Maxie Dorf

1921-2000 – Born in New York in 1921, his family moved to Los Angeles when he was 4.  There he was exposed to the vibrant dance scene of the “Roaring 20’s.” At age 17 he became part of the legendary “Big Four” swing dance troupe, appearing in several films with Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland, regularly playing one of the talented teenagers who could always be counted on to “put on a show” in the Andy Hardy films. The Balboa swept the nation in the 30s, and Maxie is considered by many to be the greatest Balboa dancer ever. During WWII and the Korean War, he served with distinction in the Navy as a combat photographer; a lot of his footage made its way into the television series Victory at Sea. As a civilian, he returned to dancing, and in the 70’s he started teaching. He made significant contributions to Balboa’s comeback in the 80’s. His pure classic style and flawless execution acclaimed him “King of Balboa.”