Achorus line is a large group ofdancers who together performsynchronized routines, usually inmusical theatre. Sometimes,singing is also performed. While synchronized dancing indicative of a chorus line was vogue during the first half of the 20th century, modern theatre uses the terms "ensemble" and "chorus" to indicate all supporting players in astage production.
In the mid-1800s, chorus lines of cartwheeling, synchronized dancingcan-can "girls" began sprouting up throughout Paris with even edgier, more erotic cabarets found in venues like theMoulin Rouge,Le Lido, and theFolies Bergẻre. By the late 1860s, the scandalous trend found its way to the United States with a more conservative trend of chorus lines hitting England, includingTiller Girls andGaiety Girls. Chorus lines throughout Western Europe and the United States largely owned the stages of the early twentieth century.[1] Chorus line dancers in earlyBroadway musicals andrevues were referred to by slang terms such asponies,gypsies andtwirlies.
Chorus lines hit vogue in the 1920s and 30s, as the life and possibilities of a "chorus girl" became sensationalized in fiction, newspapers, and film, capturing the imaginations of young women seeking independence, adventure, and a happily ever after. Real-life examples of the Cinderella narrative includedLilian Russel andBillie Dove, both of whom began their careers as chorus girls and married into wealth.[2]
For women hoping to make a career out of performing, the chorus line was a common place of entry. Big names of the day likePaulette Goddard,Barbara Stanwyck, andBetty Grable are just some of the stars who began successful performing careers by joining a chorus line.[2]
One of the most popular productions of the time was theZiegfeld Follies, operating out ofNew York City, which was well-known for hiring only the most striking women for the chorus line.Florenz Ziegfeld Jr received the reputation of being able to objectively define and select exceptionally beautiful women.[2] Ziegfeld's standards, then, soon became the ideal, and publications and news articles circulated with headlines like, "How I pick my Beauties" and "Picking out pretty girls for the stage".[2]
Decades later, chorus lines of a more erotic flavor found huge success in Las Vegas, before declining again in the face of competition fromburlesque andstrip clubs.[1]
Some popular chorus lines found their way onto the golden screen. One group in particular wasSamuel Goldwyn's dancers, theGoldwyn Girls. Popping up in numerousMGM productions, the famous Goldwyn Girls included stars who went on to find great success on-screen likeLucille Ball,Virginia Mayo, andJane Wyman.[1]
To this day, some live performance venues keep the traditional chorus line alive with groups likeThe Rockettes, but more frequently the term "chorus line" in modern terms is used to differentiate supporting singers and dancers of any gender in a musical or musical revue from the lead actors or performers.[3]
Performers who started out dancing in traditional chorus lines include:
Media related toChorus lines at Wikimedia Commons