Tybee Arfa and John Brascia dance routine
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- Опубліковано 12 чер 2012
- John Brascia and Tybee Arfa do a dance routine on Ed Sullivan show on May 26, 1957. It was this show that caught Frank Sinatra's attention to these dancers (more below).
Thanks to ljtube1, I corrected Tybee's last name 12-1-12. Tybee Arfa is from Cuba and regarded as one of the hottest rhythm dancers of the time. Sadly she passed away in 1982.
John Brascia passed away in February 2013 following a 20-year battle with Parkinson's disease. "He teamed with Vera-Ellen in the Bing Crosby classic, with Cyd Charisse in "Meet Me in Las Vegas" and with Tybee Arfa in nightclubs and on television." from www.hollywoodreporter.com/news...
John Brascia alongside Vera Ellen performed a great routine in the 1954 movie White Christmas, he recently teamed with Tybee Afra. Info on John and Tybee was found in the Fall 2009 issue of The Gypsy Chorus by Professional Dancers Society (link below), article "A Great Dance-Filled Read." In this article by Larry Billman where he researches Josephine Powell's biography Tito Puente: When the Drums are Dreaming (AuthorHouse, 2007). Excerpts below:
UPDATE from comment by megavega4, "I am the son of Joe Vega, I have been working tirelessly to put to rest wrongful information about my father. The woman who wrote the book on Tito Puente claims that my father died sometime in the late 50's. If I was born in 1963, doesn't that violate laws of physics somehow?"
"TYBEE ARFA was born in 1932 at Monticello in the Catskill Mountains. Her father a Russian-born Jew was a resort hotel furnishings designer. She was an attractive spitfire when she wore her black hair in the manner of a Hollywood starlet. At an early age Tybee became exposed to the best of the Latin bands that arrived every summer. By sitting close to the bandstand and with a good sense of rhythm she learned to mambo.
When she turned nineteen in April of 1950, she headed for New York and the New York Palladium." First dancing with JOE VEGA "..a handsome Puerto Rican, formerly of the Mambo Aces and according to Tito Puente: 'the finest mambo dancer in all of New York.' One of Afra and Vega's first gigs was with the LECUONA CUBAN BOYS traveling to Rio de Janeiro. With Afra's feline movements and Vega's smooth style, the couple became part of Tito's mambo shows."
When Joe Vega suddenly died, Tybee auditioned as a soloist for MIGUELITO VALDES for the Tropicana in Havana, Cuba, and for a year had great success in Havana. Returning to New York and Lindy's Deli "...a show people hangout. One afternoon at Lindy's Tybee met JOHN BRASCIA. 'Tybee was a terrific mambo dancer,' Brascia swore, 'but totally untrained in the field of professional dance. But she had that something special, a cat-like panther quality in her movements." When Tybee suggested that they become a dance team -- "We began to rehearse; I put her in ballet school. We selected the music... I got DOMINIC FRONTIERE to play the piano... We hired LUIGI to stage the act."
JOHN BRASCIA, a much talked about Broadway dancer... Brascia had smooth skin, curly dark hair, topped out at over six feet, was long-legged and if Brascia had a fault it was that he was too handsome and very vain about his dancing. When Tybee suggested that they become a dance team -- and knowing the strong connections she had at Grossinger's "We began to rehearse; I put her in ballet school."
"This time, it was big time, for the Ed Sullivan Show. While we were on the show, SINATRA was watching, and he caught us. He had his agent call, and we were booked at the Sands in Las Vegas as the opening act for FRANK SINATRA and his Rat Pack. Our salary was, guess what, one thousand seven hundred fifty dollars a week." Before forming the act, John had made his Broadway debut in Hazel Flagg in 1953, winning NY Critic Circle and Donaldson Awards and was then featured in the films White Christmas (partnering VERA-ELLEN) and Meet Me in Las Vegas (dancing with CYD CHARISSE). Tybee's solo film credits include Silk Stockings, Lost Horizon and The Godfather and she was featured in Monte Proser's Tropicana Revue in Las Vegas. Married from 1959-1970, they remained good friends until Tybee's premature death in 1982 at the age of 50.
