Castle. After nearly a decade of bringing smiles, laughs and simply hope to the public during much tension they went there separate ways, Ginger made many comedies and drama films and though not nearly enough people know this she won the Academy Award for best actress! Fred did many musicals with many other great entertainers as well and his dancing never failed to make a great movie.

Fred and Ginger may not have been married in real life (though they did date for a period of time) but there relationship in movies will not be forgotten, from both there memoirs they describe a great friendship between each other even after they separated; Ginger even recalled she was happiest making movies with Fred... and one could tell, for when they danced with one another there happiness and friendliness a thing to genuine to fake though the effort to make something artistically exhausting appear careless was an act they did well.

The story they lived can be told in many ways but the simplest way I can describe it is that...

They danced.

Rita Hayworth (1918-1987) was a Spanish girl who became a famous actress, singer, dancer and redhead! Rita Hayworth was one of few who danced with both Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire in films such as Cover girl, You were never lovelier and You'll never get rich.She was a kindhearted and beautiful girl who in movies could express such grace and elegance in any situation or make the camera foggy with the steam of her sensuality. Fred Astaire even admitted later in life that of all his partners Rita was his favorite and one could see why because she was both a knock out and a great beauty but most importantly loved performing for no other reason then the artistry of it and when she danced one can see the sheer joy within her.

Cyd Charisse ( March 8, 1922-June 17, 2008) was one of the greatest dancing queens of all time; with long muscular legs and beautifully arched feet, Cyd was a knock out who could move like a piece of silk swaying in the wind and turn with the energy of a twister. Cyd was one of the handful of girls who danced with both Astaire & Kelly but what separated her from all the rest? not in technique or beauty but the personality within her movement? She was known to have quite a sense of humor and sweetness in person, but on the screen her character was often dark and mysterious, dancing with sensuality and even at times devilishness towards her partners; this was quite different from the always gleeful girlishness of Rita Hayworth or the energetic delight of Ginger Rogers because Cyd appeared to be controling her partners rather then the other way around perhaps that had something to do with her dancing background; she had trained to be a ballerina from age 6, trying to gain back the strangth she had lost from fighting polio! can you imagine that, one of the top dancers ever having polio? Anyways she not only gained back her strangth but more, growing into an inspirational dancer and person. check out these cool quotes by Cyd on her life and the people she worked with! 

(on Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly) I can watch Astaire anytime. I don`t think he ever made a wrong move. He was a perfectionist. He would work on a few bars for hours until it was just the way he wanted it. Gene was the same way. They both wanted perfection, even though they were completely different personalities.

(on Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly) Fred could never do the lifts Gene did and never wanted to. I`d say they were the two greatest dancing personalities who were ever on the screen. Each has a distinctive style. Each is a joy to work with. But it`s like comparing apples and oranges. They`re both delicious.

(On explaining why she never tapped on-screen) I was pulled up as a ballet dancer and I wasn`t used to pounding the floor with bent knees.

The censors were always there when I was on the set. When I was held up. in a lift (in "Deep in My Heart") they were up on ladders to see if I was properly covered.

Fred moved like glass. Physically it was easy to dance with him. It was not as demanding on me. I didn`t need the same vitality and strength.

Fred moved like glass. Physically it was easy to dance with him. It was not as demanding on me. I didn`t need the same vitality and strength.

(on Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly) Fred could never do the lifts Gene did and never wanted to. I`d say they were the two greatest dancing personalities who were ever on the screen. Each has a distinctive style. Each is a joy to work with. But it`s like comparing apples and oranges. They`re both delicious.

The censors were always there when I was on the set. When I was held up. in a lift (in "Deep in My Heart") they were up on ladders to see if I was properly covered.

(On explaining why she never tapped on-screen) I was pulled up as a ballet dancer and I wasn`t used to pounding the floor with bent knees.

(on Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly) I can watch Astaire anytime. I don`t think he ever made a wrong move. He was a perfectionist. He would work on a few bars for hours until it was just the way he wanted it. Gene was the same way. They both wanted perfection, even though they were completely personalities!

My name is Emily and this is my first blog! I have a youtube channel mainly centered on dancing legends such as Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Rita Hayworth, Cyd Charrise and others. What I'd like to talk about today is what many dance students, Teachers, and acclaimed performers have at one point or another asked themselves, who is the stronger of the two magnificent artists; Gene Kelly or Fred Astaire. First off one of the handful of dancers who partnered with them both (Cyd Charisse) was quoted for saying "It's like comparing apples and oranges, there so different but both delicious! Now maybe that was a little nonspecific but true all the same they were different, the question I'd like to answer as simply as I can is why. I think one difference that defines the two is (of course) how they moved; Gene Kelly was more vertical and Astaire was more horizontal,  this sounds kind of silly but if you watch them dance in many great films such as "Top Hat" "Singin' in the rain" "The bandwagon" and my favorite "An American in Paris", when they use there strengths in the most important solos, Duets and general dancing Astaire had a magical way of moving along the stage while tapping remarkably fast. Gene could tap for sure but also used his strong body type to jump in a balletic fashion; the two can never be in the same category as one another but are grouped in a different way, they both brought entertainment to the public in hard times and depression, bringing a smile to our faces as they defied gravity, danced romantically with there partners, danced on a ceiling or in the rain!