Friday Dance Party: Friends of Dorothy

The star of this week's Dance Party is surely one of the most revered, and most tragic, songstresses of the 20th century.

Everybody knows Judy Garland as one of the great song stylists ever. She could belt, she could croon, she could cry you a river. I have great respect for the lady, even as I have previously admitted to seeing only three of her films. Her singing prowess often overshadowed her acting ability; she won an honorary Oscar for her work in The Wizard of Oz, and she was subsequently nominated for A Star is Born and Judgement at Nuremberg.

As a product of the Studio System, Garland was also a first class hoofer. Her ability would never rival that of Ginger Rogers or Cyd Charisse, but she held her own opposite dance titans like Gene Kelley and Fred Astaire. This week's Dance Party proves the point. Please enjoy the following montage of some of her dance skills.

Judy Garland died 40 years ago this week, and her death was at least partially responsible for the birth of modern gay activism. (More on that topic in Sunday's entry. Stay tuned.)