Chorus Line of 1970: Karen Burke | School of Performing Arts, NY | ep 1

Bob Fosse. Gwen Verdon. Ann Reinking. Debbie Allen. Michael Peters.
Broadway legends behind productions like Dancin’, Dreamgirls, and Raisin.

But what could any of them possibly have to do with a student in the 1970 yearbook of New York’s School of Performing Arts?

Welcome to Chorus Line of…, a brand-new series on Hey, Dancer!

The idea grew out of my research for The Rest of the Story. While searching yearbooks for rare photos of famous dancers, I kept staring at the other faces — young talents whose stories seemed to vanish after graduation. I couldn’t stop wondering: whatever happened to them?

So that’s what this series is about. Each week, I’ll pull a dancer from a forgotten yearbook and follow the trail — wherever it leads.

Our first subject: Karen Burke. The search wasn’t simple — even her name changed along the way — but the path led to places I never expected.

This isn’t a tidy biography. It’s an unfolding investigation. Join me as I uncover how a single yearbook photo can open the door to a remarkable story.

Conceived, starring, written, and researched by: Miller Daurey

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Fair Use Disclaimer

This video complies with Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, which allows for the limited use of copyrighted material for purposes such as criticism, commentary, education, and research. All third-party footage is used transformatively, accompanied by original narration, verified historical context, and dance-specific analysis. I do not claim ownership of any copyrighted material; the clip is included strictly for educational and documentary purposes, supporting biographical storytelling and cultural commentary.

Archival material featured includes:

Saturday Night Fever (1977, Paramount Pictures)

All media is used under Fair Use for non-commercial, transformative purposes including historical documentation, dance education, and biographical analysis.