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Chorus line

March 19, 2023

For the Broadway musical, see A Chorus Line.

A chorus line is a large group of dancers who together perform synchronized routines, usually in musical theatre. Sometimes, singing is also performed.

Theatrical poster from 1900 showing an early chorus line.
A modern chorus line

Chorus line dancers in Broadway musicals and revues have been referred to by slang terms such as ponies, gypsies and twirlies. A chorus girl or chorine is a performer in a chorus line (i.e. the chorus of a theatrical production), in contrast to terms such as chorist or chorister (a member of a choir).

While synchronized dancing indicative of a chorus line (often composed of chorus girls) was vogue during the first half of the 20th century, modern theatre uses the terms "ensemble" or "chorus" to indicate all supporting players in a stage production. These supporting players often also play minor characters, move set pieces, and support the production in other unique ways.

History

In the mid-1800s, chorus lines of cartwheeling, synchronized dancing can-can girls began sprouting up throughout Paris with even edgier, more erotic cabarets found in venues like the Moulin Rouge, Le Lido, and the Folies Bergẻre. By the late 1860s, the scandalous trend found its way to the United States with a more conservative trend of chorus lines hitting England, including Tiller Girls and Gaiety Girls. Chorus lines throughout Western Europe and the United States largely owned the stages of the early twentieth century.[1]

Chorus lines hit vogue in the 1920s and 30s, as the life and possibilities of a chorus girl became sensationalized in fiction, newspapers, and film, capturing the imaginations of young girls seeking independence, adventure, and a happily ever after. Real-life examples of the Cinderella narrative included Lilian Russel and Billie Dove, both of whom began their careers as chorus girls and married into wealth.[2]

For girls hoping to make a career out of performing, the chorus line was a common place of entry. Big names of the day like Paulette Goddard, Barbara Stanwyck, and Billie Dove are just some of the stars who began successful performing careers by joining a chorus line.[2]

One of the most popular productions of the time was the Ziegfeld Follies, operating out of New York City, which was well-known for hiring only the most striking women for the chorus line. Florence Ziegfeld Jr. received the reputation of being able to objectively define and select exceptionally beautiful women.[2] Ziegfeld's standards, then, soon became the ideal, and publications and news articles circulated with headlines like, "How I pick my Beauties" and "Picking out pretty girls for the stage".[2]

Decades later, chorus lines of a more erotic flavor found huge success on America's west coast in Las Vegas, before declining again in the face of competition from burlesque and strip clubs.[1]

Some popular chorus lines found their way onto the golden screen. One group in particular was Samuel Goldwyn's dancers, the Goldwyn Girls. Popping up in numerous MGM productions, the famous Goldwyn Girls included stars who went on to find great success on-screen like Lucille Ball, Betty Grable, Virginia Mayo, and Jane Wyman.[1]

To this day, some live performance venues keep the traditional chorus line alive with groups like The Rockettes, but more frequently the term "chorus line" in modern terms is used to differentiate supporting singers and dancers of any gender in a musical or musical revue from the lead actors or performers.[3]

Famous chorus lines

Famous performers

Performers who started out dancing in chorus lines include:

