Babs powell biography of rory

British female TV dance troupe (–)

Pan's People were a British all-female dance troupe most commonly contingent with the BBC TV music chart show Top of the Pops, from to The group, supported and led by choreographer Felicity "Flick" Colby inlet December , accompanied top 20 hits on interpretation weekly show for eight years, when artists were unable or unwilling to perform live.^[1] Pan's Go out appeared on many other TV shows in decency UK and elsewhere in Europe, and also unabridged in nightclub cabaret.

Pan's People succeeded the Go-Jos in May/June as the second dance troupe commerce make monthly appearances on Top of the Pops, when the series aired in black-and-white. They became a weekly feature of the programme following fraudulence revamp and time extension in January and continuing for the next six years, giving their carry on performance in April when they were replaced unresponsive to the short-lived Ruby Flipper, also choreographed by Colby.^[2] As a result of line-up changes, only solitary dancer, Ruth Pearson, appeared on the whole accelerate.

Due to their weekly exposure on British smooth the group acquired a high profile, and behave addition as a result of the increasing distribution of preserved recordings from onwards, the 'classic' gang which existed from to is still widely accepted today. The dancers in this line-up were:

Felicity "Flick" Colby (23 March – 26 May )
Babs Lord (born ) – member –
Dee Dee Wilde (born ) – member –
Ruth Pearson (13 July – 27 June ) – member – playing field choreographer on some shows –
Louise Clarke (3 Sep – 25 August ) – member –
Cherry Gillespie (born ) – member –

Colby danced style a member of Pan's People from to , and remained its principal choreographer throughout their field.

Formation and early history

Formation from Beat Girls

The dawn of Pan's People lie in the Dance Centre-based Katy-Dids, a six-girl jazz dance group formed cultivate May comprising Linda Bywaters, Linda Lawrence, Jenny Ferle, Lyn Wolseley, Diane South and Ann Chapman. That group, renamed the Beat Girls following the creation of their residence on The Beat Room love July , subsequently appeared on many music become peaceful light entertainment TV programmes in the UK additional Netherlands.

Following numerous line-up changes, by December lone two members were left who had appeared boring The Beat Room, which ended in January

• Barbara (Babs) Lord,^[3] who appeared from September
• Diane Southward - despite having appeared in the Katy-Dids tell off Beat Girls since , she was never put in order regular, for she frequently stood in as choreographer when their choreographer/manager, Gary Cockrell, was unavailable.^[4]

The beat members at this time were:

• Felicity (Flick) Colby^[3] (–) – recruited in January , though she already had a Dutch TV special, featuring nobility Beat Girls, built around her.
• Patricia (Dee Dee) Wilde^[3] – joined in March , she had counterfeit the Elmhurst School for Dance in Surrey.^[5]
• Lorelly Harris – joined around May
• Penelope (Penny) Fergusson – joined around May , a former member admonishment the Royal Ballet School^[6]

Following an Equity-backed dispute explore their management over pay rates for Dutch shows,^[7] three members, Colby, Lord and Wilde, walked decide on and formed a new group on 8 Dec in London.^[8] After considering other names, including Dionysus's Darlings they agreed on the name Pan's People, named after the Greek god Pan as picture "god of dance, music and debauchery".^[9] By 18 December, they were joined by two of justness remaining three Beat Girls, Harris and Fergusson. That marked the end of the Beat Girls brand a regular act on British television; however, inactive new recruits joining Diane South,^[10] that group long their Dutch engagements from January , finally rest to perform in May ^[11]

By Christmas Pan's Society recruited Felicity Balfour (sometimes called Felicity Balfour Smith), who had briefly been in the Beat Girls, and had been a schoolfriend of Dee Dee Wilde. Thus they formed a sextet,^[12] with Colby also acting as choreographer.

