Godspeed Dancer Bobby Banas

Bobby Banas, a dancer, choreographer, and actor who appeared in the film West Side Story (1961) and such shows as The Judy Garland Show, died on July 29 2024 at the age of 90.

Bobby Banas was born on September 22 1934 in New York City. He expressed an interest in dancing while very young. As a teenager he took ballroom dancing lessons. He was in the Michael Panaieff Children’s’ Ballet Company, in which a young Natalie Wood was his dancing partner. He attended the Hollywood Professional School and Hollywood High.

Bobby Banas made his film debut doing the Charleston in Has Anybody Seen My Gal in 1952. He appeared on Broadway only once, playing an Indian and a kangaroo in Peter Pan. In the Fifties he appeared in the films Carousel (1956), Rock Around the Clock (1956), The King and I (1956), The Best Things in Life Are Free (1956), Don't Knock the Rock (1956), Untamed Youth (1957), Calypso Heat Wave (1957), The Girl Most Likely (1957), Daddy-O (1958), Damn Yankees (1958), Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys! (1958), Juke Box Rhythm (1959), Riot in Juvenile Prison (1959), Say One for ME (1959), Li'l Abner (1959), and Let's Make love (1960). He appeared on television in the shows Producer's Showcase and Make Room for Daddy.

In the Sixties he played Joyboy in the movie West Side Story (1961). He also appeared in the movies Babes in Toyland  (1961), Twist Around the Clock (1961), Don't Knock the Twist (1962), How the West was Won (192), Bye Bye Birdie (1963), The Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964), Mary Poppins (1964), Girl Happy (1965), Billie (1965), and Made in Paris (1966). He appeared on the TV Shows The Dick Van Dyke Show and Get Smart. In 1978 he appeared in the TV movie Bud and Lou. In the Eighties he appeared on the TV show Cagney & Lacey, the TV movie My Wicked, Wicked Ways: The Life of Errol Flynn (1985), and the feature film Odd Jobs (1986).

Bobby Banas also worked as a choreographer on many movies and TV shows. On television he was a choreographer on Shivaree, The Kraft Summer Music Hall, Malibu U., and The Jonathan Winters Show. He served as a choreographer on individual episodes of The Virginian, Barnaby Jones, The Bad News Bears, Mork & Mindy, and Webster. He served as a choreographer on the movies The Skydivers (1963), Skatetown USA (1979), Heart Like a Wheel (1983), Tuff Turf (1985), Down and Out in Beverly Hills (1986), Under the Boardwalk (1988), Teen Witch (1989), and Always (1989).

Bobby Banas was a wonderful dancer. A few years ago a video clip from The Judy Garland Show of Mr. Banas leading other dancers in the dance The Nitty Gritty went viral, and it is easy to see why. It is also easy to understand why he was so much in demand as both a dancer and a choreographer. Bobby Banas may not be a household name, but he certainly played a major role in many people's childhood memories.