Tiger Beat - August 1971

Dancing With Bobby
By Jean Fraser

Lucky Jean Fraser knows how really thrilling it is to be a professional dancer! Why? Because she was chosen, from hundreds of girls, to be one of the six dancers on Bobby Sherman's first TV special! And she wanted to tell you all about the fun of working with Bobby!

I guess the easiest point to start at is right from the very beginning - and the beginning was reading about the dancing auditions for Bobby Sherman's TV special! The ad said they were looking for teenage-looking girls, and if they wanted girls with polka-dotted hair and striped bodies, I would have gone out and bought a large supply of paint and brushes! I wanted to be on Bobby's special!

I had heard from dancers on variety shows that Bobby guested on that he was a great guy - and, I've got to admit, I've always been a fan of his! Goodness, how could any girl resist those beautiful blue eyes!

Anyway, when I got to the dancing studio where the auditions were held, I found out that not many girls can resist those blue eyes of Bobby's! It seemed like millions of girls were auditioning! I found out later that there was close to 500 girls at the audition! 200 of them were turned away because there just wasn't enough room! And 300 of us squeezed our way into the dancing hall! I'm glad I got there a little early. I would have been so disappointed if I had to leave without getting an audition!

WORKED HARD - The audition started at 1:00 in the afternoon and ended at 5:30. We were dancing from the moment we stepped in and handed one of the judges our cards with our names on them! Everyone really worked hard! Some of us had heard that Bobby would be at the audition, but at the last minute he couldn't come because he had to tape music for the show. In a way, I was glad because I was already nervous enough without having Bobby there watching!

I don't know how the choreographer and judges did it, but they somehow narrowed the number from 300 to 25, and from 25 to 6! When I finally realized that I was one of the six, I was numb with shock! No kidding, as more and more girls filed out after dancing the routine we had to learn, I kept thinking I would soon be following them out!

Suddenly, Tiger Beat's Kenny Lieu, who was invited to photograph the entire audition, was taking pictures of me and the other girls. It was slowly sinking into my dazed mind that I would be dancing on Bobby's special!

WONDERFUL WAY - If I thought I was excited about being chosen, you should have seen me during the first day of rehearsal when I met Bobby! Let me tell you that Bobby is a great guy! I don't know how he does it, but he has a wonderful way of making you feel so comfortable around him - even from the very beginning!

I remember being introduced to him...and then the next minute we were talking like old friends! Fantastic thing about Bobby is he got me to talk about myself! He's that way with everyone...more concerned about what other people have been doing, what they're interested in. He hardly ever talks about himself!

Rehearsals just whizzed by, and Bobby's cheerful attitude seemed to spread to everyone on the set. I must say that we were the happiest crew and cast I've ever seen!

BOBBY'S SMILE - Bobby really had to work harder than anyone. When all the dancers, cast, and crew were excused for the day, Bobby had to stay for long hours afterwards to help work out the thousands of details that go into making a special! But no matter how late he stayed, the next morning Bobby's smile told everyone that it was going to be another good day!

Bobby was so cute and polite. He always had time to pull out chairs for us, bring someone a cool drink if they hinted they were thirsty, or talk to someone who was a little down! He always had something nice to say. I remember at dress rehearsal, Bobby came up and told me he thought that all the dancers looked cute in our white majorette costumes. When he told me that, I almost felt like wearing the costume home!

Bobby liked to watch everyone rehearse their numbers. I can still see him sitting quietly, smiling, and taping his foot lightly while the 5th Dimension rehearsed their songs. And when the girls and I rehearsed our dance numbers, Bobby nodded his head and tapped his fingertips together to the rhythm of the dance music! Then when he rehearsed his numbers, everyone - and I mean everyone - sat and watched him! Bobby just has this magical magnetism that draws people to him!

The day we taped the show before the live audience, Bobby was performing a typical "Bobby kindness": he was reassuring everyone that everything was fine! When he walked up to me, he winked and flashed the "OK" sign! I suddenly realized that after the taping, I wouldn't be seeing Bobby everyday anymore!

For the few minutes we had before the cameras were focused on us, I thought back to all the pleasant chats all of us had with Bobby during the breaks. The audition, rehearsals, and the taping - none of it could be considered "work"...as long as Bobby was there!

When the last number was taped, and everyone was saying good-bye - I got the biggest lump in my throat! I thought I was going to cry! Bobby smiled and said he'd be seeing all of us again really soon...and no one wanted the happiness of the last few days spoiled by sad good-byes! So, as everyone walked out of the studio to their cars, cheerful voices shouting out good-byes could be heard!

It's rare that someone with Bobby's fantastic talent has a fantastic personality to go with it! So, after dancing with Bobby on his show, I can say, truthfully, that what makes his special so spectacular is the spectacularly special Bobby Sherman himself!