From Sickly to Stunning: The Polio Survivor Who Became a Hollywood Icon

Cyd Charisse’s influence endures through every dancer who strives to express emotion through movement, through every filmmaker who blends storytelling with choreography, and through every audience member who watches her iconic performances in awe.

Her work in Singin’ in the Rain remains one of the most recognized dance sequences in cinematic history.
Her chemistry with Fred Astaire in The Band Wagon continues to be studied by dancers and film scholars.
Her power, precision, sensuality, and grace continue to inspire performers around the world.

Cyd Charisse was not simply a star.
She was a symbol — of resilience, transformation, femininity, elegance, and the extraordinary strength of a woman who refused to let illness define her destiny.

She entered the world as a frail, sickly girl weakened by polio.
She left it as a towering icon whose legacy will never fade.