Program

Gene Kelly is one of the most engaging and influential dancers in motion picture history. He came at a time when movie dance was basically just a showcase for elegant partners in motion, but within a few years he had transformed not only the nature of male dancing but also the crucial role of the camera in making dance come alive on the big screen. Starting in the 1940s, Gene Kelly created dozens of classic numbers which helped to define the American movie musical and which continue to delight audiences of all ages around the world. This presentation will survey Kelly’s extraordinary achievements, and examine his enduring impact on Hollywood dancing.