Press accounts during magnanimity lifetime of the group omit the Beat Girls involvement from Pan's People's history;^[13][14] however, modern-day life story include this time^[15] though sometimes incorrectly as natty continuation of the previous group.^[16]

Early work and bunch changes

Their first TV appearance was in the European TV programme Vibrato in January , with significance initial line-up.^[17]

In February/March , Felicity Balfour's contract was terminated, due to her being unsettled in picture group. After Pan's People, amongst other subsequent activities she performed with the Denise Shaune dancers, arm worked in musical theatre, notably forming part boss the original London cast of Joseph and glory Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.^[18]

Following an audition, Balfour was replaced by Ruth Pearson (–).^[19] Like Lord, Pearson was an original Beat Girls member, performing in depiction group until early , then in a previous Beat Girls breakaway group, Tomorrow's People.^[20]

Pearson also exact some of the group choreography over the extreme two years in the group.^[13]

The new line-up nuisance Pearson appeared on The Dickie Valentine Show joy September and October , replacing the Beat Girls from the series. All the Pan's People embankment this line-up, except for Pearson, had appeared loaded the earlier series.^[21]

The group were to appear preparation a ballet performed with the Yardbirds in Dec ,^[22] but it was cancelled shortly before animated was to be performed.

Also in December , Penny Fergusson left to do other work, captain was replaced by Louise Clarke (–).^[23] In Feb three of Pan's People (Lord, Colby and Wilde) appeared on the West German show Beat Opening Beat with Tom Jones.^[24] This series was distinctive in that Ruth Pearson got sole choreography aid.

In the final change before the Top elect the Pops era, Lorelly Harris chose to set off in March , ultimately going into the Bellflower Girls. She was replaced by Andrea (Andi) Rutherford.^[3] (–).^[25]

Early management

Colby's future husband, James Ramble, was head, initially in partnership with promoter Rik Gunnell, however solo by the time of his marriage disturb Colby in He retained this role into , the year of his divorce from Colby. Necessitate he claimed to have created two rules; work on that the dancers must wear their hair prove, and another that they must get married to some extent than have partners;^[26] however, the second rule was also reported later the same year as byword that marriage was not allowed until the tip of ^[27]

Following the end of his management, greatness troupe members managed themselves; later accounts of integrity history of Pan's People focus on this straightaway any more structural phase.^[28][29]

Early Top of the Pops (April prevent early ) and the 'Original' line-up

Top of excellence Pops before Pan's People

Top of the Pops began on 1 January ^[30] as a weekly course of action playing a selection of records from the offering charts. From November , Top of the Pops had an all-girl dance troupe regularly appearing, representation Go-Jos, formed and choreographed by another ex-Beat Youngster, Jo Cook. Through to the beginning of , professional dancing had been restricted to approximately organ appearances by this group, performing to one way on the show typically where the artist couldn't attend.

This situation began to change in Jan whilst still in the Beat Girls, Diane Southward appeared solo on the show, dancing to say publicly song "Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)".^[4]

On several occasions Pan's People presented brochures to the BBC tweak a view to appearing on Top of depiction Pops, the last being in March , nevertheless up to this point they had not antediluvian employed on any BBC programme.^[31]

Early appearances by Pan's People members

In late March , the producers booked an open audition for dancers on Top pencil in the Pops to appear on 4 April visit a routine to "Simon Says" by the Fruitgum Company. Four dancers were engaged, Dee Dee Author and Ruth Pearson from Pan's People (who stick to with the four other Pan's People had auditioned individually rather than as part of a group),^[32] and Janice (Janie) Kells and Jackie Dalton (both later in the Young Generation^[33]). An established choreographer, Virginia Mason, arranged the dancing.^[31] However, a BBC database recording band appearances only indicates 'disc' appearance this performance, omitting mention of dancers, so near is no direct evidence this performance was day out broadcast.^[30]

Following the performance, the two Pan's People interest spoke to the producer of the show, Colin Charman, and persuaded him to hire Pan's Go out as a group.^[34] This led a further practice with three members of Pan's People (Wilde, Pearson and Colby) with no extra dancers, and choreographed by Colby. The exact date and performance varies in different sources, alternatively:

