The famous choreographer George Balanchine once said: "He is the most interesting, the most creative and the most elegant dancer of our time" and the well-known dancer Rudolph Nureyev also said : "He was not just the best ballroom or tap dancer, he was simply the greatest and most imaginative dancer of our time. These famous dancers were referring to Fred Astaire, known as one of the greatest dancers of all time. The his light, artistic and joyful dance style impacted dance in an extremely unique way. Astaire used techniques in films and dance that shaped society Americans were looking for some joy in their lives and Astaire managed to give them hope in a historical period devoid of optimism and the carefree techniques of Fred Astaire's dance movement, particularly in the films Swing Time and The Gay Divorcee. , help America overcome the Great Depression and highlight the importance of art in this time period. The arts played a significant role in the Great Depression, not only as a means of escape for some people, but also a psychological and ideological role that provided inspiration and optimism in a time of grave doubt and fear. For example, the film provided an escape for a couple of hours, but it also represented success during this time period. Many films focused on the social realities of the time period, so that people could identify with these films. The films gave images of hope and success because they portrayed ordinary people, like a girl who won a role in a play, or a man and a woman who met and fell in love by chance. Andrew Bergman explains the effect of these films in his article Hollywood and the Great Depression...... middle of paper ......eps in Time. New York: Harper, 1959. Print.Bergman, Andrew. "Hollywood and the Great Depression". Digital History, Fall 2006.Web. April 21, 2014. Darrach, Brad. “It made us want to dance.” - Death, tributes, Fred Astaire:People.com. 06 July 1987. Web. 21 April 2014. Dickstein, Morris. "Facing the music." The American scholar:. Phi Beta Kappa, Fall 2009. Web. April 21, 2014. Kisselgoff, Anna. "FRED ASTAIRE HAS PERFECTED A NEW ART FORM." The New York Times. The New York Times, June 27, 1987. Web. April 21, 2014. Macaulay, Alastair. “They seem to find the happiness they seek.” The New York Times. The New York Times, August 15, 2009. Web. April 21, 2014. Smith, Imogen S. “Fred Astaire (1899-1987).” Dance Heritage Coalition, 2012. Web.21 April 2014. Stanish, Sophie. "Fred and Ginger: America's Sweethearts." Crossing the Normandie.Fordham, Web. 21 April. 2014.