Anyone Remember--The original Dance Fever

[Phil Owl]

Anyone here ever watched the original Dance Fever from the late 70's to late 80's?

Man I wish there were tapes or DVD's available of the original show, as this is what inspired me to take ballroom dancing lessons way back when.

It had its share of memorable moments, like:

A couple that did this Arabian sort of thing with Scimitars, and good old Denny cautioned us "Don't try this at home" (DUH!)

A couple that looked as if they were having a bad night (shoes flying off, tripping and such) then realized it was totally on purpose, comedy ballroom dancing if you will. They won that particular night

Many of the Hustle couples were great, very fun and sexy to watch (they seemed to love the old "pull off partner's skirt while twirling" thing)

Frank Zappa being a judge one night (that was BIZARRE!!! Especially considering he had just come out with an anti-disco song not long before)

Any thoughts comments or rememberances?

[Vince A]

Phil Owl,
Ouch, did you bring back some memories . . . I used to dance at a Disco club back then, and had a dance partner who had one of those tear-away skirts . . . it was a short-lived partnership, as she had an over-jealous non-dancing husband who put his foot down and ended her dancing career! They are divorced now . . . she loves C&W music and dancing . . .

Anyway . . . thanks for the stroll down memory lane!!!

[youngsta]

I vaguely remember it...I was truly a youngsta then! :lol:

[MagicFeet]

OK! I had to register on this board! You guys just have the greatest topics!!! I have been reading it for about 3 weeks now and decided that it was time to register.

About original Dance Fever:

i wish that I could remember more of it although I watched it frequently, I probably wasn't paying that much attention to it then.

A few months ago, I started an extensive search to see if anyone had any available recording of this show. I would have loved to start a library or collection of sorts. After many nights researching the web and asking questions, I stumbled upon a post that said that Merv Griffin (owner of the rights to Dance Fever) had burnt all of the footage after Deni Terrio filed suit against him. The idea behind it was that he will never be paid royalties if the show would ever air again.

I don't know for a fact if this statement is true or not, just stating a previous post from another board. It would be a shame as I am sure that many of us would love to see these episodes again.

What prompted me to look around is that one of my dance teacher was a guest dancer on the show with his partner and they were asked to dance a Salsa piece! I wanted to see if I could find the episode for him.

If anybody ever finds a source for some of these shows, I would be more than happy to make DVD's out of them. Let's keep searching !!

Bernie

[pygmalion]

MagicFeet,

Welcome to the forums, and thanks for the great info. :)

Isn't dance-forums.com a great place to be? :wink:

[MagicFeet]

pygmalion,

Thanks for the warm welcome. I think that this forum is great! It seems like I know all of you by now since I've been reading for a few weeks.

It's nice that people are not afraid of sharing ideas and suggestions amongst themselves, and the topics are great!

[DanceMentor]

MagicFeet,

It seems we have much in common. I also did a similar search and came up with nothing.

I am also interested any episodes of American Bandstand hosted by Dick Clark. Apparently, there is a similar lockdown on this show.

It just doesn't make any since, does it?

I also have some good news. I don't have the name of the show, but I know the BBC aired the longest running dance show ever featuring ballroom dancing.

Get ready...

This is awesome...

BBC is going to release there entire archive, not just this show, their ENTIRE ARCHIVE (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3177479.stm). Now that's entertainment! There will be full public access. Could this be the start of something?

If anybody know the name of that show, please chime in.

[MagicFeet]

This would be great! I just hope that the format will be good enough for TV viewing and not a 3" x 3" square on your monitor.

I am sure that you have seen this link before to "Disco Step-byStep" .

http://www.discostepbystep.com/videos_loc.htm

They seem to have about 11 episodes of their shows available, but it also seems that the cost of duplication is exhorbitant although I never did call to confirm the price seen on their web site.

It would be great to see these vintage episodes again!

