Hey, Dancer!

Miller Daurey

Welcome to Hey, Dancer! — hosted by Miller Daurey, a former pro teen dancer (Paula Abdul, Joffrey) who has returned to training 3 decades later. Having cultivated a highly engaged and supportive dance community online, Miller is excited to dive deeper on everything dance with two weekly episodes! In one, Miller brings his unique perspective as an ex-dancer returning to the art form, sharing insights on… - the evolution of dance, from class to comps to the industry - living with injury and cutting-edge approaches to healing chronic pain - fostering mindfulness through guided dance meditations - responding to online feedback and comments - reviews of dance books, documentaries, and shows - and tons more! …all with a fresh, behind-the-scenes lens shaped by his inspiring journey and thriving Instagram community. The second weekly episode introduces a compelling series titled The Rest of the Story — where Miller delves into fascinating, little-known histories of dance legends and the unsung heroes who shaped the craft. Through these captivating stories, listeners will discover the hidden struggles, triumphs, and legacies of those who helped define dance as we know it today. While dedicated to helping dancers reconnect with their WHY in a culture that often prioritizes perfection over purpose, this podcast also speaks to anyone looking to reignite their creative spark or rediscover a long-lost passion. Follow along and explore all things dance with Miller!

  1. Ray McDonald: The MGM Tap Dancer They Showcased, Dropped & Forgot | The Rest of the Story | ep 54

    -7 Ч

    Ray McDonald: The MGM Tap Dancer They Showcased, Dropped & Forgot | The Rest of the Story | ep 54

    Ray McDonald was positioned as a rising tap star at MGM during Hollywood's golden age of movie musicals. He had the billing. The featured numbers. The comparisons to Fred Astaire. And yet today, most people have never heard his name. So what happened? In this episode of The Rest of the Story, I trace the full arc — from the New York sibling dance act he built with his sister Grace, to Broadway's Babes in Arms, to becoming an MGM contract player whose duet with Joan McCracken in Good News is still considered one of the studio's finest dance sequences. Then the momentum shifted. Using rare newspaper clippings, trade reporting, and overlooked archival material, this episode reconstructs a career that didn't collapse — it simply moved out of the spotlight. The films remain. The technique still holds. But the history left him behind. This is the most complete dance-centered portrait of Ray McDonald to date — and the story of a Golden Age tap dancer whose work never deserved to fade. If you enjoy this kind of deep-dive storytelling and want to help keep The Rest of the Story coming weekly — carefully researched, independently made, and quality-driven — you can support here: ⁠Buy Me a Coffee! Much appreciated!!! Check out my ⁠⁠Return to Dance docuseries!⁠⁠ Support my Instagram — where I post daily dance inspo, insights and fun! ⁠⁠@backtogreat

    16 мин.
  2. Bobby Van: The MGM Star Behind the Famous Hopping Dance | The Rest of the Story | ep 52

    7 ФЕВР.

    Bobby Van: The MGM Star Behind the Famous Hopping Dance | The Rest of the Story | ep 52

    Bobby Van starred in MGM musicals, danced alongside Ann Miller and Bob Fosse, and held his own in films like Kiss Me, Kate, Small Town Girl, and Because You're Mine. For a brief moment in the early 1950s, the studio treated him like a sure thing. So why does his name feel unfamiliar today? Before Hollywood, he was trained by his vaudeville father — no studios, no formal classes — learning timing, comedy, and musical precision the hard way. That foundation carried him from New York television and Broadway (working under Jack Cole, alongside performers like Gwen Verdon) straight into MGM's musical pipeline. On screen, he wasn't introduced quietly. He was centered, credited, paired with Debbie Reynolds, and given choreography that demanded speed, endurance, and absolute control — including one jaw-dropping dance sequence that resurfaced in That's Entertainment and, decades on, the Tony Awards stage (with Hugh Jackman). But just as quickly as that momentum arrived, it stopped. In this episode of The Rest of the Story on the Hey, Dancer! podcast, I trace Bobby Van's rise — from vaudeville roots to MGM stardom — and the unexpected choices that reshaped his career across Broadway, television, and live performance. This isn't the story of a dancer with one famous number. It's the story of how someone once positioned among the era's greats became a question mark — and why his work deserves to be seen clearly, at last. If you enjoy this kind of deep-dive storytelling and want to help keep The Rest of the Story coming weekly — carefully researched, independently made, and quality-driven — you can support here: ⁠Buy Me a Coffee! Much appreciated!!! Check out my ⁠⁠Return to Dance docuseries!⁠⁠ Support my Instagram — where I post daily dance inspo, insights and fun! ⁠⁠@backtogreat

    15 мин.
  3. Leslie Caron: The Teen Ballerina Plucked into Stardom by Gene Kelly | The Rest of the Story | ep 51

    31 ЯНВ.

