When considering the best dancers in Hollywood's history, some obvious names come to mind―Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, and Bill Robinson. Yet often overlooked is one of the most gifted and creative dancers of all time, Eleanor Powell. Powell's effervescent style, unmatched technical prowess in tap, and free-flowing musicality led MGM to build top-rate musicals around her unique talents, including Born to Dance (1936) with James Stewart and Broadway Melody of 1940 (1940) with Fred Astaire, in which she became known as the only female tap dancer capable of challenging him. In a male-dominated industry, her fierce drive for perfection, sometimes to her detriment, earned her a place as one of the most accomplished performers in vaudeville, Broadway, and film. Powell's grace, precision, and power established her as one of the greatest American dancers. In 1943, she married actor Glenn Ford and largely stepped away from the spotlight for the duration of their tumultuous marriage. After their divorce, Powell made a courageous comeback, successfully performing in Las Vegas and on the nightclub circuit. Cancer claimed her life at the age of sixty-nine. Eleanor Powell: Born to Dance by Paula Broussard and Lisa Royère is an all-encompassing work following the American dance legend from her premature birth and upbringing by a single parent in Springfield, Massachusetts, to her first Broadway performance at age fifteen, through her days as a blazing icon in the world of Hollywood, and finally, to her inspiring comeback. With access to rare documents, letters, and production files, as well as insights drawn from their own personal relationships with Powell, Broussard and Royère offer a thoroughly researched, comprehensive, and fascinating look at an incredibly talented and unforgettable woman. " Eleanor Powell: Born to Dance is a vital book. Paula Broussard and Lisa Royère have crafted a thoughtful biography about an important figure in film history that deserves this recognition. Their decades of hard work and thorough research is evident, as is their love for Eleanor Powell. A highly enjoyable read that gives this remarkable woman her long-awaited due, and will no doubt encourage new fans to discover her work." Alicia Malone , Turner Classic Movies host "What a unique treasure trove this long-awaited biography is for film buffs, students of the dance, and of course fans of the ever-fascinating MGM musical! An inspiring story, too. This wonderful book is a not-to-be-missed celebration and keepsake of the truly one-of-a-kind Powell." Michael Troyan , author of MGM: Hollywood's Greatest Backlot "Like millions of others, when we first saw Eleanor Powell and Fred Astaire whirling around each other like syncopated pinwheels to Cole Porter's sublime "Begin the Beguine" in Broadway Melody of 1940, we were hooked. Who was this Eleanor Powell and why did her star fade relatively quickly, and what's the backstory of her unlikely marriage to actor Glenn Ford? Finally, thanks to Paula Broussard and Lisa Royère, we have the definitive and long-overdue bio of the 'Queen of Tap.' This book is an important addition to the history of Hollywood's Golden Age." - David Fantle and Tom Johnson, authors of Hollywood Heyday and C'mon Get Happy: The Making of Summer Stock "Eleanor Powell was without a doubt the premiere tap-dancing film star of all time...her legendary performances graced such MGM motion pictures as Born to Dance and Rosalie , and her "Begin the Beguine" number with Fred Astaire from Broadway Melody of 1940 will never be duplicated... Powell has long deserved a good biography. Her life and career should never be forgotten." - Stephen Michael Shearer , author of Patricia Neal: An Unquiet Life "With Eleanor Powell: Born to Dance , authors Paula Broussard and Lisa Royère pay an overdue tribute to one of Hollywood's most mesmerizing dancers with this engaging and detailed biography. Despite Royère's personal connection to Powell, the book presents an objective and balanced portrait of an entertainer who reluctantly traded in her pointe shoes for tap and made film history." - Christina Rice , author of Mean...Moody...Magnificent! Jane Russell and the Marketing of a Hollywood Legend "Eleanor Powell was arguably one of the best female dancers in an era that included Rita Hayworth, Ginger Rogers, and Ann Miller. Unlike most of her contemporaries, she usually danced solo, though her partners included Fred Astaire, George Murphy, Buddy Ebsen—and, surprisingly, one of her most enjoyable, Gracie Allen. After reading Born to Dance , I want to go back and watch every one of her films. It's about time someone wrote a bio of Powell, and after this book, there is no reason for anyone to write another!" - Eve Golden , author of Strictly Dynamite: The Sensational Life of Lupe Velez "In Paula Broussard and Lisa Royère, Eleanor Powell has the biographers she deserves. Their Eleanor Powell: Born to D