[MissAlyssa]

I don't think I watched that... :? :shock: :lol:

[SDsalsaguy]

OK! I had to register on this board! You guys just have the greatest topics!!! I have been reading it for about 3 weeks now and decided that it was time to register.
Hiya MagicFeet...sorry to be late with my welcome but, as you may have noted, I've been away fro the past week. Just wanted to chime in anyway though, and let you know that I'm glad to have you here as a participant now.

—Jonathan

[MagicFeet]

Thanks SDsalsaguy,

I am happy i joined although I have been quiet the past few days and probably will be for the next 3 weeks. I am heading to Italy in 2 days.

I have read many of your posts and your contribution to this board is something that I look forward to reading!

Hey, BTW ... Anyone knows good places to dance Ballroom, Hustle or Salsa around Venice? :)

MagicFeet

[SDsalsaguy]

I have read many of your posts and your contribution to this board is something that I look forward to reading! *blush* :oops:

[Phil Owl]

Check out this site if you have time: www.historicfilms.com

They actually have available 2 episodes of "Disco Magic" which was out (on CBS) at the same time as Dance Fever.

[mamboqueen]

Wow! Memories...

I loved Dance Fever. I really wish they would re-air old episodes. Did they have rotating guest judges??? I think so, but can't remember.

[Phil Owl]

Wow! Memories...

I loved Dance Fever. I really wish they would re-air old episodes. Did they have rotating guest judges??? I think so, but can't remember.

Yes, there were a different panel of celebrity guest judges every week, the most bizarrre being the one and only Frank Zappa! :O

[Phil Owl]

http://www.msdancedoctors.com/media/dancefever86.wmv

[SPratt74]

http://www.msdancedoctors.com/media/dancefever86.wmv

Oh wow! So that show was a lot like DWTS in a way just without the harsh criticism lol.

[alemana]

omg

[Phil Owl]

Oh wow! So that show was a lot like DWTS in a way just without the harsh criticism lol.

Very true indeed!

[pygmalion]

How'd you find the old clips, Phil? :cool:

Somehow, I'm guessing that waltz wasn't exactly the most popular dance on the show. lol.

[Phil Owl]

How'd you find the old clips, Phil? :cool:

Somehow, I'm guessing that waltz wasn't exactly the most popular dance on the show. lol.

Wellllllll, you'd be surpriseed my dear Pygmalion. When the show first went on in 1979, it was almost entirely disco, but as the 80's dawned, more and more dance styles got showcased, including latin/salsa, swing, standard and smooth, C&W, freestyle. clogging and some very original stuff (like one couple who did this Arabian thing actually using large scimitars and another who did this hilarious disaster-prone comedy ballroom thing) and more.

One day, I just did a random search for Dance Fever video footage and that came up. I do miss the original show, can't say I was too crazy about the 2003 reality-show take on it (DWTS was infinitely better).

[pygmalion]

Wellllllll, you'd be surpriseed my dear Pygmalion. When the show first went on in 1979, it was almost entirely disco, but as the 80's dawned, more and more dance styles got showcased, including latin/salsa, swing, standard and smooth, C&W, freestyle. clogging and some very original stuff (like one couple who did this Arabian thing actually using large scimitars and another who did this hilarious disaster-prone comedy ballroom thing) and more.

One day, I just did a random search for Dance Fever video footage and that came up. I do miss the original show, can't say I was too crazy about the 2003 reality-show take on it (DWTS was infinitely better).

I wonder why I rarely watched these shows. Maybe 'cause the timeslot, where I lived, was pretty lame, IIRC. Something like 5:30 on Saturday afternoons. So, since I didn't care about dance at the time, I didn't watch.

The lady in this clip has really unattractive legs, from a ballroom perspective. It's pretty interesting that the couple scored so high. I guess the judges didn't know what they were looking at. DWTS, anyone? CarrieAnn (sp?) may be clueless on ballroom, but now we have twenty-year-old evidence that she represents the ordinary person's perspective on ballroom dance. Pretty cool. :)

[Joe]

:shock:

[pygmalion]

Yeah. Did you get a gander at her legs? :? And their feet?