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Lowbrow, Yeoman (2017-10-22). "Chorus Line Dancers and Can-Can Girls from the 1920s-1960s". Flashbak. Retrieved 2022-05-17.
  2. ^ a b c d Victoria, Ava (5 May 2022). "The Life of a Chorus Girl". The Vintage Woman. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  3. ^ "Definition of CHORUS LINE". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
  4. ^ Stuart, Judson D. (May 1915). "The High Cost of Stage Beauty". The Theatre. New York, New York: The Theatre Magazine Co.: 240. Retrieved June 18, 2021 – via Google books.
  5. ^ a b c d e Cantu, Maya. American Cinderellas on the Broadway Musical Stage: Imagining the Working Girl from Irene to Gypsy, p. 49 (Palgrave Macmillan 2015).
  6. ^ . Archived from the original on 2017-11-07. Retrieved 2017-10-30.
  7. ^ "Profile: 'Call me Madam'". BBC News. 2000-10-23. Retrieved 2012-09-09.
  8. ^ "Obituary: Anise Boyer Burris". New York Amsterdam News. October 23, 2008. p. 37 – via ProQuest.
  9. ^ Freeland, David (2009). Automats, Taxi Dances, and Vaudeville: Excavating Manhattan's Lost Places of Leisure. NYU Press. p. xii. ISBN 9780814727898.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. ^ a b Cantu, Maya. American Cinderellas on the Broadway Musical Stage: Imagining the Working Girl from Irene to Gypsy, p. 18 (Palgrave Macmillan 2015).
  11. ^ "Glorifying the American Girl: Adapting an Icon", Cynthia J. Miller; "The Adaptation of History: Essays on Ways of Telling the Past" edited by Laurence Raw, Defne Ersin Tutan; McFarland, 2012; page 33

