My Life Dancing with the Stars

Book excerpt: "Five, six, seven, eight!" Defines the life of actress, dancer, choreographer, and director Miriam Nelson. Miriam's life reads like a 1930's musical. While still in her twenties, she appeared in six Broadway shows. On the day she moved to Los Angeles, Miriam ran into old friend Billy Daniels from New York who took her to lunch at Paramount. During lunch, Miriam ran into another New York friend, Paramount president Buddy de Sylva, who hired her on the spot for Lady in the Dark starring Ginger Rogers. Miriam has been dancing with the stars ever since! Nelson has tapped and chassed with countless stars, including Julie Andrews, Ingrid Bergman, Doris Day, Judy Garland, Bette Davis, Bing Crosby, Gene Kelly, John Travolta and Billy Bob Thornton. Miriam was there for the opening day at Disneyland - Walt Disney hired her to choreograph dance numbers around the Park, including the famous Golden Horseshoe Revue. Miriam's career spans both the famous and infamous eras of stage, screen, and television. Encouraged by friends and family to recall her special "behind the scenes" moments, Miriam sorted through memories, scrapbooks and mountains of photographs to enable readers to share the excitement and anticipation, the joy and the sorrow that chronicled her extraordinary life. Fortunately, for those who love to dance and those who love to watch dance, Miriam Nelson remains an exciting part of the professional American dance scene. "You're a darling girl, Miriam, and I love you for all that you did. God bless you always, your dear friend," - Busby Berkley