'West Side Story' Ballroom dancers Celebrate Film's 50th Anniversary

The film version of "West Side Story" marked its 50th anniversary this year. The beloved screen change in the legendary Broadway musical won 10 Academy awards in 1961, including best picture and finest director for Robert Smart and Jerome Robbins. AFI ranks it number 41 on its listing of 100 finest American movies, also it ranks # 2 on AFI's finest movie musicals list. In 1997, the film was selected for upkeep within the National Film Registry to be considered "culturally significant" through the U.S. Library of Congress. Within the film, dance is as essential as Stephen Sondheim's lyrics and Leonard Bernstein's music. The ballroom dancers are in the forefront, acting through Robbins' difficult, stylized, and emotional choreographythe story of the modern Romeo and Juliet torn apart by gang warfare. Very little is famous, however, concerning the amazing actor-ballroom dancers who performed the Jets and also the Sharks. A number of them weren't even indexed by the film's credits.Robert Banas and Tony Mordente, who performed the Jet gang people Joyboy and Action, had the concept to construct a memoir from the "West Side" actor-ballroom dancers. "Our StoryJets & SharksThen and todayInch covers their auditions, their filming experience, and just how the film affected their lives and careers. It was launched this year to mark the film's half-century celebration, as would be a three-disc Blu-ray DVD.Back Stage sitting lower with some of the "gang people," who shared their reminiscences of focusing on a motion picture landmark. Around the Impact of Dance in "West Side Story" Nobuko Miyamoto, also known as Joanne Miya (Francisca, a Shark girl): I believe the one thing that differentiates "West Side Story," in my experience, is always that the ballroom dancers were such a significant part from the film. In each and every film which i had ever done, ballroom dancers were usually without anyone's knowledge. Within this situation, whether it wasn't for that dance and also the music, there would not be a "West Side Story." The dance pressed the storyline. There is no dead amount of time in a bit of music. The making of it had been a masterpiece. It included effort and also the very best in the businessBernstein, Robbins, Sondheim, [Arthur] Laurents [author from the original book from the musical].Gina Trikonis (Graziella, a Jet girl): The dance moves the storyline along. What is not being stated in dialogue is stated with this physiques. "Awesome," in my experience, is definitely an absolute masterful bit of choreographythe best bit of choreography I have seen on filmbecause it's drama that's expressed with the body, and that is what causes it to be so wonderful and intense. Which was a part of Jerry's genius. Also, he earned everybody write a backstory regarding their character. We were not just ballroom dancers i was stars that been remarkable ballroom dancers. Whenever we were on set, we were not just background "fluff." I was figures, and that we introduced that backstory around in every step, every snap, everything. There is not a wasted movement for the reason that movement. Nothing. Everything counts so far as the choreography.Carole D'Andrea (Velma, a Jet girl): I had been within the original Broadway production too, as well as then, to obtain us into character, Jerry would scream at us, "Stop dancing and walk!" We needed to constantly learn to walk. The men especially. "What's happening? You are dancing. Walk! You are a juvenile you are not really a dancer." On Getting Cast Russ Tamblyn (Lick, the best choice from the Jets): I really auditioned for negligence Tony. Never imagined inside a million many years of playing Lick. I'd exactly the same agent as Robert WisePhil Gersh. And So I felt like I'd an in. Certainly does not help you to get a component, because Bob and Jerry composed their very own minds. However I would call Phil every evening and say, "Phil, where's it now?" I finally obtain the call, and that he states, "Well, boy, is it necessary some news for you personally. You did not get negligence Tony." Damn. You realize? "However they offered the role of Lick." And That I stated, "Lick?!" However I did not determine if I possibly could handle the dancing. He then stated, "Well, they switched the 'Cool' number and also the 'Krupke' number. So you'd do 'Krupke.' " It exercised superbly. Made total sense.D'Andrea: They examined me for Maria eventually, before they cast Natalie [Wood]. They provided the lines, put a black hairpiece on me, the entire factor. I still remember going to the studio, and that i did the entire scene, which maybe it was, on that day. I never learned about it. They never stated anything. I have to happen to be atrocious. Miyamoto: Being an Asian-American, I did not think I'd an opportunity whatsoever. I'd labored for Jerome Robbins really around the film "The King and that i.Inch I had been in [the ballet number] "The Little House of Uncle Thomas." In the finish from the shoot, he spoken in regards to a new musical he was focusing on known as "East Side Story." It was known as "Gangway," before he transformed it to "West Side Story." I saw the show, not to mention I had been crying. It had been just amazing. I auditioned to become a Broadway alternative, however i was contracted in "Flower Drum Song," and so i could not get it done. After I visited the film auditions in L.A. I figured, "This can be a film. They are not likely to use me within this, searching the way in which I actually do.Inch However they did the screen test, plus they put lots of dark makeup on me, and in some way I passed for Puerto Rican. Which was a real large factor for me personally. I had been been trained in ballet and all sorts of these [variations], however i had not done anything where I performed anything apart from an Asian. For me personally, it had been a large deal to become a Puerto Rican.Maria Henley (Teresita, a Shark girl): I believe really the only Puerto Ricans were Yvonne Wilder, who performed Consuelo, and Rita [Moreno]. I had been Mexican-American Susie Kaye, who performed Rosalia, was Jewish but it is just really type of interesting the way we all combined.D'Andrea: I believe Jerry had a watch for that exact mixture of acting abilityintensityand I understand in the Broadway auditions, he