People to Know - Gwen Verdon

Gwen Verdon was know as the best dancer on Broadway during the 1950’s and 1960’s, which was far from what her parents would have ever dreamed since she was affected with rickets. (Rickets is a softening of bones in children that potentially leads to fractures and deformity.) She was called “Gimpy” by the other kids and spent her early years in orthopedic boots. Her parents, both in show business themselves, put Gwenyth Evelyn “Gwen” Verdon in ballet class to help strengthen her legs. By age 11 she was already in her first film as a solo ballerina in The King Steps Out.

Verdon’s first major job was assisting choreographer Jack Cole and teaching dance. Some of her students during that time were Jane Russell, Gene Kelly, Betty Grable and Marilyn Monroe. She was in many choruses on Broadway, but her first big break was in Can-Can by Cole Porter in 1953. She then went on to lead many musicals; Lola in Damn Yankees, Charity in Sweet Charity, and Roxie in Chicago. By this time she was in married to Bob Fosse. Verdon went on to continue her movie career later in life, working with Woody Allen and Meryl Streep.

I have to say I learn a lot each time a write these posts, and they are really paying off. The most interesting thing that I didn’t know was that Gwen was on the Ed Sullivan Show performing Fosse’s choreography to a song titled "Mexican Breakfast," and that dance was updated and responsible for Beyoncé's "Single Ladies" dance that you see everywhere on YouTube. I even found a clip of the two dances side by side.