American Dance Machine

The American Dance Machine was a theatrical dance company created by Lee Theodore, which played on Broadway at the Century Theatre, opening Jun 14, 1978, running 199 performances. It was duplicated with a second cast for the American Dance Festival at Duke University in 1978. The show was a "Living Archive" of Broadway theatre dance; great theatre dances saved from oblivion. Films were made of the performances to preserve original Broadway choreography and can be found at the Lincoln Center Library of the Performing Arts in New York city. Broadway legend Gwen Verdon appeared in film versions of the show. Choreographers included: Agnes De Mille, Jack Cole, Joe Layton, Michael Kidd, Ron Field, Bob Fosse, Onna White and Peter Gennaro. Featured dancers and guest artists included Janet Elber, Carol Estey, Harold Cromer, Liza Gennaro, Patti Mariano, Nancy Chismar, Lawrence Leritz and Donald Young.

Contents

• American dance machine reimagines classic broadway choreography
• American dance machine celebrates singin in the rain and the will rogers follies
• References

The American Dance Machine was also a school in New York City that taught original Broadway dance repertoire in the late 1970s and 1980s. Teachers included founder Lee Theodore, Nanette Charisse and Gwen Verdon. Dance repertoire for classes and shows included, Can-Can, Brigadoon, Little Me, Shenandoah, The Boyfriend, Carousel, Cabaret, Finian's Rainbow, West Side Story, Sweet Charity, George M, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Half a Sixpence, Walking Happy and No No Nanette.