R.I.P. Cyd Charisse

It’s a sad day in the dance community, with news of the death of “beautiful dynamite” Cyd Charisse.

[Cyd Charisse, Gene Kelly in Singin' in the Rain

Cyd Charisse, the leggy beauty whose balletic grace made her a memorable partner for Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly in classic MGM musicals like “Singin’ in the Rain,” “The Band Wagon” and “Brigadoon,” died Tuesday in Los Angeles. She was believed to be 86.

Her death, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, was apparently caused by a heart attack, said her agent, Scott Stander.

Charisse came of age in a sparkling era of Hollywood musicals, and though she had some dramatic film roles, it was in musicals that she achieved her lasting renown. That fame later led to a successful song-and-dance partnership with her husband, Tony Martin, in nightclubs and on television.

In his 1959 memoir, “Steps in Time,” Astaire called Charisse “beautiful dynamite.” She was a striking presence on film: slender and graceful with jet black hair. She stood 5 feet 6, or 1.68 meters, but in high heels and full-length stockings – a familiar costume for her – she seemed even taller.
… (Read more.)

I (along with countless others, I’m sure) will always have a lifelong crush on Cyd Charisse. Her breakout dance scene in “Singin’ in the Rain” was unforgettable, making her a distinctive icon and source of inspiration for so many dancers I know. She could tell so much through her sultry, sensual moves without ever speaking a word.

Some of my favorite clips:

As the vamp in “Singin’ in the Rain”:
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