Quoted in the book [Tito Puente: When the Drums are Dreaming] from a 1993 interview with the author: "As far as I was concerned," said Johnny Brascia, 'there were only three dance teams: Augie & Margo, the SZONYS, and Tybee and I."
PDS issue shows a photo of Tybee and John striking a dance pose from Dance Magazine, December 1968, page 26. Download the PDF of 2009 newsletter at www.professionaldancerssociety...
John Brascia and Vera-Ellen dance routine in White Christmas at • Video
Tybee Arfa in a dance routine with Fred Astaire and also wearing a beautiful dress in Silk Stockings at • "Silk Stockings" Dance... - Навчання та стиль
LUIGI CHOREOGRAPHED THIS!
The Ed Sullivan Show!
“Johnny” Brascia, as Luigi called him, also worked in MGM’s White Christmas and at Falcon Studios Hollywood where they became friends. This amazing video validates a story that Luigi told - that he choreographed for Brascia and Tybee for America’s top variety television show!!! Luigi aka Gene Louis aka Eugene Louis Faccuito is the innovator of the world's first jazz and musical theater technique for dancers, his studio in still teaching and going strong in NYC. He started to share his choreography and holistic dance exercises in 1951 in Hollywood and moved to NYC when he had to appear in Happy Hunting with Ethel Merman.
Johnny is quoted below here by the person who found and shared this gem, Andrew Burns aka Andrew Choreographer on Facebook.
Below is part of Andrews’ post;
Season 9, Episode 35 of The Ed Sullivan Show "Toast of the Town" with John Brascia and Tybee Arfa performing. This Episode aired Sunday, 26th May, 1957.
Mr. Brascia talks about Tybee Arfa and how they come to be a duo on stage, and appear on The Ed Sullivan Show.
“Tybee was a terrific mambo dancer, but totally untrained in the field of professional dance. But she had that something special, a cat like panther quality in her movements. I saw this in her when she took me to the New York Palladium. Tybee suggested that we team up. I was scouting around for work, and I thought it was something I could do on the weekends at the Catskill Mountains, where Tybee had all these connections (Miss Arfa was born and grew up around Monticello, Catskill Mountains).
We began to rehearse; I put her in ballet school. We selected the music. I got Roger ‘King’ Mosian; a great arranger who had done Machito’s hit ‘Asia Minor,’ and the composer of ‘Desert Dance.’ He played the drums. I got Dominic Frontiere to play the piano.
We hired Luigi to stage the act.
I called MCA one day before we were opening at Grossinger’s. They told me they had enough dance acts and not in the market for new talent, but they told me that they would send one of their agents to the rehearsal that afternoon.”
Mr. Brascia went on to explain, that agent was so impressed with their act, and the duo was signed to appear at the Latin Casino, Philadelphia.
Also when Mr. Brascia and Miss Arfa were performing at Grossinger’s, management from the Fontainebleau Hotel, Miami Beach was in the audience. The now popular duo, were offered to be the opening act for Lena Horne (1957).
It was while Mr. Brascia and Miss Arfa were performing at Fontainebleau Hotel; a talent scout from The Ed Sullivan show was in the audience, who promptly offered the duo an appearance on the show.
In a 1993 interview, John Brascia spoke of his appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show with Tybee Arfa and the doors it opened for their nightclub act.
“While we were on the show, Sinatra was watching, and he caught us. He had his agent call, and we were booked as the Sands in Las Vegas as the opening act for Frank Sinatra and his rat pack, which was Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop. Our salary was, guess what, one thousand seven hundred fifty dollars a week.”
Did You Know?
The Ed Sullivan Show (CBS) ran for 24 Seasons from 1948 to 1971.
Thanks for the additional info!
Also, Johnny said that when Tybee was very ill in the hospita with cancerl, Sinatra visited her, knowing it would be the last time he'd see her. Sinatra hugged her, and said he'd spoken with the doctor and she was going to recover, and that she needed to get a routine together as he was planning a tour and wanted her on it, and she gave Sinatra the biggest smile shortly before passing away.
Johnny told me a story about when they were on tour in Europe and opening for Sinatra, They were all on a tour plane, and somewhere over Italy the lights went out and the plane plummeted. Everyone panicked but Tybee. When the power was restored, Johnny asked her how she was so calm, and she replied, "It's Frank's plane, he'd never let anything happen."
