Vera Ellen - Hey What´s Your Name

Dancing part from Hey What´s Your Name number.

Though Eleanor Powell is often called as queen of tap, I like even more Vera Ellen´s tapping. Her approach is more unconventional - baletic, feminine with some comical elements.
She proves it in this number from movie KID FROM BROOKLN (1946).
You can find it in Danny Kaye: Goldwyn Years DVD´s collection.

If you like it you must see on YT another Vera Ellen tap number So In Love from WONDER MAN (1945). This one I consider to be one of best three tap numbers I´ve ever seen (male dancers including) - it´s simply encyclopedia of tap - so many styles including.

[KlausOppermann]

Amazing! Vera Ellen was probably one of the best female dancers, so talented and beautiful!

[stevelawton]

Vera Ellen was one of the most talent dancer Hollywood ever had pure magic x

[JoMarieM]

Vera-Ellen was definitely the most versatile dancer in Hollywood EVER. Tap, ballet, jazz, ballroom -- she could do all of them with equal ease. Other dancers like Cyd Charisse, Ginger Rogers, Eleanor Powell, Rita Hayworth and Leslie Caron were also amazing performers, but most of them excelled at maybe one or two types of dancing. Vera Ellen could do pretty much anything that involved using two feet on a stage!

[edwardonofrio]

I've followed Vera for quite some time, but this is the most powerful dance sequence I've seen. She radiates an invincible and confident attitude in this video and her movement precision is flawless.

[ldoxey]

Gifted... God gifted. So glad she was able to share it with us. No other female dancer..EVER compares.

[maaneah]

That was.... Amazing!!!! I'm speechless!!

[TahtahmesDiary]

Her dress is so pretty! Reminds me of when Beyonce went through a phase of wearing little dresses like this...she/her stylist are often historically inspired and who could blame? I want one too! 🤗💚

[terrasoars]

Vera was a ballet dancer first, tapper second.
Eleanor was a tapper first, with some ballet and even gymnastics added.
Both had their own styles - LOVE THEM BOTH - Vera for her ballet technique, Eleanor for her "hoofer" style.

[PierreC]

Vera-Ellen could do anything...compare to the other female dancers who were more...specialists ! The best that ever lived...

[camarasaurus]

Very nice ! My favorite of all the great dancers . Thanks for posting !

[Michaelahol]

my top favorite in female dancers in no particular order.

Ann Miller
Vera Ellen
Cyd Charisse
Ginger Rogers
Marge Champion

[sandaglad]

Update. Kay Thompson was lent by MGM to arrange the vocals on this film. June Hutton of the Pied Pipers is the singer that Vera Ellen is lip-synching to. Most of the solo singing, including a bit by Frankie Laine, has been cut out of this clip. Still, thanks for posting.

[brentpolk]

Clearly the inspiration for Tex Avery's Big Red!

[ThePapasmurf]

The year I was born; a very good year indeed, especially for dance.

[gregoriogaizakian]

Tap dance vs ballet, incredible never see so much perfection.

[annamariapirknernenador]

I love it. Could you please, more musical dance movies uppload? Thank you very much!

[sandaglad]

The vocal arrangement here sounds like Kay Thompson. Her biographer says that although she was employed by MGM, she may have helped Danny Kaye arrange musical numbers for his films, such as this one.

[douglassharpe]

Who was comparing her to Eleanor? Apples and oranges! Vera had greater range of character. Eleanor was a one or two trick pony, though absolutely the best at those two tricks! In both cases, as age caught up with them, that was it.

[bryanleigh]

The final lift and descent look scary. VE was the most versatile. She could do it all, classical, tap, acrobatic too. Her best stuff is in the early films, before anorexia sapped her energy

[charlesmiller]

I get Vera Ellen and Mitzi Gaynor mixed up.