Cyd Charisse

Cyd Charisse was a famous dancer.

She started dancing to get strong. She was a sick child. Dancing helped her body.

She danced in many movies. She worked with great stars. People loved her dance moves.

She was very good at ballet. She even won a special medal. This was for her art.

She will always be a star.

Cyd Charisse was a famous dancer and actress.

She was born Tula Ellice Finklea in Texas. As a child, she was often sick. She took dance lessons to build her strength. She studied ballet as she grew up. Soon, she joined a ballet group in Europe.

Charisse became a big star in Hollywood movies. She was known for her amazing dancing. She often worked with great stars like Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. She danced in famous films like Singin' in the Rain. She also starred in The Band Wagon.

One dancer called her "beautiful dynamite." People loved to watch her move on screen. Even though she stopped dancing in films, she kept acting. She appeared in many TV shows and plays. In 2006, she won the National Medal of Arts and Humanities.

She lived a long and busy life. She passed away in 2008 at age 86.

Cyd Charisse was a famous American dancer and actress.

She was a star of the Hollywood musical era. People loved her for her incredible skill and grace. She was known for her amazing dancing on the big screen. Many fans also admired her beautiful legs. In fact, she was once in the Guinness Book of World Records for them.

Her life as a dancer began with a hard job. As a young girl, she had a bout of polio. She started taking dance lessons at age six to build strength. Later, she studied ballet in Los Angeles with famous teachers. By age 14, she was dancing in the Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo. She used different stage names like Felia Siderova during this time.

Charisse became a huge star at MGM studios. She often worked with dance geniuses like Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. She danced in the classic film Singin' in the Rain in 1952. She also starred in The Band Wagon in 1953. In that film, she performed the "Girl Hunt Ballet."

Astaire once called her "beautiful dynamite." He said that once you dance with her, you stay danced with.

She had a long and varied career in Hollywood. She starred in movies like Brigadoon in 1954 and Silk Stockings in 1957.

Even after she stopped dancing in films, she kept acting. She appeared in many television shows and on Broadway. In 1991, she made her debut in a Broadway musical. She even made an exercise video for seniors in 1990.

Charisse received many honors for her work in the arts. In 2006, President George W. Bush gave her the National Medal of Arts and Humanities.

She was born Tula Ellice Finklea in Amarillo, Texas. She married singer Tony Martin in 1948 and stayed with him until her death. She passed away in 2008 at the age of 86. Her life was a wonderful journey through the world of dance.

Cyd Charisse was a celebrated American dancer and actress.

She became a defining figure of the Hollywood musical era. Her career was built on extraordinary physical skill and grace. She was most famous for her technical ability as a dancer. Audiences also frequently admired her long, expressive legs. In fact, her legs were so famous they earned her a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. A $5 million insurance policy was reportedly issued on them in 1952.

Charisse's journey to stardom began with a personal challenge. She was born Tula Ellice Finklea in Amarillo, Texas. As a child, she suffered from a bout of polio. She began taking dance lessons at age six to rebuild her physical strength. By age 12, she moved to Los Angeles to study ballet. She trained under renowned teachers Adolph Bolm and Bronislava Nijinska. At age 14, she joined the Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo. She performed under stage names like Felia Siderova and Maria Istomina.

Her transition to film happened during the 1940s. The outbreak of World War II closed her ballet company. Upon returning to Los Angeles, she received a dance role in the film Something to Shout About. This role caught the attention of choreographer Robert Alton. He soon helped her join the Freed Unit at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, known as MGM. She became the resident ballet dancer for the studio. She made early, uncredited appearances in films like Mission to Moscow and Thousands Cheer. Her first significant speaking role arrived in the 1946 film The Harvey Girls.

Charisse reached the height of her fame during the 1950s. She became a preferred partner for legendary dancers. Gene Kelly chose her for the "Broadway Melody" sequence in Singin' in the Rain. This film is now considered one of the greatest musicals ever made. She also starred in The Band Wagon in 1953.

In this film, she performed the "Girl Hunt Ballet" with Fred Astaire.

Astaire famously described her as "beautiful dynamite." He noted that dancing with her was a transformative experience.

Her filmography includes several other major musical productions. She co-starred with Gene Kelly in the Scottish-themed Brigadoon in 1954. She also appeared in Silk Stockings in 1957.

In that film, she took over a role originally played by Greta Garbo. While she was a magnificent dancer, her singing voice was often dubbed. Most frequently, the singer India Adams provided the vocals for her musical roles. Charisse also worked with other stars like Dan Dailey in Meet Me in Las Vegas. That film earned $3.7 million against production costs of $2.4 million.

As the popularity of Hollywood musicals declined, Charisse transitioned her career. She retired from dance but continued acting in film and television. She appeared in various shows from the 1960s through the 1990s. She performed on television variety programs like The Ed Sullivan Show. She also made several appearances on The Hollywood Palace. In 1991, she made her Broadway debut in the musical Grand Hotel.

Later in life, she shared her knowledge of film history in various documentaries.

Charisse received significant recognition for her contributions to American culture. In 2006, President George W. Bush presented her with the National Medal of Arts and Humanities.

She remained married to singer Tony Martin from 1948 until her death. She passed away in 2008 at the age of 86. Her legacy lives on through the classic films that defined an era of entertainment. She is remembered as one of the greatest dancing personalities to ever appear on screen.