Suzanne Charny’s dance journey was anything but ordinary. From a childhood training path that veered far from the usual ballet–tap–jazz pipeline, to being personally chosen by Bob Fosse to lead Sweet Charity’s “Rich Man’s Frug” on film, her story is one of singular talent meeting the right moment.

In this episode of The Rest of the Story on the Hey, Dancer! podcast, you’ll hear how her unique training and early influences (Luigi, Mattox, Graham) shaped her into a dancer who could embody Fosse’s language like no one else. You’ll also discover why Fosse — and Gwen Verdon — fought for her, how Hollywood took notice, and how one number cemented her place in dance history.

For the first time ever in this series, I spoke directly with the subject herself. That means this episode is filled with never-before-seen photos and details from Suzanne’s own life — plus, in the outro, I’ll share my personal reflection on that conversation.

Her name may not be as instantly recognizable as Verdon or Reinking, but her contribution to dance is unforgettable. And this episode uncovers why.

Suzanne's sculpting website!

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