Legend of the golden age of Hollywood musicals, Gene Kelly electrified the seventh art in unforgettable masterpieces such as Singin’ in the Rain and An American in Paris. Dancer, choreographer and director, his rise to fame was that of a complete artist on a continual quest for experimentation and innovation. His physique, his voice, his ravishing smile, established him from the get-go as an authentic American, the original “boy next door”, an image that fitted him like a glove. Yet this committed artist, always faithful to his modest background and a staunch defender of the civil rights movement in the USA, made the case for a style of male dance accessible to all. From his early days as dancer in the night clubs and music halls of Broadway to his recognition as a choreographer and director, Gene Kelly mène la danse reveals how this artist has extended the boundaries of his art: taking dance to the streets of New York, dancing with a cartoon character or with his own double… The story of Gene Kelly’s rise to stardom is also a reminder that he enabled the discovery of a whole generation of new talent, such as composer Leonard Bernstein and dancers Cyd Charisse, Donald O’Connor, as well as French dancer, Leslie Caron. In 1952, aged only 40, he was the first dancer to win an honorary Oscar for lifetime achievement. That same year, he took on legendary status with his unforgettable performance in Singin’ in the Rain. A high point that stands as a manifesto for this American who sacrificed everything for his art.