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

  1. #1
    Joined
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    American Bandstand - What was the selection process for the dancers?

    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?

  2. #2
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    Re: American Bandstand - What was the selection process for the dancers?

    That's a great question. I have no clue but I wanted to bump the thread up.
    I used to frequent the LA disco scene in the late 70\'s. My favorite discos were \" My uncles, Dillons, the Tiki\'s, Odyssey 2000.

  3. #3
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    Re: American Bandstand - What was the selection process for the dancers?

    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

  4. #4
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    Re: Thommy

    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! :icon_eek:). 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.

  5. #5
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    Re: Thommy


     

     

    Quote Originally Written by cloudeleven View Post
    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! :icon_eek:). 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
    Last edited by thommy2458; January 6th, 2007 at 11:55 PM.

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