Dancing on the Ceiling: A Hollywood History of Dancing, 1930-1960
Class | Registration opens 8/5/2026 12:00 PM EDT
“Cinema dance developed from the Hollywood musicals of the 1930s, where the camera became a partner in the dance.” – Busby Berkeley
Relax and enjoy as we learn about how dance was changed by the Hollywood camera. From Busby Berkeley’s magic to the dream ballets in Oklahoma and An American in Paris, we will watch video clips of the greatest dance scenes from more than 50 Hollywood movies, 1930 to 1960. We will also hear fascinating facts about the relationships of Astaire and Rodgers, Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse, plus short biographies of the other dancers who made film history: Ruby Keeler, Eleanor Powell, Vera-Ellen, Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, Ann Miller, Donald O'Connor, and choreographers Bob Fosse and Agnes De Mille.
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.