External links

  •   Media related to Chorus lines at Wikimedia Commons
 

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March 19, 2023
chorus, line, broadway, musical, chorus, line, chorus, line, large, group, dancers, together, perform, synchronized, routines, usually, musical, theatre, sometimes, singing, also, performed, theatrical, poster, from, 1900, showing, early, chorus, line, modern,. For the Broadway musical see A Chorus Line A chorus line is a large group of dancers who together perform synchronized routines usually in musical theatre Sometimes singing is also performed Theatrical poster from 1900 showing an early chorus line A modern chorus line Chorus line dancers in Broadway musicals and revues have been referred to by slang terms such as ponies gypsies and twirlies A chorus girl or chorine is a performer in a chorus line i e the chorus of a theatrical production in contrast to terms such as chorist or chorister a member of a choir While synchronized dancing indicative of a chorus line often composed of chorus girls was vogue during the first half of the 20th century modern theatre uses the terms ensemble or chorus to indicate all supporting players in a stage production These supporting players often also play minor characters move set pieces and support the production in other unique ways Contents 1 History 2 Famous chorus lines 3 Famous performers 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory EditIn the mid 1800s chorus lines of cartwheeling synchronized dancing can can girls began sprouting up throughout Paris with even edgier more erotic cabarets found in venues like the Moulin Rouge Le Lido and the Folies Bergẻre By the late 1860s the scandalous trend found its way to the United States with a more conservative trend of chorus lines hitting England including Tiller Girls and Gaiety Girls Chorus lines throughout Western Europe and the United States largely owned the stages of the early twentieth century 1 Chorus lines hit vogue in the 1920s and 30s as the life and possibilities of a chorus girl became sensationalized in fiction newspapers and film capturing the imaginations of young girls seeking independence adventure and a happily ever after Real life examples of the Cinderella narrative included Lilian Russel and Billie Dove both of whom began their careers as chorus girls and married into wealth 2 For girls hoping to make a career out of performing the chorus line was a common place of entry Big names of the day like Paulette Goddard Barbara Stanwyck and Billie Dove are just some of the stars who began successful performing careers by joining a chorus line 2 One of the most popular productions of the time was the Ziegfeld Follies operating out of New York City which was well known for hiring only the most striking women for the chorus line Florence Ziegfeld Jr received the reputation of being able to objectively define and select exceptionally beautiful women 2 Ziegfeld s standards then soon became the ideal and publications and news articles circulated with headlines like How I pick my Beauties and Picking out pretty girls for the stage 2 Decades later chorus lines of a more erotic flavor found huge success on America s west coast in Las Vegas before declining again in the face of competition from burlesque and strip clubs 1 Some popular chorus lines found their way onto the golden screen One group in particular was Samuel Goldwyn s dancers the Goldwyn Girls Popping up in numerous MGM productions the famous Goldwyn Girls included stars who went on to find great success on screen like Lucille Ball Betty Grable Virginia Mayo and Jane Wyman 1 To this day some live performance venues keep the traditional chorus line alive with groups like The Rockettes but more frequently the term chorus line in modern terms is used to differentiate supporting singers and dancers of any gender in a musical or musical revue from the lead actors or performers 3 Famous chorus lines EditGaiety Girls started in England during the 1890s The Rockettes U S act founded in 1925 Tiller Girls international act starting in the 1890s Ziegfeld girlsFamous performers EditThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed July 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message Performers who started out dancing in chorus lines include Louise Alexander 4 June Allyson Carroll Baker Josephine Baker 5 Lucille Ball 6 Tallulah Bankhead Patricia Barry Constance Bennett Joan Blondell Karin Booth Betty Boothroyd 7 Anise Boyer 8 9 Louise Brooks 5 Virginia Bruce Ruth Chatterton June Clyde Imogene Coca Ellen Corby Jeanne Crain Joan Crawford 10 Marion Davies Bette Davis Yvonne De Carlo Frances Dee Myrna Dell Marlene Dietrich Caren Marsh Doll Ruth Donnelly Constance Dowling Doris Dowling Ja Net DuBois Alice Faye Kay Francis Rhonda Fleming Paulette Goddard 5 Betty Grable June Haver June Havoc Rita Hayworth Patricia Heaton Audrey Hepburn Miriam Hopkins Lena Horne 5 Adele Jergens Dorothy Jordan Madeline Kahn Ruby Keeler 10 Phyllis Kennedy Evelyn Keyes Dorothy Lamour Ruta Lee Myrna Loy Jeanette MacDonald Dorothy Mackaill Shirley MacLaine Dorothy Malone Marsha Mason Jessie Matthews Virginia Mayo Vera Miles Ann Miller Eve Miller Florence Mills Mistinguett Marilyn Monroe Dorothy Morris Nita Naldi Evelyn Nesbit Julie Newmar Sheree North Aida Pierce Jean Porter Marie Prevost Marjorie Reynolds Ginger Rogers Jean Rogers Ruth Roman Joan Shawlee Ann Sheridan Ada Bricktop Smith Barbara Stanwyck 5 Inger Stevens Amzie Strickland Nita Talbot Tyra Vaughn Gwen Verdon Marie Windsor Toby Wing 11 Shelley Winters Jane WymanSee also EditCan can Friedrichstadt Palast Showgirl Corps de balletReferences Edit a b c Lowbrow Yeoman 2017 10 22 Chorus Line Dancers and Can Can Girls from the 1920s 1960s Flashbak Retrieved 2022 05 17 a b c d Victoria Ava 5 May 2022 The Life of a Chorus Girl The Vintage Woman Retrieved 5 May 2022 Definition of CHORUS LINE www merriam webster com Retrieved 2022 05 18 Stuart Judson D May 1915 The High Cost of Stage Beauty The Theatre New York New York The Theatre Magazine Co 240 Retrieved June 18 2021 via Google books a b c d e Cantu Maya American Cinderellas on the Broadway Musical Stage Imagining the Working Girl from Irene to Gypsy p 49 Palgrave Macmillan 2015 Timeline of Lucille Ball s Life amp Career Fenton History Center Archived from the original on 2017 11 07 Retrieved 2017 10 30 Profile Call me Madam BBC News 2000 10 23 Retrieved 2012 09 09 Obituary Anise Boyer Burris New York Amsterdam News October 23 2008 p 37 via ProQuest Freeland David 2009 Automats Taxi Dances and Vaudeville Excavating Manhattan s Lost Places of Leisure NYU Press p xii ISBN 9780814727898 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint url status link a b Cantu Maya American Cinderellas on the Broadway Musical Stage Imagining the Working Girl from Irene to Gypsy p 18 Palgrave Macmillan 2015 Glorifying the American Girl Adapting an Icon Cynthia J Miller The Adaptation of History Essays on Ways of Telling the Past edited by Laurence Raw Defne Ersin Tutan McFarland 2012 page 33External links Edit Media related to Chorus lines at Wikimedia Commons This dance related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Chorus line amp oldid 1145401271, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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