Who was Fred Astaire?

Fred Astaire was a legendary dancer, who throughout his life starred in many Hollywood musicals. He was born on May 10, 1899 in Ohama, Nebraska. Fred Astaire is considered to be the greatest musical film dancer of all time.

What Made Fred Astaire so Great?

Fred Astaire was known for being a perfectionist. However, all of his dances were performed with such ease. The gracefulness of his dances came from complete technical control and an extraordinary sense of rhythm. He had a fluid style which came from an influence of tap, ballroom, and ballet. All this would go on to define what would make Fred Astaire such a legendary dancer.

Film Career

Fred Astaire was first able to break into Broadway in 1917 and began performing impressively. Though it was in 1933 when Fred Astaire got his first film opportunity to be a part of Dancing Ladies. From this came many more opportunities in the film industry. Fred Astaire went on to star in 31 musicals throughout his lifetime.

During his time starring in musicals, Fred Astaire would revolutionize the industry. He came up with the idea of having a stationary camera which would give the illusion of a dance being performed in one shot. Fred Astaire also insisted on having the dances in a musical be an integral part of the plot, not just a decoration to the film. 

Fred Astaire has starred in

Tophat (1935)

Shall We Dance (1937)

Easter Parade (1948)

Royal Wedding (1951)

The Band Wagon (1953)

Daddy Long Legs (1955)

Funny Face (1957)

Fred Astaire’s Legacy

Overall, Fred Astaire served as an influence to many dancers and film musicals. Fred Astaire would help bring a new definition to American ballroom dance. His long lasting influence would go on to inspire many dancers such as Michael Jackson, Bill Robinson, Margot Fonteyn, and many more.

So now we see the mark Fred Astaire left on the dancing world, so come to INSPIRE and find out what mark you will leave and what will make you a legendary dancer.