The Phelps family moved to Los Angeles in 1942.
Jeanne Phelps-Veloz pictured at left and below dancing with Arthur
'Slippery' Walsh in the film 'Groovie Movie'. Jeanne was and still
is an avid swing dancer who does West Coast Swing, Lindy-Hop,
Jitterbug, Tango and Ballroom dances in a unique style that many
ladies have copied over the years.
Jean and her brother used to dance the swing
circuit and got involved with Dean
Collins until Ray went to serve in WWII. Jeanne married Bebe
Davi who later divorced. in 1947 Jean started being trained by
Frank Veloz international ballroom dancer Frank Veloz of 'Veloz
and Yolanda' fame who years later would partner with, dancing
and worked the circuit with Frank in the Ballroom World as well
as his Television program originally entitled "Veloz &
Yolanda Hour," later changed to "The Frank Veloz Show"
from 1950-1955. They soon married in 1963 and remained together
until his death from cancer on 2/27/1983.
Jeanne was nominated
in 1995 and inducted into the 'California Swing Dance Hall of
Fame' in 1996 and can be scene doing her unique style of Lindy
Hop in a few surviving films such as Swing Fever and the instructional
and hilariously entertaining Pete Smith short, "Groovie Movie"
where swing dancers demonstrated various dance steps of the jitterbug.
Altho not as active today, Jean shows no signs
of slowing down. Jean has been invited to appear as a special
guest at numerous Lindy Hop weekends. Jean lives in Reseda, California
(2002.) She and her brother still occasionally get out to clubs
swing dancing and is still a thrill to dance with this charming
and personable lady. Jean's website page is here: Jean
Veloz.
Burlesque 
