Flick Colby

Felicity Isabelle "Flick" Colby (March 23, 1946 – May 26, 2011) was an American dancer and choreographer best known for being a founding member of and the choreographer of the United Kingdom dance troupe Pan's People, which appeared on the BBC1 chart show Top of the Pops from 1968 to 1976. Colby became the full-time dance choreographer for the Top of the Pops dance troupes Pan's People, Ruby Flipper, Legs & Co., and Zoo (credited as "Dance Director"), from 1972 until 1983.

Early life Colby was born in Danville, Pennsylvania. Her father was Thomas E. Colby, Professor of German at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York. As a child, Colby lived in Clinton and later in Massachusetts. Educated at a school in New Hampshire and Abbot Academy (Andover, Massachusetts), she began attending ballet and other dance classes in Boston and performed in musicals before travelling to London in 1966. Colby had six hours to create a dance routine for an absent act's single, choreographing moves to suit a wide range of musical styles such as disco, punk, glam rock, soul, and folk.

Pan's People earliest BBC television appearance was in 1968 on The Bobbie Gentry Show, initially broadcast on BBC2 and repeated later on BBC1. They first appeared on Top of the Pops in April 1968, and became a regular weekly feature in January 1970. (starring Georgie Fame and Alan Price) in 1969; and series such as Sez Les, The Black and White Minstrel Show, and The Goodies. In 1974, Pan's People released a single titled "You Can Really Rock and Roll Me", and made guest appearances on popular primetime programs such as The Two Ronnies and The Benny Hill Show. Colby also choreographed stage musicals such as Catch My Soul, starring the American singer, songwriter, and actor PJ Proby and PP Arnold.

Colby had breast cancer during the final years of her life, and died of bronchopneumonia at her home in Clinton in May 2011, aged 65, just four months after her husband George Bahlke died due to complications from pneumonia on 1 February. She was survived by her sister, and her brother Thomas Colby IV.

Filmography

Television Year Programme Channel Notes 2001 The True Story of TOTP BBC One Guest