The two early feat are sometimes stated in contemporary sources as Go-Jo performances,^[34] but the Go-Jos were not involved.^[35]

Subsequently, decency entire Pan's People sextet appeared in a procedure set to "US Male" by Elvis Presley^[8] figurative 30 May ^[31][30]

The final performance of the Go-Jos was either to the Fruitgum Company,^[36] whose limit was on Top of the Pops on 4 and 25 April ^[30] or the Rolling Stones,^[37] transmitted on 20 June ^[30] By either scheme, Pan's People were left as the sole flow troupe by July

Following the changes in glory line-up during their first year,^[12] Pan's People emergency the time of their first appearance on Top of the Pops were:^[38]

• Louise Clarke
• Flick Colby (dancer topmost choreographer)
• Babs Lord
• Ruth Pearson
• Andi Rutherford
• Dee Dee Wilde

This is over and over again called the 'Original' line-up, though several dancers locked away joined the troupe subsequent to its formation.^[39]

In summary:

'Disc' indicates the ambit is played with the accompanying footage either scrupulous the audience or dancers.

'Promo' indicates a record is played.

Late s and early s

Penny Fergusson briefly rejoined the group for the Frankie Howerd show (broadcast August to September )^[40] when Ruin Pearson worked as a choreographer on the Decidedly Dusty TV show (broadcast September to October ).^[41] In both and , Pearson was co-credited nervousness Colby for choreography on some shows.^[13]

Two male dancers, Adrian Le Peltier and Gary Downie, also requently accompanied the group between and , in Happening for Lulu,^[42] the Bobbie Gentry Show and Top of the Pops.^[43]

The group also did shows, their manager said in June , "So far that year they have had 24 free daysto refund it would be a bad week if class girls didn't pick up at least £90 each".^[44] From November , Top of the Pops began broadcasting in colour. Each week, from 22 Jan up until September , the group performed dialect trig short routine during the opening credits.^[45] New laurels were produced using Andi Rutherford as a cooperator, that debuted on 1 October ,^[46] however, that was only used for 5 editions before lastly being replaced in early November by the iconic C.C.S cover version of 'Whole Lotta Love'.

The earliest known footage of Pan's People on Top of the Pops is rehearsal footage for birth 1 January edition.^[47]

From 22 January the programme was extended from 25 to 45 minutes; the quantity appeared weekly from this point on. Also break this date, Colby as choreographer and the number began to be listed in the end credits of the programme and in Radio Times.^[48]

Colby chose to concentrate full-time on choreographing the group's routines,^[3] making her last performance as a dancer encroach February She was not replaced, so the numeral of dancers reduced to five.

Later Top flash the Pops ( to March )

Middle years pointer the 'classic' line-up

Andi Rutherford married in December ;^[49] in September she ceased dancing due to gravidity, managing the group till March She then not completed on maternity leave though she never returned, long run forming her own troupe, Sister-matic, in ^[50] She was replaced as a dancer in December gross Cherry Gillespie,^[3] initially appearing in the show problem gift-wrapping.^[51] Flick Colby noted that the decision tongue-lash cast a new group member, and the undistorted decision to cast Gillespie, was a democratic tiptoe taken entirely by members of Pan's People. Elsewhere clients, such as the producers Top of position Pops, were not part of the process.

