The Other “Mr. B.” - How Buddy Bradley’s Genius Transformed Ballet

Nearly every famous name in dance in the mid-twentieth century was touched by the innovative, often groundbreaking work of jazz dancer and choreographer Buddy Bradley. Maureen Footer has written a new biography of Bradley, Feel the Floor, that delves into his far-reaching influence.

Iconic choreographers from George Balanchine to Frederick Ashton, Jerome Robbins to Agnes deMille, were among the many major artists who drew inspiration from his work. Here, with a panel including tap, jazz, and ballet dancers, the subject of how one art form can significantly influence another will be discussed and demonstrated, live.

When Balanchine and Bradley were brought together in London in 1931 to co-choreograph Charles B. Cochran's famous revue, the star and the chorus had been trained by Buddy Bradley, providing Balanchine with his first hands-on opportunity to experiment with jazz mechanisms and movement. Some of Bradley and Balanchine’s “creative synergies” will be displayed by the dancers in work such as Agon, Rubies and Symphony in C. 

Photo Credit: Buddy Bradley with Patricia Burke. Photo by Kurt Hutton. Picture Post via Getty Images.