But hey. The people watching didn't know, and many were probably impressed enough to go start dancing. Isn't that what it's all about? :cool:

[Laura]

I'm suprised no one has mentioned the PURPLE CATSUIT the guy was wearing! OH MY EYES!

Okay, I'm calmer now.

The woman who used to own one of the studios I dance at was on "Dance Fever" once. She was dressed as a cheerleader and danced to "Oh Mickey!"

[pygmalion]

I wasn't gonna go there. Fashions change, after all. :wink: :lol:

[Laura]

Yes, but that's why they are so fun to snark at. How about that patterned brocade jacket with the HUGE SHOULDER PADS that one of the judges, who a friend just identified as Hope from some soap opera, was wearing?

:)

The lady in purple was certainly very flexible, though.

[pygmalion]

Gotta love the shoulder pads. :lol: Too funny. The last time my parents visited, my Mom brought me a photo of me from that era. Yuck!!! The shoulder pads, big hair, and excessive makeup were ... startling, to say the least. :lol:

[musicchica86]

LOL I was thinking it, but waiting to see who would mention the horrifying costumes first. :-P

[Phil Owl]

Well, horrifying fashions or not, one thing's for sure, that show did get a lot of people to try dancing in its time, myself included. :mrgreen:

[SPratt74]

Gotta love the shoulder pads. :lol: Too funny. The last time my parents visited, my Mom brought me a photo of me from that era. Yuck!!! The shoulder pads, big hair, and excessive makeup were ... startling, to say the least. :lol:

Yep! We did that a lot! The big hair though is what damaged my hair back then! I'm lucky I've got great hair now!!! :D

[Laura]

I found some pictures of me from 1989 or so. Oy vey. You should see the shoes...black patent leather, extremely poitned toes, the toes capped off with metallic tips, and a series of about six silver buckled straps going up the instep. And the big permed hair, cut short at the sides and fluffy on top. I never got in to the huge amounts of makeup, though.

A while ago a friend pulled out some old tapes of the Ohio Star Ball from the mid-80's. And lo and behold there was Ron Montez, Tony Meredith, and Pierre Allaire all dancing Latin in brightly colored catsuits. Yellow and white was very popular that year. And their partners had on dresses sit higher than the hip (with inset panels of flesh-colored fabric) and loads of metallic lame' ruffles.

[SPratt74]

Yeah. Did you get a gander at her legs? :? And their feet?

But hey. The people watching didn't know, and many were probably impressed enough to go start dancing. Isn't that what it's all about? :cool:

This is why I wear ballroom shoes that cover up my feet and not the strappy ones lol! ;)

[Phil Owl]

You HAVE to see this, a somewhat edited version of an old Dance Fever from late 1979, with none other than FRANK ZAPPA as a celebrity judge, CLASSIC!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEMj8RCZqtw

[samina]

wow, does that bring back memories... totally forgot about that show

whattahoot...

[tangotime]

I co- produced one with Denny Terio, in , I think, 81. I had 3 schools at the time and he approached me to put together location and format ( which he changed !! ) ran into him again in 94, in Clearwater where he was trying to resurect the seventies, by putting on disco events on Sun nites .

The first few weeks, the place was packed !! , then it faded away.
was strange to listen to all the " oldies ", and kinda sad to see its demise. it did so much for the industry. Also, fun to see people doing latin hustle, which many of the newer folks had never seen .( disco is still big in u.k. !! )

[Phil Owl]

For those who get nostalgic, check these out pretty cool! :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2af5kZndFU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S06vLzbJVkQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySGHX1QMKxo

[Phil Owl]

And another circa 1981

http://youtube.com/watch?v=QOvy0zLvv5Y

[wooh]

These sooo make me smile. Especially the one in the 2nd post, I love that they're wearing shower curtains!!