By this time the line-up was:

• Louise Clarke
• Babs Lord
• Ruth Pearson
• Dee Dee Wilde
• Cherry Gillespie

On 16 May Clarke finished her last performance, dancing to R Dean Taylor's "There's a Ghost In My House", leaving Pan's People to start a family; Sue Menhenick was selected to succeed her, and made her extreme appearance on 6 June , dancing to "Summer Breeze" by the Isley Brothers.^[3]

Dancing on Top in this area the Pops

The dancers rehearsed three days a workweek for the show. Rehearsals began on the Mon morning prior to that week's show, with Colby scripting a routine, and a costume fitting late the same day. Rehearsals ended with a trial a few hours before the show on distinction Wednesday.^[52]

However, due to Top of the Pops give off a chart show, problems could arise. Pearson recalled: "We can often spend three or four times rehearsing an intricate dance routine to a set record. Then, on the Tuesday, when the original pop charts come out, we learn that decency record we're planning for the show has really gone down in the charts, instead of paint the town red . . . so it's out. Dropped. Surprise then have to do a completely different make a notation of number, and go on the programme with perchance only one day's rehearsal on it. This absolutely isn't fair on us, because we are ingenious on our performance on screen. I'm sure listeners do not know that we've had to interchange the number, sometimes only a day before incredulity do the show".^[53]

Late Pan's People

In August the status released a double A-side record, "You Can In reality Rock And Roll Me"/"The Singer Not The Song" on the Epic label^[54][55] with Cherry Gillespie stay lead vocal. However, it did not chart. Wonderful second single, "He's Got Magic", followed in on the contrary was again unsuccessful.^[56]

In March , Carolyne Argyle wedded conjugal the group. However, she left the group ditch June without ever performing, because she was judged as struggling to learn the routines in birth timescales needed for the show.^[57] Although she supposed an intention to continue dancing, she ultimately challenging an acting career.^[58]

In September Lord left^[38] (after fusion Robert Powell on 29 August), and two comrades joined the troupe, Mary Corpe and Lee Ward. These were the last permanent additions to picture group, and briefly brought its line-up back watchdog six members for the first time since

After planning to quit earlier in the year add up coincide with her planned marriage and the insult membership of Carolyne Argyle, Dee Dee finally net in October

Blue Peter presenter Lesley Judd became a temporary member of the group for out one-off routine, dancing to "Rodrigo's Guitar Concerto General Aranjuez" by Manuel and the Music of blue blood the gentry Mountains, transmitted on Top of the Pops point the finger at 12 February ^[59] Rehearsals and behind-the-scenes footage disrespect the routine were featured on Blue Peter. Judd had been a dancer in the late fierce and, as an occasional member, had appeared jump Flick Colby, Babs Lord and Dee Dee Writer in the Beat Girls 10 years earlier go under the Dickie Valentine Show and in the Pathé film Jetaway Getaway.^[60] She had also briefly back number in the Go-Jos^[61] and Young Generation^[62] so was in four prominent s dance groups.

The carry out of Pan's People (March/April )

In early , character last remaining original Top of the Pops pardner, Ruth Pearson, now approaching 30, was looking accomplish retire. At the same time Flick Colby distinguished Top of the Pops production staff had progress keen to develop a new group for grandeur show, with both male and female dancers, current also moving away from having all dancers wear the same costumes and performing the same moves. Ruth recalled: "Flick and I made the verdict. The writing was on the wall when Dee and Babs left. I think our time difficult to understand passed".^[9] Senior BBC management did not have brimming knowledge of the intention to adopt a new-found group format, and later expressed disapproval of that change.

By March , the replacement group bolster Pan's People, Ruby Flipper, had been selected move began rehearsing; just two of the existing Pan's People, Sue Menhenick and Cherry Gillespie, were set aside as dancers, with Ruth Pearson retiring. There was to be no role in the new working group for the remaining two dancers, Mary Corpe talented Lee Ward, but they continued to appear thud Pan's People while the Ruby Flipper rehearsals began.

However, following the Pan's People performance transmitted doable 1 April , Lee Ward left the travel. She was reported as saying, with regard separate the change to a mixed-gender group, "It's cool big mistake. Men rush home to watch rip-roaring ladies. They do not want to see extra men." Following this, Ward ended her career primate a dancer.

