Yong Fang
08-09-2014, 07:59 AM
Honestly, as an actor, Ken Berry was just OK, a passable, likable guy and supporting player.
But the man was BOSS as a dancer. He is really up there with Gene Kelley and Fred Astaire. I have seen videos of Berry hoofing, and he was just as absolutely amazing as Michael Jordan was to basketball. I use that reference because this type of show dancing required so much athleticism. This is what I admire, the athleticism required to do these moves.
Here is one clip of the guy.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EP3TDTNNe20
One clip that I cannot find anymore on YouTube was one from The Carol Burnett Show. He does a number (yes...it was 1970's variety show cheesy but....) Ken did something I cannot figure out. Basically he faced the audience, lifted one foot slightly off the ground and pivoted his other foot right and left and swept across the stage, with me going..."How the @bleep@ did he do that?" I have tried to figure that one out for a long time and tried to do it in socks on a smooth floor.
But like I said I CANT FIND THE DAMN VIDEO!
I think if Ken was 30 years older and could have been in those 30's-50's Hollywood musicals, he would have been a big of a star as Kelley or Astaire, but his talent was relegated to the again, cheesy 1970's variety shows like Donny and Marie, Sonny and Cher and the like. Not that it did not pay him a handsome living.
Makes me wonder if guys like them ever were injured doing their dance numbers.
But Ken Berry was the man on the dance floor.
But the man was BOSS as a dancer. He is really up there with Gene Kelley and Fred Astaire. I have seen videos of Berry hoofing, and he was just as absolutely amazing as Michael Jordan was to basketball. I use that reference because this type of show dancing required so much athleticism. This is what I admire, the athleticism required to do these moves.
Here is one clip of the guy.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EP3TDTNNe20
One clip that I cannot find anymore on YouTube was one from The Carol Burnett Show. He does a number (yes...it was 1970's variety show cheesy but....) Ken did something I cannot figure out. Basically he faced the audience, lifted one foot slightly off the ground and pivoted his other foot right and left and swept across the stage, with me going..."How the @bleep@ did he do that?" I have tried to figure that one out for a long time and tried to do it in socks on a smooth floor.
But like I said I CANT FIND THE DAMN VIDEO!
I think if Ken was 30 years older and could have been in those 30's-50's Hollywood musicals, he would have been a big of a star as Kelley or Astaire, but his talent was relegated to the again, cheesy 1970's variety shows like Donny and Marie, Sonny and Cher and the like. Not that it did not pay him a handsome living.
Makes me wonder if guys like them ever were injured doing their dance numbers.
But Ken Berry was the man on the dance floor.