Hi - Thanks so much for posting this video. He was just an amazing dancer (tap, modern, ballet moves, and all the choreography that was in musicals back then)- and a lot of his moves look so Bob Fosse - the slope of the shoulders as he moves. . . My parents did a lot of Broadway musicals in the '40's and 50's (on Broadway :), so i was aware of dancers as well as singers in the 'chorus'. I remember John Brascia in the movies, but never knew his name. I discovered him on the net about a year ago. He was an amazing partner - always looking at his partner and showing her off :} i just love him (and, of course, his partners were wonderful, too, but i always tend to watch him :}
Choreographed by Luigi xoxo
I have since spoken with Ms Powell, the author of "When The Drums Are Dreaming" recently. She admitted that a lot of her info was incorrect, prompting her to do a rewrite of several chapters in the book. She is going to expand the section about my dad and correct the things that she wrote. Things happen for the good when you're persistent. We have a wonderful respectful line of communication.
stunning!
Sorry Lorenzo...some of your information is incorrect about John Brascia...John was my cousin and our family home town was not Brescia...it was Bitonto Bari Italy. (southern part of Italy..) ....John also told me that when he and Tybee were to open up for Frank Sinatra at an event, Frank saw that management had put John and Tybee in a small room the size of a closet (Johns' words) and Frank was so mad at management that he insisted that John and Tybee be put in a Big Room like his. John always spoke highly of Frank...
Thanks for posting this info. I will pass on this to my Sinatra fans.
Luigi, the world's jazz technique innovator and creator of his own dance school that is still running, choreographed this sophisticated jazz dance number.
Thanks for noting the choreographer Luigi.
@@wrightmf Manticores thanks for posting this. Luigi's followers in dance worldwide are not aware of his choreography or his friendship with ''Johnnie'' Brascia and Tybee Arfa. ''White Christmas'' is one of the productions these men worked in together in Hollywood, where they met.
Hi there! Just thought I'd add that Tybee's niece Barbara will soon be publishing a book on the life of Tybee Arfa. Be on the lookout for that.
. Sinatra also restored their dressing room after Sammy Davis had kicked them out to use the room for himself during a Rat Pack Tour.. When they were touring Italy with Sinatra, they appeared in Brescia, which has Johnny's family's home town, and when they got to the concert hall, Johnny said His name was above Sinatra's on the marquee, a gift from Sinatra.
Interesting reply, thanks for doing so. I got this info from a PDS newsletter (I didn't buy the book) and maybe it is simply a case of very little published information on your father. Unlike more famous dancers like Gene Kelly, only little written for your dad and people like myself have only that information to go on. Author of the book "When The Drums Are Dreaming" most likely has moved on to other projects.
I do not remember THAT much about Tybee. She passed away in the early 1980's when I was in my 20's. I do remember meeting her and Johnny a couple of times when I would visit my aunt in Monticello, NY where Tybee was from. Unfortunately, most of the folks on that side of the family have passed away within the last decade or so. I will see if any of the few family members who are left might know something.
Understand that I wasn't born till 1963, so I missed a lot of the glory years. I learned about them in retrospect. I was never witness to those revues. I'd be interested to know where you got your info from and if you have any press or media regarding those performances. Since my dad died before the technology boom, there is virtually no footage of him dancing and very little press. I have been in search of anything I could find ever since the birth of the internet.
Hi Richie, sorry for the late reply. It's been a busy week. Some of those names absolutely mean something to me. I have an article from Dance magazine from the early 1970's with my dad and Horatio demonstrating the steps for the Meta. That performance you mentioned from the 1940's must have been the LATE 40's, as my dad spent most of his early to mid 20's as a boxer. However, I have no information on it nor was it ever mentioned to me.
Unfortunately, I was not alive when my dad was dancing with Tybee. My dad passed away in August of 1974 of a massive heart attack.
Yes, most of his dancing was show dancing, although he was an outstanding social dancer. I'm not quire sure how he met Tybee. Perhaps it was at those country clubs up in the Catskills. I'll have to ask my mom.
I am a professional musician. I'm not much of a dancer, so I would never attempt to fill my dad's shoes.
Chris, good news about a rewrite of the book. What about your dad, when did he die? Was most of his dancing showdance? Any other forms of dancesports? How did he met Tybee? Did he put her through professional training? Any photos? Are you a dancer yourself?