    Leslie Caron: The Teen Ballerina Plucked into Stardom by Gene Kelly | The Rest of the Story | ep 51

    Leslie Caron was just a teenager when Gene Kelly noticed her dancing in Paris. And within a year, she was crossing the ocean to star opposite him in An American in Paris. What followed wasn't just a Hollywood success story — it was the making of one of the most distinctive dancing leading ladies of classic film. In this episode of The Rest of the Story on the Hey, Dancer! podcast, I trace Caron's extraordinary path from wartime childhood and rigorous Paris ballet training to MGM stardom… and the discipline that shaped every step along the way. From An American in Paris and Lili to Daddy Long Legs (opposite Fred Astaire), The Glass Slipper, and beyond, this episode reveals how Caron helped carry ballet-trained performance into a new, more dramatic screen language… arriving at the exact moment Hollywood was changing. And in the end, we look at the choice she made quietly — without farewell, without spectacle — that says everything about who she believed herself to be. This isn't just a story about stardom.It's the story of a dancer… and the legacy she built on her own terms. If you enjoy this kind of deep-dive storytelling and want to help keep The Rest of the Story coming weekly — carefully researched, independently made, and quality-driven — you can support here: ⁠Buy Me a Coffee! Much appreciated!!! Check out my ⁠⁠Return to Dance docuseries!⁠⁠ Support my Instagram — where I post daily dance inspo, insights and fun! ⁠⁠@backtogreat

    23 мин.
  4. Tommy Tune: Chorus Boy to Broadway's Defining Choreographer-Director | The Rest of the Story | ep 49

    17 ЯНВ.

    Tommy Tune: Chorus Boy to Broadway's Defining Choreographer-Director | The Rest of the Story | ep 49

    Tommy Tune won more Tony Awards than almost anyone in Broadway history. He starred in Hello, Dolly! opposite Barbra Streisand (chosen by Gene Kelly), Seesaw, and My One and Only. He directed and choreographed landmark Broadway shows like Nine, Grand Hotel, and The Will Rogers Follies. So why was he told — again and again — that he didn't fit the mold? Why did ballet shut its doors on him? Why was he pushed to disappear inside the chorus? And why was he constantly urged to change his name? In this episode of The Rest of the Story on the Hey, Dancer! podcast, I trace Tommy Tune's unlikely rise… from a Texas childhood shaped by tap, ballet, and backyard shows… to surviving Broadway ensembles… to redefining what a director-choreographer could be. You'll hear how a chance elevator meeting with Michael Bennett changed his trajectory, how Gene Kelly's blunt advice followed him for life, and why Hollywood ultimately wasn't to his liking. You'll also find rare, previously unreleased photos from Tune's early life, uncovered through original research for this episode — images that reveal how early his instincts for movement, staging, and control were already forming. This is the most revealing look yet at the dance life behind one of Broadway's defining architects. If you enjoy this kind of deep-dive storytelling and want to help keep The Rest of the Story coming weekly — carefully researched, independently made, and quality-driven — you can support here: ⁠Buy Me a Coffee! Much appreciated!!! Check out my ⁠⁠Return to Dance docuseries!⁠⁠ Support my Instagram — where I post daily dance inspo, insights and fun! ⁠⁠@backtogreat

    28 мин.
  5. Ann-Margret: The Dancer Whose Movement Helped Define the 60s | The Rest of the Story | ep 48

    10 ЯНВ.

    Ann-Margret: The Dancer Whose Movement Helped Define the 60s | The Rest of the Story | ep 48

    Ann-Margret danced opposite Elvis Presley in Viva Las Vegas, exploded onto screens in Bye Bye Birdie, and became one of the most recognizable performers of her generation. But her dance story has rarely been examined — let alone in full. In this episode of The Rest of the Story on the Hey, Dancer! podcast, I trace her path from a tiny village in northern Sweden to childhood dance training outside Chicago, late-night club stages as a teenager, national television talent shows, and an unusually fast rise through Hollywood musicals. Rather than focusing on fame, this episode follows the throughline that shaped everything: how her body moved — onstage, on camera, and under pressure — and how that physicality set her apart at a moment when screen dance was changing. We dig into her early film musicals, her electric partnership with Elvis Presley, and the stretch of work that helped redefine movement in 1960s movies — before a devastating onstage accident nearly ended her career. What followed was not a reinvention, but a return — through live performance, television, and film (including an Oscar nom for Tommy) — driven by discipline, resolve, and an unshakable connection to movement. This is the untold dance journey behind a performer known for many things — and the story of how dance was always at the center. If you enjoy this kind of deep-dive storytelling and want to help keep The Rest of the Story coming weekly — carefully researched, independently made, and quality-driven — you can support here: ⁠Buy Me a Coffee! Much appreciated!!! Check out my ⁠⁠Return to Dance docuseries!⁠⁠ Support my Instagram — where I post daily dance inspo, insights and fun! ⁠⁠@backtogreat

    32 мин.

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Welcome to Hey, Dancer! — hosted by Miller Daurey, a former pro teen dancer (Paula Abdul, Joffrey) who has returned to training 3 decades later. Having cultivated a highly engaged and supportive dance community online, Miller is excited to dive deeper on everything dance with two weekly episodes! In one, Miller brings his unique perspective as an ex-dancer returning to the art form, sharing insights on… - the evolution of dance, from class to comps to the industry - living with injury and cutting-edge approaches to healing chronic pain - fostering mindfulness through guided dance meditations - responding to online feedback and comments - reviews of dance books, documentaries, and shows - and tons more! …all with a fresh, behind-the-scenes lens shaped by his inspiring journey and thriving Instagram community. The second weekly episode introduces a compelling series titled The Rest of the Story — where Miller delves into fascinating, little-known histories of dance legends and the unsung heroes who shaped the craft. Through these captivating stories, listeners will discover the hidden struggles, triumphs, and legacies of those who helped define dance as we know it today. While dedicated to helping dancers reconnect with their WHY in a culture that often prioritizes perfection over purpose, this podcast also speaks to anyone looking to reignite their creative spark or rediscover a long-lost passion. Follow along and explore all things dance with Miller!

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