The story goes, there was another choreographer originally, a really hot New York/Las Vegas choreographer who was known for rhythmic, sexy movement with style and real jazz technique. She was also a top teacher in New York at the time, with shows running in Las Vegas, Reno and Atlantic City, also Toronto. She had also worked on Broadway. She was signed and spent about six weeks on the movie. The producers would not give her any of the music to work with, and as a musical choreographer, this would not do. They couldn't give her even a sampling of what it would sound like. After six weeks, she was bored to tears, and quit, going back to teaching crowded classes. Her career continued as it had been, but if she had stayed, she would have been famous or infamous, but the movie would have been completely different in tone. The Beals character would have really danced like a showgirl, with class, style, and hot, hot, hot. There would have been no running in place, no aerobics, fitness class moves with no rhythm or funk. Alas, we shall never know how it would have turned out. Jennifer Beals would have still needed a dance double, though, for the moves I'm talking about. If you want to know who the choreographer I'm talking about is, ask Jennifer Grey. She knew her quite well, took her class for years.
Review of Flashdance
