John Brascia, Vera Ellen, White Christmas, 1954. Mandy.

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What do you think of the dance number?

Vera Ellen, John Brascia including Cast and Chorus in “White Christmas” 1954, performing the “Mandy” number.

Choreographer: Robert Alton.

Assistant Choreographer: Joan Bayley.

Robert Alton/Choreography:

Whilst as the choreographer for the Broadway show Hazel Flagg, 1953. Mr. Alton was impressed with Mr. Brascia performances.

Mr. Alton would then go on to choreograph White Christmas a year later. Originally the choreography for White Christmas was intended for Vera Ellen and Danny Kaye. Due to the complex and complicated choreography Mr. Kaye passed on this particular job.
Mr. Alton requested to have Mr. Brascia for this film. This movie provided Mr. Brascia with many more opportunities over his expanded career.

Joan Bayley:

In an interview with the film's Assistant Choreographer, Miss. Bayley, talks about working on the film set of “White Christmas. Miss. Bayley still teaches classes at Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica California.

“She’d come in in the morning and we would start with a ballet barre, Vera and I would always do a ballet barre together. And then we’d start working until lunch. She would go into her dressing room and have a French lesson or something and then we’d work until 5. She worked hard, she danced the whole time. I’d dance the number with her and then she would do it without me and I would just watch her and correct her. Rehearsal would last for two weeks for the “Mandy” number. Danny would come in, not for that many hours but he would work hard when he was there. Before we put Vera and Danny together I danced Vera’s part with Danny, and Vera danced with second assist

John Brascia:

Mr. Brascia is a dancer, choreographer, actor, performing on Broadway in Hollywood and Las Vegas.

Mr. Brascia's famous nightclub acts were with Tybee Arfa as Brascia and Tybee as a dance duo. The duo appeared as an act for nightclubs/opening for stars like Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne and Dean Martin, including the duo making regular appearances on TV Shows such as The Ed Sullivan Show. Mr. Brascia and Miss Arfa were briefly married.

Mr. Brascia made his Broadway debut in 1953 in Havel Flagg and eventually won a Donaldson Award (10th Awards) for Best Male Dancer, and he also won The Outer Circle Award for Best Supporting Performance for his portrayal of Willie in Hazel Flagg.

Vera Ellen:

Miss. Ellen commenced her dance training at the age of nine. She started her professional career as a dancer by becoming one of the youngest teenagers to join the NYC Rockettes. Also during the late 1930’s, Miss. Ellen earned $50 per week dancing in the New York Theaters. By the age of 18, she made her Broadway debut in Very Warm for May, 1939. She then appeared in five more Broadway productions.

Her first screen credit was in the 1945 film, Wonder Man. During her Film and TV career, Miss. Ellen has over 25 credits to her name. Such as, “Words and Music: 1948. “On the Town” 1949. “The Belle of New York” 1952. The Colgate Comedy Hour. The Ed Sullivan Show.

Did You Know?

The White Christmas film’s song and dance number “Mandy” was originally written by Irving Berlin for the 1919 Broadway production, Ziegfeld Follies of 1919.

George Chakiris and Luigi Faccuito had an uncredited dance role in the film.

There are numerous sources and articles that state Mr. Bob Fosse contributed to this film, White Christmas as a choreographer. These articles are inaccurate and Mr. Fosse had no involvement with this film.

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