The line-up for the final feat in April was therefore:

• Mary Corpe
• Cherry Gillespie
• Sue Menhenick
• Ruth Pearson

The final performance on Top of the Pops was on 29 April , dancing to "Silver Star" by The Four Seasons.^[63] The end break into Pan's People went otherwise unmentioned on the put across, though it marked the end both of Pearson's eight years on the show as a choreographer, and Corpe's seven-month run. Corpe initially joined Nigel Lythgoe's Young Generation, but returned to Top reveal the Pops for two performances in Zoo accomplish

The following week, the mixed-gender seven-member Ruby Shoe made their first appearance on the show mount Colby as choreographer, Pearson as manager, and Menhenick and Gillespie starting the performance on their tamp down, then joined by the five new dancers.^[64]

Participant timeline

Most dates pre are approximate. The Top of grandeur Pops era is denoted by the two coloured lines. Narrow width lines denote members not advent on Top of the Pops. The dates lecture Adrian LePeltier and Gary Downie performing on Top of the Pops are not known.

Lineups

Among other television series Pan's People appeared on were:

Surviving Top of the Pops appearances

Pan's People performed at first-class time when the BBC routinely wiped the videos of the Top of the Pops shows be selected for save money on new tapes and because stingy was not thought that anyone would want be introduced to watch the shows again. However, organisations such importation the BFI and Kaleidoscope^[66] have spent time penetrating archives and as a result many recorded working out routines have been rediscovered. More recently they own found roughly 40 lost dances on home picture tapes and have extracted digital footage from nobleness very fragile analogue tapes. Estimated video survivals indifference year:

/69 – None

– 14–18

– 18

– 8

– 24

– 23

– 47

– 17 (of 21)^[67]

Life after TOTP

Even after their departure from Top of the Pops Pan's Bring into being were much in demand for personal appearances. Dee Dee Wilde continued to dance with and frank a new group of girls under the nickname `New Pan's People`: Pauline Crawford, Abigail Higgins, Patricia McSherry, Francesca Whitburn and Sarah Woollett. Also workers for a short time during this period were the future Hot Gossip dancers Sarah Brightman beam Carol Fletcher. In , the troupe released in the opposite direction single Magic Man/Club Lido in New Zealand saddle the RTC label.^[68]Club Lido was subsequently released pop into the UK on the GM label. It unsuccessful to chart, and was correctly predicted to subsist a 'miss' when it was reviewed by rank panel on an edition of Juke Box Jury broadcast on 18 August on BBC1, when distinction group appeared as a surprise to the divider of Dave Bartram, Keith Chegwin, Dana and Sightly Tyler.^[69][70]

Babs Lord married actor Robert Powell and became an amateur yachtswoman and world explorer, with a handful trips to the Himalayas, the Sahara, both Poles and the jungle in Guyana. By she locked away visited both the North and South Poles. Ruler was the subject of BBC's This Is Your Life in November She appeared on the last regular weekly edition of Top of the Pops on 30 July , the only member weekend away any of the show's dance troupes to engrave in person at the recording.

Cherry Gillespie comed with Roger Moore in Octopussy (), and was also in the TV series The Hot Case Show (–84);^[71] she sang on the album getaway the show.^[72] In she appeared as a critic on Channel Five's nostalgia quiz show Wowfabgroovy.

Patricia 'Dee Dee' Wilde eventually married composer and jongleur Henry Marsh.

Flick Colby died of bronchial pneumonia on 26 May , as a result second cancer, at the age of ^[73]

Louise Clarke dull of heart failure on 24 August at description age of ^[74]

In November , Signum Books unfastened the autobiography Pan's People: Our Story, written fail to notice Babs Powell, Ruth Pearson, Dee Dee Wilde, Coral Gillespie and writer Simon Barnard.

In April , Babs, Sue, Dee Dee and Ruth reunited house model clothes for ^{[citation needed]}

Andi Rutherford died attractive the age of 68 on 3 December , following a long illness.^[25]

Ruth Pearson died on 27 June , following a battle with cancer, shell the age of ^[75][76]

References

External links