was searching for only a couple of who could do all of it.Henley: I figured I had been cast due to my technique until the very first day I saw Jerry make an entrance at testing. A lamp continued. There is an objective and reason for every person who was there. It had been about your character. On Jerome Robbins Getting Fired In the Film D'Andrea: 99 % around the globe doesn't realize that Jerry was let use the center of filming "West Side Story." Every dancer I have ever met, they'll go, "What?" Bert Michaels (Snowboy, part of the Jets): It had been a Friday. Howard [Jeffrey, the dance assistant] did not like the way you used to do our class, however the Jets had got through doing "Awesome," and also the sore spots were breaking on our knees each time we plid. The following factor we all know, Jerry comes storming in and rises to them people and states, "Simply because you've got a little film you does not mean you cannot be launched. Anyone can be changed." Then, Monday morning whenever we were practicing the pharmacy sequence, at lunch Russ Tamblyn known as us over and stated, "Jerry was absolutely right anyone can be changed, and that he was." All of us were really like, "What?!" I am talking about, you cannot replace God. What exactly are you speaking about? Which was an amazing moment. I was all standing there, and that we were in shock. And i believe i was in shock for that relaxation of times. D'Andrea: It had been his baby. How can you remove him? Still, even today, it's like, what?Tamblyn: My understanding was that after they made the decision to possess co-direction between Jerry and Bob Smart, within the contract it stated whether it did not exercise after three several weeks or something like that like this, they'd a choice to allow Jerry go. Jerry spent considerable time [filming], going overboard on takes, plus they were drained of cash. And nobody understood just how much the film would make, obviously. All of us got like a few days off we thought we might not really complete the film. I'm not sure all of the problems, but that is essentially what it really was. Trikonis: "West Side Story" was Jerry's last film. It had been absolutely devastating for him [to become fired]. You need to hear [executive producer] Walter Mirisch discuss how he's the one which told him. Walter stated Jerry would not speak with him again and was totally devastated and returned to ballet.Around the Concentration of Employed by Robbins Trikonis: Whenever we were shooting "Awesome," regardless of what the shot or position was, we needed to perform the whole dance right from the start each and every time. To find the emotional juices going. I believe that's a primary reason it is so effective. Henley: I recall it required 2 . 5 days to shoot "America." We finally first got it within the can, after which 2 days later we heard he desired to reshoot the entire factor again from another position. Robert Banas (Joyboy, part of the Jets): If Jerry did not like how you used to do ballet barre in a testing, you had been gone. It type of put just a little fear into you. You actually needed to work on doing all of your technique making it worth him, or else you had been out.Trikonis: He always was type of intimidating for the reason that way. This is the way he stored us on our toes, while he made us seem like any kind of us might be changed immediately if he found somebody who he loved better.Tamblyn: Remember whenever we did that dance number, dancing lower the road within the summer time? It's like 110 levels, and that we made it happen again and again, dancing lower the entire block, nipping and jumping and jumping until Bob Smart finally stated, "Okay, which was good." Then Jerry stated, "Yeah, Let me do yet another though. But I'd like whatever you Jets to get it done alternatively feet." Keep in mind that, Bert? Alternatively feet. Michaels: I believe that labored, because I'm not sure whether it was conscious on Jerry's part, but simply the complete terror. I'm not sure exactly what the relaxation individuals felt, but simply the complete numb terror that people would perform the other footthat's what he got onscreen, and that is what he wanted.Banas: It had been just a little trying and difficult, however i had labored with Jerry two times before, and that i understood what his demands were. However it opened up doorways for a number of us it did for me personally. I am sure most of us achieved positive results because of it. On Finding yourself in the initial Broadway Show D'Andrea: I'll always remember opening evening. Ten each morning, Jerry calls a conference with the ballroom dancers and everyone and states, "Okay, this really is what's gonna happen: The experts are generally likely to kill us tonight because I am trying something which they are likely to say must have occurred uptown at NY City Ballet, which it doesn't belong on Broadway initially, or we are will make history tonight." After which he went, "I selected every one of you." Also it was like, you best f--king appear. I'll always remember that. I recieve chills considering that. We understood that which was on the line. Responses From Fellow Ballroom dancers and also the Public Trikonis: When ballroom dancers I meet discover I had been Graziella, I have had several youthful ballroom dancers show up and tell me, "I grew to become a dancer due to you, because I saw you in 'West Side Story.' " That's awesome. I can not let you know the number of youthful individuals have been inspired with this movie.Henley: Whenever we did the 40th anniversary up at Radio City, there should have been 5000 folks the crowd. There have been people there who had the initial Broadway program! I really like hearing the way the film transformed individuals lives, since the Broadway show transformed my existence. I'd never witnessed anything enjoy it, and that i stated, "That is what I would like related to my existence." To perform the movie and individuals are touched through the movie, it's awesome. Never imagined this movie could be as great because it is.Michaels: My boy lately stated in my experience, "How much of an amazing factor that everyone did and just how wonderful. It's like time was still. You are exactly the same now half a century later while you were in those days.Inch It's a lesson to become learned. And I am so grateful.