Yes Steve, but to give it a more "ethnic" flair, they suggested that she rearrange the letters. Wasn't her first name Tybelle? (not sure of the spelling)
ARRGG! My mistake in the other reply, that was Brascia that danced with Vera Ellen, not your dad Joe Vega. Sorry.
Richie, let us know when Barbara's book on Tybee is ready for purchase!
k6mfw Barbara Arfa this is SEYMORE SAIDINER BAKER STAINGLASS
Can you add some more info on your father? When did he pass away? What dance stories did he tell you? Did he write any of his career? Did you ever meet Tybee? Did he describe what it was like performing on Ed Sullivan show? Doing the dance routine with Vera Ellen in "White Christmas?" Are you a dancer yourself? Thanks in advance.
Thanks for the note, I will correct the name. Can you add some additional info of your cousin's dancing career?
The woman's last name is ARFA, not AFRA. Tybee was my cousin!
@ Chris: Do names like Ida Puente, Sanson Batalla, Luis 'Maquina' Flores, Horacio Riambau, Julio Sabater, Marilyn Winters, a woman nicknamed "Kacha" [the wife of Chano Pozo] and a dance revue Joe Vega participated in, led by a dancer name "Pepe," mean anything to you? Joe Vega performing at the Triboro Theater in "El Barrio" with the Jose Curbelo Orch., circa the 1940s? Again, I'm in no way looking to cash in on Joe Vega's name or have any intentions of writing a book. My business is culture.
Hi Chris. I hope you understand that I mean no offense. Simply put, the fact is there are a lot of scamsters out there claiming to be someone or having experienced a place & time and the reality is far from the truth. Based on what you've written regarding "stories" given by others and the inaccuracies of books, I'm sure you can understand why I would be cautious. Just so you know, I never met your dad, nor was I even born by the time he passed. But my interest in Joe Vega is as real as it gets.
I met TYBEE WHEN I LIVED IN CALIFORNIA. MY friend BARBARA ARFA from Sullivan County NY .took me to her house.She was very sick, beautiful women, i was there for TYBEES BIRTHDAY PARTY. BARBARA ARFA I STILL HAVE THE WOOD BOX THAT YOU GAVE ME FROM HER HOUSE.IM SEYMORE SAIDINER
Thanks for posting this note. Any thing to add about Tybee? Who else she worked with, her coaches and instructors? How much time did she and John put into this routine? Who choreographed it? Also the dance she did on Silk Stockings (how much time did they rehearse? did she get to keep the dress?)
Brascia looks like he's aged 20 years since his dance with Vera Ellen just three years earlier.
It could be makeup, lighting, and/or camera quality. Other performers on this footage looked much different particularly some of the singers the contrast looked really bad.
k6mfw True, the overall quality is pretty poor. I've since realized from footage of him w/Cyd Charisse that he was wearing a toupee in his dance with her, and likely at least a partial one when in his numbers with Vera-Ellen.
To the son of Joe Vega. Would you mind very much revealing your first name? Could you also tell me your mother's first name? I have a photo and some advertisements that feature your old man I'd like to share with you, but I need to make sure you are who you say you are. There's a lot of imposters out here claiming this or that. Hope you understand. Please hit me up when you can. I look forward to hearing from you and be able to connect you with an old friend of Joe's if you're interested..
My name is Chris. If you want to know anything else about my family, please send me a private message. And please tell me who YOU are. I don't recall hearing your name brought up in any conversations with my dad's crowd. I have an excellent memory. The names I remember are Mille Donay, Cuban Pete, Larry Selden, Mike Terrace, Augie and Margo and of course.. my dad's liar of an ex partner.. Freddie Rios who has written my dad out of his rightful place in history by telling outrageous stories.
OK.. I am the son of Joe Vega, Tybee's first partner. I have been working tirelessly to put to rest wrongful information about my father. The woman who wrote the book on Tito Puente (entitled "When The Drums Are Dreaming" has slandered my father's name enough. This delusional woman claims that my father died sometime in the late 50's. If I was born in 1963, doesn't that violate the laws of physics somehow? I urge all of you not to buy her book. She refuses to contact me on the matter.