American Bandstand - What was the selection process for the dancers?

[cloudeleven]

I was thinking about American Bandstand's disco days in the late 70s (the show peaked in 1975-78 in my opinion). I was wondering how the dancers made it on the show? Being a national TV show, I'm sure there was a long line of people at ABC studios wanting to be on the show! But quite frankly, some of the people on AB couldn't dance very well. Anyone know what the selection process was? Or did they just let random people on the show?

[Lajazz947]

That's a great question. I have no clue but I wanted to bump the thread up.

[thommy2458]

I frequented a club beginning in 1976 that
had some dancers from the show that I casually
knew. They told me that usually a friend(that was already on the show) had to write them down as guests and then show up.They would
tape 2 shows a day and bring a change of clothes.You can see alot of the producers "kids"
or the camera man's "niece" though,cause
there is NO explanation of why some of those
gawky teens are featured dancers.And we won't even start on some of the dance contest
finalists-there HAD to be some sort of payola
involved.

Thom

[cloudeleven]

Thom,

Here's a clip of American Bandstand dancers on the Nov. 15, 1975 episode. Fast-forward to the 34 second mark for the dancers (don't ask what that stuff in the first 30 seconds is! ). Incidentally, I think the song they are dancing to is "Island Girl" by Elton John.

YouTube - Sean Vs. 50 Cent

Do you recognize any of those people? Video is bad quality, I know.

[thommy2458]

Originally Posted by cloudeleven

Thom,

Here's a clip of American Bandstand dancers on the Nov. 15, 1975 episode. Fast-forward to the 34 second mark for the dancers (don't ask what that stuff in the first 30 seconds is! ). Incidentally, I think the song they are dancing to is "Island Girl" by Elton John.

YouTube - Sean Vs. 50 Cent

Do you recognize any of those people? Video is bad quality, I know.

YES!-can you believe it! In fact I recognized at
least 4.There were a group of guys that went
to my first club in San Bernadino,Calif and they
were on AB during this 1975/76 period.There is
a quick shot of a girl with red hair who they used to bring(I think her name was Terri)and she was dancing with a guy called Johnny who I
danced against in a dance contest! I'll never
forget it was at a straight club and my friend
Michelle and I danced to "Tuxedo Junction"
and Terri/Johnny danced to "Rough Diamond'
neither of us won! But anyways,alot of the guys
that were skinny and dressed in head to toe
denim on this episode went to this club-I thought they were rock stars cause they were
on AB.Some of those dancers were regulars
week after week-when VH1 played the marathons years ago they showed up as some
sort of reunion.Thankyou for posting that clip!
Thom