"Silk Stockings" Dance Routine

Tybee Afra, Barrie Chase, and Betty Uitti perform dance routine with Fred Astaire in the movie "Silk Stockings." Routine is a cha-cha to the Cole Porter song, "Too Bad," most of it are showsteps (obviously). Choreography by Hermes Pan.

NOTE to readers: I am looking for info on Betty Uitti (or Utti). I'm planning to attend 2012 PDS Gypsy Awards and hope talk with someone that knows here. I found reference on allmovie.com this is Gladys Lyne Jepson-Turner, aka Belita who was also a professional ice skater.

This 1957 film features Cyd Charisse as a stanch communist sent to Paris to bring back a Soviet composer and three commissars who defect after being corrupted by capitalistic decadence. Fred charms Cyd which she then dumps her drab clothing for an elegant dress. And obviously great dance routines by Cyd and Fred.

This dance routine is very spectacular by these three women dancing superbly and wearing very beautiful dresses designed by Helen Rose, fashions no longer seen. Professional dancers Tybee Afra, Betty Uitti, and Barrie Chase probably rehearsed this single 3 minute routine for weeks.

"Silk Stockings" was one of the last bigtime Hollywood musicals, and women's fashions have gone downhill ever since.

From imdb.com which Professional Dancers Society mentions reliable online information, and to those which contributed in comments. Here are the three ladies:

Tybee Afra as dancer Fifi (dark hair in red dress), Tybee is from Cuba and regarded as one of the hottest rhythm dancers of the time. As you can see this Latina definitely has the cha-cha moves. Sadly she passed away in 1982.

Betty Uitti as dancer Suzette (the blonde in the dropped-waist beautiful dress). Could not find any more info on Betty.

Barrie Chase as dancer Gabrielle (the brunette in gold dress and long gloves though she took the gloves off for the dance), Barrie went on to be Fred Astaire's TV program partner. Barrie Chase interview with Alan Rode in Palm Springs, May 2011 at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blqrfsJ2xdY

More on Tybee Afra from Fall 2009 issue of The Gypsy Chorus by Professional Dancers Society, article "A Great Dance-Filled Read." In this article by Larry Billman where he researches Josephine Powell's biography Tito Puente: When the Drums are Dreaming (AuthorHouse, 2007). Excerpts below:

"TYBEE AFRA was born in 1932 at Monticello in the Catskill Mountains. Her father a Russian-born Jew was a resort hotel furnishings designer. She was an attractive spitfire when she wore her black hair in the manner of a Hollywood starlet. At an early age Tybee became exposed to the best of the Latin bands that arrived every summer. By sitting close to the bandstand and with a good sense of rhythm she learned to mambo.

When she turned nineteen in April of 1950, she headed for New York and the New York Palladium." First dancing with JOE VEGA "..a handsome Puerto Rican, formerly of the Mambo Aces and according to Tito Puente: 'the finest mambo dancer in all of New York.' One of Afra and Vega's first gigs was with the LECUONA CUBAN BOYS traveling to Rio de Janeiro. With Afra's feline movements and Vega's smooth style, the couple became part of Tito's mambo shows."

When Joe Vega suddenly died, Tybee auditioned as a soloist for MIGUELITO VALDES for the Tropicana in Havana, Cuba, and for a year had great success in Havana. Returning to New York and Lindy's Deli "...a show people hangout. One afternoon at Lindy's Tybee met JOHN BRASCIA. 'Tybee was a terrific mambo dancer,' Brascia swore, 'but totally untrained in the field of professional dance. But she had that something special, a cat-like panther quality in her movements." When Tybee suggested that they become a dance team -- "We began to rehearse; I put her in ballet school. We selected the music...I got DOMINIC FRONTIERE to play the piano...We hired LUIGI to stage the act.

Tybee's solo film credits include Silk Stockings, Lost Horizon and The Godfather and she was featured in Monte Proser's Tropicana Revue in Las Vegas. Married from 1959-1970, they remained good friends until Tybee's premature death in 1982 at the age of 50.

Quoted in the book from a 1993 interview with the author: "As far as I was concerned," said Johnny Brascia, 'there were only three dance teams: Augie & Margo, the SZONYS, and Tybee and I."

PDS issue shows a photo of Tybee and John striking a dance pose from Dance Magazine, December 1968, page 26.

Buy the movie "Silk Stockings" at http://www.amazon.com/Silk-Stockings-Fred-Astaire/dp/B00008AOWJ/ref=sr_1_1?ie...

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Silk
• Stockings
• Dance
• Routine
• Tybee
• Afra
• Barrie
• Chase
• Betty
• Uitti
• Utti
• Fred
• Astaire
• Cyd
• Charisse

[borbetomagus]

I didn't know that Barrie Chase was also a dancer. She may be more recognizable as Sylvester's girlfriend in 'It's a Mad, Mad, Mad World' -- /watch?v=wX12Xk9WFjw

[k6mfw]

@borbetomagus I didn't know that was Barrie as Sylvester's girlfriend but makes sense as Stanley Kramer used someone with good body motion. Good post, helpful for Barrie's fans.

[natsugashi]

Thank you very much for the beautiful video. Can you please enlight me what's the name of the cha cha music they dance to ?

[k6mfw]

I don't think it is in the movie credits, I will take a look at a VHS tape (commercially produced) which may list song credits. Unless a DVD with extra material has it.

I am planning to go to the next Gypsy Awards hosted by Professional Dancers Society, maybe some of the attendees would know where to find song credits. I hope to meet Betty Uitti and Barrie Chase (Tybee passed away), these girls that wear the beautiful dresses.

[Tigerlily21]

damn look at Cyd dance when she starts coming on at 1:38. She was moving! I've seen her dance so many styles. She's so talented!

[k6mfw]

Cyd is not in this routine, it is Betty, Tybee, and Barrie.

[Waszma]

Barrie Chase was beautiful and talented. She played the girl who was beaten by Max Cady (Robert Mitchum) in the original "Cape Fear." She was very effective in a role with limited dialogue.

[smokeyplaces]

Barrie Chase, Betty Utti, Tybee Afra r the three female dancers in this "Cha Cha Cha" number according to Fred Astaire's autobiography.

[scotpens]

It's simply a continuation of the song "Too Bad" -- same melody, same chords, with a cha-cha rhythm. All the songs in "Silk Stockings" were written by Cole Porter.

[natsugashi]

Thank you so much for the beautiful video, and thank kudos to your effort. would you please tell me the song titile of the cha cha dance routine?

[oldschooljamz87]

I really like the one in gold!

[Tigerlily21]

who do you guys think is the best? My mother says Barrie Chase easily the one in gold, I can't decide between the one in red and the one in gold.