When Dance Gets Under A Guy's Skin!
In 1953, a skinny young man from McKeesport, Pennsylvania boarded a bus for New York with $130 in his pocket.
He was totally unaware that the career he was about to embark on would catapult him from the choruses of Broadway musicals into principal movie roles alongside Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, and George Chakiris.
Clowning around in Lillian Jasper's Dance Studio. McKeesport, PA. 1953
First Equity job in "Oklahoma" 1953
With Becky Barksdale in "Panama Hattie" Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera 1954.
Broadway debut in "Li'l Abner" 1956
First featured role in "West Side Story" 1957
Jet Song from "West Side Story" 1958
TV appearance with Chita Rivera and Kelly Brown. 1958
Appeared as "Andrew" in Frank Loesser musical, "Greenwillow" 1959
Coca-Cola campaign ad. 1959
Appeared with Patricia Harty in Noel Coward's musical, "Sail Away." 1960
Dance Magazine cover story. July, 1960.
Appeared with Sheila Forbes in London production of "Sail Away." 1961 |
It didn't occur to him that he would be cast in the original company of West Side Story, be discovered by Noel Coward in Paris, be praised by Judy Garland in London, be fired by Agnes de Mille in New York, beat out Dustin Hoffman for an acting role on a daytime soap, swim with Esther Williams on CBS' first color broadcast, teach Barbra Streisand the "lindy" for "The Way We Were," splatter a rotten tomato on Debbie Reynold's face in the "Unsinkable Molly Brown," dine in the south of France with Orson Wells and Marlene Deitrich, or co-direct a Bway musical with Jerome Robbins. All of this was in store for the skinny young tapper from the Lillian Jasper School of Dance in McKeesport PA.
In 1954, Grover Dale showed up at Bob Fosse's audition for "The Pajama Game." Thinking it was okay to dance in the back row, Grover was confident that good dancers get noticed regardless of which line they were in. He was wrong. He didn't make the cut. For a young man destined to have a full-out career, Grover had a lot of learning to do. His inexperience may have hidden him from Bob Fosse, but it didn't get in the way of being cast by Michael Kidd in 1955 for "L'il Abner." After a full season of kickin' it up in Dogpatch, Grover auditioned for the notorious task master, Jerome Robbins. Forsaking the tendency to dance in the back, Grover stepped forward and competed effectively with hundreds of other dancers hungry to be cast in the original production of "West Side Story." Five days after signing a contract to play "Snowboy," Grover arrived at the first rehearsal with his eight lines of dialogue memorized. He assumed that was the only preparation necessary. Once again, Grover had more lessons to learn. Overwhelmed by Robbins' demand for acting skills, Grover realized he was in trouble. Applying "objectives" and "motivating movement" was a language he wasn't familiar with. Showing enthusiasm and love for dance wasn't enough. The task of saving his job challenged every resource he had. By the time WSS completed its tryout in Philadelphia, Grover's role of Snowboy was no longer in jeopardy. His name was added to the list of featured players on the show's poster. WSS was a turning point in Grover's education. In the years that followed, he grasped the idea that preparing for the next opportunity never stops. There's always a new skill or a new technique to be mastered. 1940's * Took first tap class at Cicile Senko's school of dance in McKeesport PA. 1944 * Launched his own studio at the age of 15. 1950 * Appeared on the cover of Dance Magazine, July, 1960 * Choreo'd the play "Steambath" at the Truck & Warehouse Theatre, 1970 * Wrote title song & choreographed film of "So Fine," 1980 * Founded L.A. Dance Foundation / Dance & Fitness Magazine, 1991 * Danced in Disney's TV musical "Geppetto" 2000 Directed the Lyric Stage Co's production of "West Side Story" in Irving, TX. To read reviews, click here> * Rec'd 2008 Community Service Award from Passion For Dance Project. 2008 2010's * Appeared at SYTYCD celebration of National Dance Day at Six Flags Magic Mountain. Taught Mary Murphy's salsa routine. July, 2011 *Principal role in Lowe's Hardware commercial. Sept, 2011 *led two 'Light Up The Room Workshops' in NYC & LA. Oct, 2011 |
Appeared in MGM's "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" w/ Debbie Reynolds. 1963
"I Ain't Down Yet" number from "Unsinkable Molly Brown" 1963
"Money To Burn" number from "Half A Sixpence" 1964
Co-starred with Catherine Deneuve in "The Young Girls Of Rochefort" 1966
Co-starred with George Chakiris in "The Young Girls Of Rochefort" 1966
Film version of "Half A Sixpence" 1967
Choreographed "Eubie Blake" special 1981
Photographed with Anita Morris and son James. 1982
"If The Shoe Fits" in Los Angeles. 1992
Headshot. 1998.
Appeared with Carol Lawrence in L.A. production of "Follies." 2002
Professional Audition Workshop. 2002.
Fine tuning dancers at audition workshop. 2001.
Speedance workshop session. 2001. |