[wooh]

Of course, when thinking about Dance Fever, one has to remember the greatest tv show ever made featuring dancing, SOLID GOLD!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr6H241usvY&feature=related

[Phil Owl]

They're rare sightings on You Tube, but just found this, part of a Dance Fever ep from late 1981, however, to see the dancing, FF to the 8:40 mark.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpbm7X-EUJo

[Dave]

It's a slightly different show, but if you look at

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=dannsirs&view=videos&sort=v

there are a load of videos from Star Search at roughly the same time (a bit later I think), including several from the legendary Eddie Vega, plus some from Sharon Savoy and Arte Phillips.

[Phil Owl]

Found another on Daily Motion (You Tube's rival)

http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/search/Dance+Fever+/video/x7bgb9_dance-fever-memoirs_music

[Phil Owl]

Man I miss this, actual dancing and NO filler or fake drama

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http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/search/Dance+Fever/video/x7bgb9_dance-fever-memoirs_music

[New in NY]

How fun! I am e-mailing my friend Jon Giswold right now !!!!

[Dave]

I think I've posted this before, but it seems relevant:

Compilation of performances by Eddy Vega and Lisa Nunziella on Star Search

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The following channel has more clips of Eddy and Lisa and also has several clips by Arte Phillips and Sharon Savoy:

http://www.youtube.com/user/dannsirs#p/u/30/Dqou645rKXI

[Phil Owl]

Just found another, circa 1984:

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[White Chacha]

Great thread, makes me smile!

[wooh]

So cheesy, so fun!

[gracie]

Interesting! Deney Terio, who hosted Dance Fever from '79 -'85 lives in our community and is going to be one of the Pro's for our local fundraiser, Dancing With Brevard. He is still active on the local and national seen putting on dance shows. My Pro's sister and brother both won on Dance Fever in the early 80's. Wish I had videos of that!

[Phil Owl]

A pretty recent addition

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[Phil Owl]

And BTW, thanks and kudos to whoever found the original thread and merged them, GREATLY appreciated! :rocker:

[Phil Owl]

Just found this one, circa 1981

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=86723073712&oid=131110300170

[Phil Owl]

More still

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[Phil Owl]

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And on this Chicago based suite, there's a complete episode, a Christmas special from 1980 in 7 parts

http://fuzzymemories.tv/

[Phil Owl]

From 1981

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[Phil Owl]

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[DocaVioda]

Oh wow...thanks a lot Someone has any idea where i can find these or just Pams in HQ?

[Phil Owl]

They pop up on You Tube occasionally, dubbed from people's home VHS tapes obviously, but it's luck of the draw, the series was never officially released in any form after it ended, only Merv Griffin Productions knows for sure.

[Pirate Smith]

OH DEAR GOD... OH DEAR GOD... Please stop this thread... and Please God do not let some of the early, early early disco audition tapes ever be found... In all your mercy DEAR GOD... do not let the audition tapes ever be found.. and if found.. don't let anyone post them here... I'm sorry I just found this thread... and really, I may just have to drop out of this forum... Oberon

[CANI]

OH DEAR GOD... OH DEAR GOD... Please stop this thread... and Please God do not let some of the early, early early disco audition tapes ever be found... In all your mercy DEAR GOD... do not let the audition tapes ever be found.. and if found.. don't let anyone post them here... I'm sorry I just found this thread... and really, I may just have to drop out of this forum... Oberon

Did you try out?;)

[Pirate Smith]

Deny, Deny Deny ... until a video tape is found.. I admit to NOTHING...

[CANI]

Deny, Deny Deny ... until a video tape is found.. I admit to NOTHING...
:D...love it...;)

[Phil Owl]

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From "Soap Factory" 1978 or 79

[Phil Owl]

More appears:


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[Phil Owl]

And from the 1981 Xmas Special

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[Ray Sison]

:cheers: to you, Phil! Fabulous! :cool:

And from the 1981 Xmas Special

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[Phil Owl]

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[singndance]

These are a hoot! Fabulous! I have to admit, I used to love Dance Fever!!!

[Phil Owl]

I've been hearing rumblings (still looking for confirmation) that the 1985-86 season of Dance Fever is going to be issued on DVD by Shout Factory. I hope it's true.

[Phil Owl]

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