Dancing on the Ceiling: A Video History of Dancing in Hollywood's Golden Age
Class | FULL (Membership Required)
How did Fred Astaire dance on the ceiling in the movie Royal Wedding? Join us for a comprehensive and selective overview of the most famous dance scenes from Hollywood movies of the 1930s, '40s and '50s.
During our five sessions, we will watch over 175 video clips of the greatest dance scenes from more than 50 movies. From Busby Berkeley's magic to the dream ballets in Oklahoma and An American in Paris, come behind the scenes to discover how the dances were created and to learn more about the stars who lifted the spirits of mid-20th century America. Our journey will take us on musical side trips, biographical historical markers and trips down an occasional rabbit hole. The course will feature 23 dancers who made film history, including Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Gene Kelly, Ruby Keeler, Eleanor Powell, Vera-Ellen, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, Ann Miller, Donald O'Connor, Cyd Charisse, Gower and Marge Champion and Bob Fosse. Fasten your seatbelts!
John Peterman
After serving for 23 years as head of an elementary school in Massachusetts, John Peterman turned his attention to creating lifelong learning courses focused on history and the entertainment industry. Throughout his life, John has been a public speaker and a mid-20th-century music and film enthusiast. Over the past few years, he has offered courses at AIL, Center for the Arts, Osher at Dartmouth, New London Barn Playhouse and OLLI at UNH.