Vera-Ellen could do it all — tap, pointe, jazz, acrobatics, adagio — and made it look effortless.
For a time, she was one of the most celebrated dancers in Hollywood, starring alongside Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Donald O’Connor, and Danny Kaye. But today, she’s largely forgotten.
In this episode of The Rest of the Story (Hey, Dancer! podcast), we trace her extraordinary rise — from a shy, bookish child in Ohio to a bona fide movie musical star. We dig into the training that shaped her, the roles that defined her, and the discipline that never wavered — even after the spotlight faded.
And yes — we’ll also address the rumors. The ones that have unfairly overshadowed her legacy.
This is the dance story Hollywood never quite knew how to tell. Until now.
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! 💫❤️🙏🏼
All credit for the clips used in the video (names are YouTube handles):
4 sec: TurnerClassicMovies
35 sec: AW720
4:24 min: homebodiesfit
5:54 min: odessa108
6:07 min: AW720
6:13 min: TurnerClassicMovies
6:36 min: samfrancis9797
6:56 min: samfrancis9797
7:03 min: AW720
7:21 min: CultCinemaClassics
7:34 min: AW720
7:41 min: tantecarla
8:03 min: oldhollywood101
8:32 min: musicchannel5028
9:05 min: oldhollywood101
9:27 min: 10150924
This video complies with Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, allowing limited use of copyrighted material for purposes such as criticism, commentary, education, and research. All clips are used transformatively with original narration, analysis, and historical context. I do not claim ownership of third-party content; inclusion is strictly for educational commentary and archival documentation.
Films with clips:
Wonder Man (1945, RKO Radio Pictures)
The Kid from Brooklyn (1946, Samuel Goldwyn Company)
Carnival in Costa Rica (1947, 20th Century Fox)
Words and Music (1948, MGM)
On the Town (1949, MGM)
Three Little Words (1950, MGM)
Happy Go Lovely (1951, British Lion Films)
The Belle of New York (1952, MGM)
Call Me Madam (1953, 20th Century Fox)
White Christmas (1954, Paramount Pictures)
Let’s Be Happy (1957, Columbia Pictures)
Clips are brief, selectively edited, and used under Fair Use for educational storytelling and dance history analysis.
For a time, she was one of the most celebrated dancers in Hollywood, starring alongside Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Donald O’Connor, and Danny Kaye. But today, she’s largely forgotten.
In this episode of The Rest of the Story (Hey, Dancer! podcast), we trace her extraordinary rise — from a shy, bookish child in Ohio to a bona fide movie musical star. We dig into the training that shaped her, the roles that defined her, and the discipline that never wavered — even after the spotlight faded.
And yes — we’ll also address the rumors. The ones that have unfairly overshadowed her legacy.
This is the dance story Hollywood never quite knew how to tell. Until now.
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! 💫❤️🙏🏼
All credit for the clips used in the video (names are YouTube handles):
4 sec: TurnerClassicMovies
35 sec: AW720
4:24 min: homebodiesfit
5:54 min: odessa108
6:07 min: AW720
6:13 min: TurnerClassicMovies
6:36 min: samfrancis9797
6:56 min: samfrancis9797
7:03 min: AW720
7:21 min: CultCinemaClassics
7:34 min: AW720
7:41 min: tantecarla
8:03 min: oldhollywood101
8:32 min: musicchannel5028
9:05 min: oldhollywood101
9:27 min: 10150924
This video complies with Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, allowing limited use of copyrighted material for purposes such as criticism, commentary, education, and research. All clips are used transformatively with original narration, analysis, and historical context. I do not claim ownership of third-party content; inclusion is strictly for educational commentary and archival documentation.
Films with clips:
Wonder Man (1945, RKO Radio Pictures)
The Kid from Brooklyn (1946, Samuel Goldwyn Company)
Carnival in Costa Rica (1947, 20th Century Fox)
Words and Music (1948, MGM)
On the Town (1949, MGM)
Three Little Words (1950, MGM)
Happy Go Lovely (1951, British Lion Films)
The Belle of New York (1952, MGM)
Call Me Madam (1953, 20th Century Fox)
White Christmas (1954, Paramount Pictures)
Let’s Be Happy (1957, Columbia Pictures)
Clips are brief, selectively edited, and used under Fair Use for educational storytelling and dance history analysis.