Came across this amazing artifact of the mid 80s the other day. Judith Jamison and Donald McKayle, incognito as “Marie” and “Ralph”, come by the Huxtable house to take Cliff and Claire out to go dancing. But daughter Denise is having a little dance party of her own in the living room. Ralph and Marie get talked into joining (love the dialogue: “you want *us* to dance?”, “Claire, what is going on here?”), and the youngsters and the adults all dance together. I love the openness and generosity; everyone learns some new moves. Although, the awesomeness would have been even more over-the-top if the scene continued and Jamison kicked off her high heels and did some classic barefoot modern.
This episode aired in January of 1985. Breakdancing was hot. Jamison had begun choreographing but hadn’t yet been named artistic director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (Ailey passed in 89). McKayle had choreographed his signature early works and was in the midst of his active career. What would the equivalent be today? Mark Morris doing a guest appearance on Mad Men? Bill T. Jones taking a comedic turn on 30 Rock?
