The Princes and Princesses of Dance

The Princes & Princesses of Dance

Finally, Dick Clark and the Philadelphia years of American Bandstand from behind the scenes and as told by the American Bandstand dancers. Through seven years of intimate interviews and extensive research, The Princes and Princesses of Dance/The Follies of Fame chronicles the times and lives of a group of Philadelphia teenagers a half a century ago who unexpectedly grew to be famous and become household names -- the American Idols of their day – the first celebrities for celebrity sake -- on a show titled American Bandstand. The American Bandstand dancers, nee Regulars, unaware as they may have been, introduced dance and music to a nation of a new demographic coined teenager and gave them a home away from home where they felt accepted and recognized. Return with me to the dawn of television, to a time of transition and change, to a new world, to the inauguration of an icon named Dick Clark and… the birth of rock ‘n’ roll!

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Raised in northern New Jersey, Charles W Amann III, author, recognized historian and documentarian, moved to New York City in the early sixties. He studied Art History at Barnard Baruch and sociology at The New School for Social Research while beginning his career in the non-profit sector. In his mid-twenties he lived in Europe traveling with an artist friend in an agent capacity selling and promoting his paintings through European galleries. His travel lust has taken him to the four corners of the world visiting six continents and over one-hundred countries. He retired some ten years ago in the pursuit of writing. Seven years ago, for his sixtieth birthday, on safari in South Africa, he reflected on his past: his teenage years as a dancer on his own local Bandstand; his connection to American Bandstand; and his strong kinship to the music and dance of that time; thus bringing him to the writing of his first book, The Princes and Princesses of Dance. He now lives in the West Village in a large sunny apartment surrounded by trees and gardens and lots of history.