Clip From 'American Bandstand' In 1964 Has Viewers Jitterbugging Right Along

Jun 12, 2020

In 1964, Dick Clark was the host of the classic TV program American Bandstand. In that year, a group of teenagers appeared on the show, dancing to a hit single from that year, The Reflections' (Just Like) Romeo and Juliet.

After impressing the host, Clark praised the teens' performance. Watch the moment for yourself in the video below.

Those alive in the 1950s and 1960s, fondly remember Dick Clark. He knew all the latest music and spoke the language of teenagers. He also brought excellent entertainment to his show, American Bandstand.

Clark's classic American show was a televised variety show. He had music, dancers, and other performers. Although his show was most known for hosting Rock'n'Roll musicians, he sometimes had everyday people appear on his program.

"Spotlight Dance" was a segment on the show that featured teenagers dancing to contemporary hits. Everyone on the dance floor during this portion of the show was a teenager who was willing to dance publicly. These dances were performed to a variety of songs and show a range of dance styles.

In 1964, a group of eight teenagers appeared on Dick Clark's dance floor. Before dancing, they introduced themselves by name and age. Frank, their 16-year-old spokesperson, gave a brief overview of their upcoming performance.

When Clark questioned young Frank Laverty, he stated that the group had "...a lot of steps we can do." Before the group strutted their stuff, Clark said one last thing: "Everybody has the idea I don't know how to dance ... and they're right."

The teens danced to The Reflections' 1964 hit (Just Like) Romeo and Juliet. This uptempo song provided a steady beat for their dance moves. The lyrics to this song tell the tale of a young man searching for a job so he can buy nice things for his girlfriend, so their "...love will be written down in history just like Romeo and Juliet."

Since they were appearing on TV, the teens were dressed up in the fashions of the time. Girls wore knee-length dresses, and boys wore ties with cardigan sweaters. One girl even wore high heels!

One look at this group of peppy young teens, and you'll see Frank was right. They started their fancy footwork with the boys lined up on one side of the dance floor and the girls on the other. They energetically moved to each beat and swapped sides twice during their routine.

At the end of their performance, Clark enthusiastically cheered for them. He then called them the "June Taylor Dancers." They might not have been members of Taylor's renowned dance troupe, but their routine "... really was well done," in Clark's words.

Watching young people dance on American Bandstand is a refreshing trip down memory lane. Do you have any memories of dancing to your favorite music as a teenager? Perhaps you were lucky enough to watch "Spotlight Dance" in the 1950s and 1960s. Pass the dancing spirit on to your friends and family, and see who remembers American Bandstand!