Commenters emphasize character and humor in Astaire's dancing
6 Sep 20 10:38 AM · 3d ago · 14 comments · 1 source · development 6 of 6
Later responses highlight not just technical skill but the entertainment and personality Astaire brought to his performances.
“Aye, it's not just the grace and the energy, there's the humour as well. He puts so much character into his dancing”
frankslartibart.bsky.socialFred Astaire Legendary dancerMichael Warburton Bluesky poster
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What people said 24 voices · best of 50 · verbatim
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Fred Astaire learned how to skateboard when he was in his 70’s. Extraordinary dancer and his movies with Ginger Rogers always lift my spirits.
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A slightly strange looking skinny guy. Fantastic perfectionist dancer. And his voice is rather weak. But a lot of the great standards we know were first heard in his voice. A lovely guy, who just made the world seem a great place to be. Perfection here...
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The Gay Divorcee has to be my favorite!!! Eric Blore and Eric Rhodes were two terrific characters who enhanced the hilarity of these films.
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Turning 70 tomorrow and here to say, 'keep moving' is the answer. Possibly not as nimble as Astaire, though. 😂
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When I was still dancing, my teachers were teaching full classes in their 70s, one of them would be in pointe shoes, jumping and leaping... In her 70s. I would kindly remind everyone that dancers are a different breed, especially the extraordinary ones. Their bodies are made different
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It's interesting how almost quaint this seems now. DJT isn't capable of dancing anymore. And in retrospect, the fact he even tried seems like something humanizing about him. Not trying to sentimentalize him. But he did use to have those moments.
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Yeah, he was great. Ginger Rogers was also great, doing the same dance moves in high heels, and often moving backwards.
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I remember watching this w/ my folks, who are now long gone. Nice memory.
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Aye, it's not just the grace and the energy, there's the humour as well. He puts so much character into his dancing
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Just looked at this video. Impressive but she can’t be 92 as she died age 83
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One of my mottos in life: Never Stop Dancing
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Songs FA introduced : "Night and Day" in 'The Gay Divorcee'in 1934 "Cheek to Cheek" in 'Top Hat' in 1935 "The Way You Look Tonight" in 'Swing Time'in 1936 "Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off" in 'Shall We Dance' in 1937 "One for My Baby and One More for the Road" in 'The Sky's the Limit' in 1943
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Happy birthday. I turned 70 in May. Yesterday I mowed the front and back yards (200' x 50'). Today my back, knees, shoulder and wrists are screaming 'Tylenol Xtra Strength - NOW!'. I shudder to think what they'd be screaming if I attempted what Mr. Astaire did in that clip.
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Astaire doing a little bit of the moonwalk here. Long before it was known as moonwalk.
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What 65 years of practice. He was amazing. It’s not skill, it’s passion.
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Thank You for posting. Fred Astaire my favorite dancer. The G.O.A.T.
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Watching this on mute and hearing Weapon of Choice in my head.
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👏👏👏 I remember watching this live. He was always amazing!
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Watching Fred Astaire dance is like watching water flow. 💕
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It’s funny that we should believe it’s all spontaneous. 😉
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Ick. It looks like he’s flossing his brain. What a fool. 
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So weird! That's exactly how I dance! 😧
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Your turn Madonna, Dance like that but keep your clothes on. Best voices I have heard in this century (Yeah, I am an Idjit butt hear goze) 1. Whitney Houston; 2. Mariah Carey (so sorry about the misspell!!); 3. Bono (helps clean up with paper towels).
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When you consider him not only as a legendary entertainer but also as a world-class athlete, perhaps one of the best ever in his field, it isn’t surprising that he was still going strong at 70. But it is a great reminder for the rest of us.
All 6 developments of Fred Astaire at 70 dancing at 1970 Academy Awards sparks… →
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