Geoffrey Holder was a true Renaissance man.
An iconic actor — the face of 7 Up, a Bond villain, Punjab in Annie.
An award-winning painter, director, designer, poet.The list goes on.
But at the root of it all… was dance.
It started in Trinidad, imitating his older brother Boscoe, moving to the rhythm of drums and dreams.
He caught the eye of Agnes de Mille, stormed into New York like he belonged there, and built creative partnerships that would last a lifetime — with Carmen de Lavallade, with Alvin Ailey.
It all moved fast.
At one point, The Wiz slipped through his fingers.But when the call came again — he took the reins and left Broadway changed.
And even when the world saw the icon, the star, the voice…DANCE stayed at the center of everything.
Right up to the final breath.This is the dancer behind the icon.
This is Geoffrey Holder’s Rest of the Story.
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):
2:00 min: ninjaman58
2:51 min: travelfilmarchive
3:06 min: PortraitofNubia
5:11 min: artistonfire
5:43 min: PortraitofNubia
6:56 min: rodalto6
7:15 min: MusicalsOfStageandScreen
8:07 min: AlvinAileyAmericanDanceTheater
8:13 min: btheatre1
8:48 min: AMTProductionCo
9:18 min: aeichler
9:22 min: Aztec_UK
9:48 min: TheBackFocus
10:18 min: MOVIECLIPS
10:38 min: TheCosbyShow
10:55 min: TheBackFocus
11:04 min: MattRichNYC
12:10 min: happyidiot90049
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, historical analysis, and dance-specific commentary. I do not claim ownership of third-party content; inclusion is strictly for educational storytelling and archival documentation.
Films, television programs, and archival media with clips include:
The Tony Awards (CBS)
7 Up Commercial(s) featuring Geoffrey Holder (1970s–1980s)
Carmen & Geoffrey – Official Trailer (First Run Features)
Stravinsky’s Firebird – PBS broadcast of Dance Theatre of Harlem performance
Annie (1982, Columbia Pictures)
Aladdin (1958, CBS Television Musical Special)
Live and Let Die (1973, United Artists)
Boomerang (1992, Paramount Pictures)
Doctor Dolittle (1967, 20th Century Fox)
The Cosby Show – Season 5 Opening Credits (NBC/Carsey-Werner Productions)
Archival Alvin Ailey performance footage (Ailey company, various sources)
Clips are brief, selectively edited, and used under Fair Use for non-commercial purposes including dance history, biography, and cultural analysis.
An iconic actor — the face of 7 Up, a Bond villain, Punjab in Annie.
An award-winning painter, director, designer, poet.The list goes on.
But at the root of it all… was dance.
It started in Trinidad, imitating his older brother Boscoe, moving to the rhythm of drums and dreams.
He caught the eye of Agnes de Mille, stormed into New York like he belonged there, and built creative partnerships that would last a lifetime — with Carmen de Lavallade, with Alvin Ailey.
It all moved fast.
At one point, The Wiz slipped through his fingers.But when the call came again — he took the reins and left Broadway changed.
And even when the world saw the icon, the star, the voice…DANCE stayed at the center of everything.
Right up to the final breath.This is the dancer behind the icon.
This is Geoffrey Holder’s Rest of the Story.
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):
2:00 min: ninjaman58
2:51 min: travelfilmarchive
3:06 min: PortraitofNubia
5:11 min: artistonfire
5:43 min: PortraitofNubia
6:56 min: rodalto6
7:15 min: MusicalsOfStageandScreen
8:07 min: AlvinAileyAmericanDanceTheater
8:13 min: btheatre1
8:48 min: AMTProductionCo
9:18 min: aeichler
9:22 min: Aztec_UK
9:48 min: TheBackFocus
10:18 min: MOVIECLIPS
10:38 min: TheCosbyShow
10:55 min: TheBackFocus
11:04 min: MattRichNYC
12:10 min: happyidiot90049
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, historical analysis, and dance-specific commentary. I do not claim ownership of third-party content; inclusion is strictly for educational storytelling and archival documentation.
Films, television programs, and archival media with clips include:
The Tony Awards (CBS)
7 Up Commercial(s) featuring Geoffrey Holder (1970s–1980s)
Carmen & Geoffrey – Official Trailer (First Run Features)
Stravinsky’s Firebird – PBS broadcast of Dance Theatre of Harlem performance
Annie (1982, Columbia Pictures)
Aladdin (1958, CBS Television Musical Special)
Live and Let Die (1973, United Artists)
Boomerang (1992, Paramount Pictures)
Doctor Dolittle (1967, 20th Century Fox)
The Cosby Show – Season 5 Opening Credits (NBC/Carsey-Werner Productions)
Archival Alvin Ailey performance footage (Ailey company, various sources)
Clips are brief, selectively edited, and used under Fair Use for non-commercial purposes including dance history, biography, and cultural analysis.