Shall We Dance? Astaire, Fred performer Rogers, Ginger performer Film 1937-05-07 RKO The highlight of this musical film in which Astaire is cast as a world-famous ballet dancer who is interested in tap dancing; and Rogers as a world-famous tap dancer uninterested in anything Astaire does. In"They All Laughed" Rogers taps out a perky tap routine in impudent contrast to Astaire's grand posturing, only to explode into a raucous tap barrage, with an ending in which they tap cooly side by side; this is a number that brilliantly blends ballet and tap (Rogers spins under Astaire's upraised arm in a ballet finger turn as he taps out a lively rhythm with his feet). Other notable musical numbers include "Slap that Bass" where, in an ship engine room, a black engine crew is holding a jam session (Dudley Dickerson sings the verse of the upbeat Gershwin song) and Astaire, catching the rhythm, sings the chorus and propels himself into a vigorous tap solo which has more upper-body movement than syncopation in the feet; "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off" in which Astaire and Rogers attempt to tap dance in roller skates; and "Shall We Dance" where, after partnering ballet dancer Harriet Hoctor, Astaire opts for a chorus of Ginger Rogers-look-alikes whose scampering tap frolics are back-up to his graceful, full-bodied movements that show the superiority of show dancing/stage tap dancing to ballet. Performing Arts Encyclopedia http://www.loc.gov/performingarts Frank, Rusty E.: Tap! The Greatest Tap Dance Stars and their Stories 1900-1955. New York, William Morrow. (1990). Mueller, John: Astaire Dancing: The Musical Films. New York: Knopf (1985). Tap Dance America http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/html/tda/tda-home.html Fred Astaire (biography) loc.music.tdabio.16 tda IHAS 151216 loc.music.tda.126