Dance in Musicals
A Musicals 101 Study Guide
by John Kenrick
(Copyright 2004)
On
this postcard for the original Broadway production of Can Can (1954), Gwen
Verdon and other members of the original cast are seen performing some of Michael
Kidd's acclaimed dance numbers.
From The Black Crook (1866) and Broadway Melody (1928) to the latest hits, dance has played a central role in the history of stage and screen musicals. In response to the requests of many site visitors, we offer this introductory overview.
Stage Musicals
- Ancient Beginnings
- Minstrelsy: Cake Walk
- Master Juba: Birth of Tap
- The Black Crook: Ballet
- Vaudeville
- Song & Dance Man: Cohan
- Vernon & Irene Castle
- Follies I: Julian Mitchell
- Follies II: Ned Wayburn
- Albertina Rasch
- On Your Toes: Balanchine
- Oklahoma: Agnes DeMille
- Director-Choreographers
- Concept Musicals
- Dance Musicals
Screen Musicals
- Early Clodhopping
- The Revolution: Busby Berkeley
- Dance as Romance: Fred Astaire
- Manly Élan: Gene Kelly
- Broadway's Borrowed Magic
- Dancing or Editing?