Bobby Banas

Bobby Banas had a long and successful career dancing in the Broadway, Film, and Television industries. Born in New York in 1933, Banas began taking dance lessons with his sister as a boy. After the second World War ended, the Banas family relocated to Los Angeles where Banas began taking lessons at the Michael Panaieff ballet school and the Hollywood Professional School on scholarship. After high-school, he began auditioning for and performing in productions at the LA Civic Light Opera. The production of Peter Pan eventually went to Broadway and played at the Winter Garden for six months. In the 1950’s Banas also began his work in Film and Television appearing in Danny Kaye’s TV show, Dinah Shore’s TV show, “Hook” and “Always” to name a few. His major career changing role was as an original cast member of West Side Story. He also appeared in “Let’s Make Love” with Marilyn Monroe and danced as a chimney sweep in “Marry Poppins”. In later years Bobby Banas became a well sought after choreographer and teacher in Los Angeles.

Bobby Banas in “Nitty Gritty” Judy Garland Show (1964):

Bobby Banas Dance Scenes:

 

Further Reading:

The Martin Report: Inverview, “Getting Right Down To the Nitty Gritty…with Bobby Banas!” (Dec 2013):
http://themartinreport.wordpress.com/2013/12/22/getting-right-down-to-the-nitty-gritty-with-bobby-banas/

International Movie Database: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0051551/

 

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Categorized as: ARTIST, Choreographer, Jazz