Dance legend Cyd Charisse Passes Away

Stacie Strong | Jun 17, 2008 | 0

Cyd Charisse - one of Fred Astaire's favorite dance partners - has died at the age of 88.

Cyd Charisse - known for her long legs and elegant lines - became famous in the MGM musicals of the 1940s and 1950s.  Classically trained and a former member of the famous Ballet Russe, Charisse could dance in a variety of styles.  One of her more famous partners, Fred Astaire (who danced with her in "The Band Wagon" and "Silk Stockings") once said that "She wasn't a tap dancer, she's just beautiful, trained, very strong in whatever we did. When we were dancing, we didn't know what time it was."  

Charisse's multitude of talents were very much on display when she danced with Gene Kelly in the hit film, "Singin' in the Rain," playing the evil goldigger in the "Broadway Melody" number that climaxed the movie.  Critics and audiences aliked were amazed by her number with her 25-foot Chinese silk scarf that floated in the air with the aid of a wind machine.

Though we mourn her passing, Cyd Charisse's mastery of the art of dance is preserved on film for generations to come.  

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Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Ballroom, Enthusiast (all tags)