Toni Basil was a Go-Go icon in the ‘60s. A street-dance pioneer in the ‘70s with The Lockers. And by that same decade, she was choreographing for Tina Turner and Bette Midler — shaping the stage presence of music legends before MTV even launched.
Oh — and she’s also the force behind “Mickey,” one of the most iconic pop hits (and videos) of the ‘80s.
In this episode of The Rest of the Story, we trace her extraordinary path — from a childhood in vaudeville to Elvis musicals, from bringing street dance into the mainstream to choreographing some of Hollywood’s most unforgettable films.
A one-hit wonder? Please. Toni Basil is the moment. Always has been.
Thank you to Cristina Benedetti for recounting Toni's viral story! https://www.instagram.com/cribeneofficial/
Conceived, starring, written, and researched by: Miller Daurey
Please like, and share the podcast!
Don't forget to subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVffUUDYYun-pkFKi4jKpJw?sub_confirmation=
And follow my Instagram for daily dance inspo: https://www.instagram.com/backtogreat/
Thank you so much for supporting my journey! 💫❤️🙏🏼
Almost all clips from this video were originally found at Toni Basil's YT page (which is an amazing resource): @ToniBasilsHouse
Additional credit for the clips used in the video (names are YouTube handles):
3:17 min: ch.6098
5:16 min: afrabass1415
6:22 min: lalosanchez9837
7:27 min: fromheretoronburgundy
8:00 min: davidshine8933
8:18 min: HalloweenJackUK
8:49 min: TrelleStar
9:13 min: ricdell
10:26 min: tinaturner
This video complies with Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, which allows for the limited use of copyrighted material for purposes such as criticism, commentary, education, and research. All clips are used transformatively, accompanied by original narration, biographical context, and dance-specific analysis. I do not claim ownership of third-party content; inclusion is strictly for educational storytelling, cultural commentary, and archival documentation.
Films, television programs, and archival media featured include:
1962 performance by Toni Basil’s Vaudeville Family “Billy Wells and the Four Fayes” (The Ed Sullivan Show, CBS)
Viva Las Vegas (1964, MGM)
Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964, Warner Bros.)
Pajama Party (1964, American International Pictures)
The T.A.M.I. Show (1964, American International Pictures)
Village of the Giants (1965, American International Pictures)
HEAD (1968, Raybert Productions)
Mickey (music video, 1981, Chrysalis Records)
David Bowie – Diamond Dogs Tour Footage (1974, various sources)
Tina Turner Live at Caesars Palace (1979, TV broadcast/various)
Bette Midler – The Depression Tour (1976, HBO)
Tina Turner – 50th Anniversary Tour (2008–2009, various)
Bette Midler – The Showgirl Must Go On (2008, Las Vegas Residency/HBO)
Legally Blonde (2001, MGM)
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019, Columbia Pictures)
So You Think You Can Dance (FOX, various seasons)
Easy Rider (1969, Columbia Pictures)
Five Easy Pieces (1970, Columbia Pictures)
Soul Train (Syndicated, various episodes)
Saturday Night Live (NBC, various episodes)
Clips are brief, selectively edited, and used under Fair Use for non-commercial purposes, including historical documentation, dance education, and biographical storytelling.
Oh — and she’s also the force behind “Mickey,” one of the most iconic pop hits (and videos) of the ‘80s.
In this episode of The Rest of the Story, we trace her extraordinary path — from a childhood in vaudeville to Elvis musicals, from bringing street dance into the mainstream to choreographing some of Hollywood’s most unforgettable films.
A one-hit wonder? Please. Toni Basil is the moment. Always has been.
Thank you to Cristina Benedetti for recounting Toni's viral story! https://www.instagram.com/cribeneofficial/
Conceived, starring, written, and researched by: Miller Daurey
Please like, and share the podcast!
Don't forget to subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVffUUDYYun-pkFKi4jKpJw?sub_confirmation=
And follow my Instagram for daily dance inspo: https://www.instagram.com/backtogreat/
Thank you so much for supporting my journey! 💫❤️🙏🏼
Almost all clips from this video were originally found at Toni Basil's YT page (which is an amazing resource): @ToniBasilsHouse
Additional credit for the clips used in the video (names are YouTube handles):
3:17 min: ch.6098
5:16 min: afrabass1415
6:22 min: lalosanchez9837
7:27 min: fromheretoronburgundy
8:00 min: davidshine8933
8:18 min: HalloweenJackUK
8:49 min: TrelleStar
9:13 min: ricdell
10:26 min: tinaturner
This video complies with Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, which allows for the limited use of copyrighted material for purposes such as criticism, commentary, education, and research. All clips are used transformatively, accompanied by original narration, biographical context, and dance-specific analysis. I do not claim ownership of third-party content; inclusion is strictly for educational storytelling, cultural commentary, and archival documentation.
Films, television programs, and archival media featured include:
1962 performance by Toni Basil’s Vaudeville Family “Billy Wells and the Four Fayes” (The Ed Sullivan Show, CBS)
Viva Las Vegas (1964, MGM)
Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964, Warner Bros.)
Pajama Party (1964, American International Pictures)
The T.A.M.I. Show (1964, American International Pictures)
Village of the Giants (1965, American International Pictures)
HEAD (1968, Raybert Productions)
Mickey (music video, 1981, Chrysalis Records)
David Bowie – Diamond Dogs Tour Footage (1974, various sources)
Tina Turner Live at Caesars Palace (1979, TV broadcast/various)
Bette Midler – The Depression Tour (1976, HBO)
Tina Turner – 50th Anniversary Tour (2008–2009, various)
Bette Midler – The Showgirl Must Go On (2008, Las Vegas Residency/HBO)
Legally Blonde (2001, MGM)
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019, Columbia Pictures)
So You Think You Can Dance (FOX, various seasons)
Easy Rider (1969, Columbia Pictures)
Five Easy Pieces (1970, Columbia Pictures)
Soul Train (Syndicated, various episodes)
Saturday Night Live (NBC, various episodes)
Clips are brief, selectively edited, and used under Fair Use for non-commercial purposes, including historical documentation, dance education, and biographical storytelling.