#balloon dance

Artwork by Jon Whitcomb

Debbie Reynolds and dance legend Bob Fosse in the “Balloon Dance” number from the MGM/Stanley Donen musical Give a Girl a Break, 1953. This number was cleverly filmed so the choreography appeared in reverse in the film. Debbie Reynolds had a ~very~ inappropriate incident with Bob Fosse during production of this movie (giving the film’s title an entirely different meaning), which she dealt with in an effective and rather “pointed” manner: Bobby did the choreography for our numbers together, and he came up with some very strenuous routines. It was the most difficult dancing I’d done since Singin’ in the Rain, but I was determined to keep up with him. During rehearsals, Bobby, who was so in love with his own well-endowed self, would come up behind me and press his “gift” into my backside to tease me. It was obvious he wasn’t wearing a dance belt; I could feel everything he wanted to share. And Bobby didn’t respond to subtle discouragement, like being pushed away vigorously. Fed-up, I went to a nearby drugstore one day at lunchtime to purchase a jockstrap for him, hoping it would help him to contain his enthusiasm. “Give me the biggest jockstrap you carry,” I told the clerk. “An extra-extra large.” He looked at me, puzzled. “I have an extra large size,” he responded, “but the only color it comes in is black.” Perfect. I bought it. Back at rehearsal, I placed my present in Bobby’s locker. He got the message and never poked me again. -From Unsinkable: A Memoir by Debbie Reynolds, Harper Collins, 2013.

balloon dance

THEY DID BAMBAM’S BALLOON DANCE AS PROMISED

Balloon Dance | Give a Girl a Break | Warner Archive

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