The male dancer. Now when we say “swoonworthy” we are talking about a performer with a strong presence on stage and a knack for rousing a love of the performing arts. These 10 male dancers make their genre of dance seem effortless and easy, immediately making us infatuated with movement.
#1 – Fabrice Calmels
OH. MY. The first man on our list is French-born, Fabrice Calmels. Now an established dancer with the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago, Fabrice’s goal is to change how people look at ballet. A towering 6 feet 7 inces, Fabrice is not the typical size for male dancers and admits that his physique is that of a basketball player – but thankfully for performing arts fans, he loves ballet.
#2 – Stephen “Twitch” Boss
A top 20 performer in the So You Think You Can Dance television series, Stephen “Twitch” Boss is a freestyle hiphop dancer from Alabama. He studied dance in college and despite his busy schedule performing and starring in movies like Magic Mike XXL, Twitch teaches dance all over the world.
#3 – Mikhail Baryshnikov
One of the greatest ballet dancers of the 20th century, Mikhail Baryshnikov is a classic, strong, and bold interpreter of dance. With the loss of his mother to suicide when he was 16, Mikhail took to dance. His impressive resume started in Russia where he became a principal dancer, next to the American Ballet Theatre (ABT), and then the New York City Ballet. Dancing well into his 60s, Mikhail has won an Emmy, was nominated for an Academy Award, opened his own arts center, and starred in Sex in the City, with Sarah Jessica Parker.
#4 – Rudolf Nureyev
Possessed by performing, critics called Rudolf a “romantic performer” whose charisma with Margot Fonteyn on the stage made audiences swoon. Nearly half her age, Rudolf’s movement with Margot defined his thoughts on ballet by embodying a display of intense purity and expression of the body and mind.
#5 – Gene Kelly
Forever changing the image of the male dancer with his athletic approach to dancing, Gene Kelly was a well rounded performer, choreographer, actor, singer, and director. The king of on screen musicals, Gene starred in classics like Singing in the Rain and An American in Paris, creating everyday life as the backdrop of dance.
#6 – Alvin Ailey
A crucial part of modern dance in the United States, choreographer Alvin Ailey started his own dance company after seeing the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo perform. Alvin’s company, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater travels all over the world, passionately exposing audiences to modern dance.
#7 – Patrick Swayze
Well-known for his movie roles in films like The Outsiders, Dirty Dancing, and Ghost, Patrick Swayze’s performance beginnings started with ballet. His mother, the director of the Houston Jazz Ballet Company, introduced Patrick to the arts. Armed with a background in gymnastics and football, Patrick wooed audiences for years with his oh-so muscular build and easy on the eyes movement.
#8 – Channing Tatum
Stealing the silver screen with his hunky model-esque side grin, Channing Tatum has frequently been seen performing in hits like Step Up and Magic Mike.
#9 – Fred Astaire
A tap legend, Fred Astaire made dance look effortless and downright classy. And partnered with the likes of female performers like Ginger Rogers, Fred roused female excitement all over the globe. Fred was also a perfectionist, demanding nothing but the best from himself and his partners.
#10 – Herman Cornejo
Mixed into our list of classic and groundbreaking performers is Herman Cornejo. An native of Argentina, Herman’s portfolio with the American Ballet Theatre is downright stunning. His goal as a dancer is to give everyone in the audience an amazing experience – and does he ever … His jumps are enough to make anyone squeal.
Live. Love. Dance.
Image Credits:
1. Found on Indianapolis City Ballet, 2. USA Today, 3. Citizens of Humanity, 4. Biography.com, 5. Getty Images, 6. Image Arcade, 7. Fan Pop, 8. imdb.com, 9. Found via Pinterest (source unknown), 10. gramilano.com
Recent Comments