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!