Chorus line

The term "chorus line" refers to a big number of dancers who work together to produce synchronised routines. Chorus lines are most often seen in musical theatre. Additionally, there is sometimes singing included with the performance.

Chorus line dancers in Broadway musicals and revues have been referred to using slang words such as ponies, gipsies, and twirlies in the past. In contrast to terminology such as chorist or chorister, a performer in a chorus line (that is, the chorus of a theatrical play) is referred to as a chorus girl or chorine. Chorus girls and chorines also go by the name chorine (a member of a choir).

Chorus lines, which were characterised by synchronised dancing and were often made up of chorus girls, were popular throughout the first half of the 20th century. However, in contemporary theatre, the phrases "ensemble" and "chorus" are used to refer to all of the supporting members in a theatrical show. These supporting performers often take on additional roles, such as playing minor characters or moving set pieces, in addition to providing assistance to the production in a variety of other creative ways.

Chorus lines of cartwheeling, synchronised dancing can-can ladies started to appear in Paris about the middle of the 1800s. Even rougher and more pornographic cabarets could be found in places like the Moulin Rouge, Le Lido, and the Folies Bergère. Around the same time as the scandalous tendency made its way to the United States in the late 1860s, a more conservative trend of chorus lines, including Tiller Girls and Gaiety Girls, was striking England. Early in the 20th century, chorus lines throughout Western Europe and the United States dominated the stages of their respective countries' theatres.

The Ziegfeld Follies, which originated in New York City and was well recognised for selecting only the most beautiful ladies to perform in its chorus line, was one of the most well-liked shows of its age and remains one of the most famous. Florence Ziegfeld Jr. earned the distinction of being able to define extraordinarily attractive ladies in an impartial manner and choose such women. Ziegfeld's criteria, therefore, quickly became the norm, and publications and news pieces circulated with headings such as "How I choose my Beauties" and "Picking out lovely females for the stage."

Decades later, chorus lines with a more sensual character gained enormous success on the west coast of the United States in the city of Las Vegas. However, their popularity eventually began to decline as they faced more competition from burlesque and strip clubs.

There are some well-known chorus lines that were adapted for the big screen. The Goldwyn Girls, a troupe of dancers under the direction of Samuel Goldwyn, stood out among the other companies. Lucille Ball, Betty Grable, Virginia Mayo, and Jane Wyman are just a few of the notable actresses that were a part of the Goldwyn Girls and appeared in several movies produced by MGM. Other members of this group include Virginia Mayo and Virginia Mayo.

To this day, some live performance venues retain the old chorus line alive with groups like The Rockettes. However, the phrase "chorus line" in contemporary terminology is used to separate supporting singers and dancers of either gender in a musical or musical revue from the primary actors or performers.