A DANCING KING

IT’S often claimed that Ginger Rogers said she did everything that Fred Astaire did, except backwards and in high heels.

While it seems that quote has been misattributed – which may come as something of a disappointment to any female Strictly Come Dancing contestants who are tired of hearing how hard the rumba is for male celebrities – Darcey Bussell is about to discover that Astaire’s life and career were shaped by a series of strong women.

Presenting the documentary Darcey Bussell: Looking for Fred Astaire is something of a dream job for the prima ballerina-turned-Strictly judge, who admits that he has always been her hero.

She told the Radio Times: “As a little girl, I didn’t dream of being a ballet dancer, I dreamt of being a movie star like Ginger Rogers and dancing with Fred Astaire. I used to watch the Sunday double-bills on TV and Iong to be part of what seemed a perfect Disneyland world.

“Astaire was a genius. He had a unique style and identity on stage and brought his own personality to everything he did, which is an amazing quality that has inspired every dancer who followed him.”

Sadly, she never achieved her dream of dancing with him – this year marks the 30th anniversary of the Hollywood icon’s death at the age of 88.

But here she learns more about his life, starting with the fact that he was born Frederick Austerlitz, in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1899 – and that he was never meant to be dancer in the family.

His mother Ann only put the five-year-old Fred on stage so he could partner his sister Adele, and for the next 27 years she would be the star attraction in their song-anddance act.

Darcey discovers that this sibling rivalry might have been a factor in Fred’s incredible discipline as a dancer.

He knew that if he wanted to outshine his sister, he would have to work twice as hard as she did.

It also inspired him to seek out new dance techniques to lift their act to another level, and he would find inspiration in Harlem, introducing African-American influences into his routines.

When Adele gave up her career to get married in 1932, it seemed Fred would finally have the spotlight to himself.

However, Hollywood had different ideas, pairing him with another new partner – Ginger Rogers.

Fred had mixed feelings about this to say the least, writing to his agent: “What’s all this about my being teamed with Ginger Rogers? I will not, repeat will not have it.”

Yet the pair went on to make 10 films together, and their influence can still be felt today, as the choreographer of La La Land confirms.

Yet behind the scenes, there was another woman who was shaping Fred’s life – his first wife Phyllis, who he married as he made his way in Hollywood and who gave him the love and support he needed as he broke away from his family to become a star in his own right.