"Dancing", "Idol", "Fly Girls" Working It

Who would have thought...better yet, who-da-thunk-it twenty years ago that two dancers from a black sketch comedy television series would be starring on two of the top rated shows in the history of television? Carrie Ann Inaba, judge for "Dancing with the Stars" and Jennifer Lopez, judge for "American Idol" were both part of the dance troupe the "Fly Girls" from the hit television series "In Living Color" which aired on Fox from 1990 to 1994.

The Fly Girls were dancing maniacs, doing twists, turns and gyrations that would make a pretzel blush. Now two of them are mega stars. Brothers Keenan Ivory and Damon Wayans, the creators and starring in In Living Color gave hip-hop dancing a national boost, featuring the Fly Girl dance group on every episode.

Laurieann Gibson, another Fly Girl has made her mark as a choreographer for the likes of Lady Gaga, Diddy, Alicia Keys, Katy Perry and many others. Gibson also had a brief stint as a judge on ABC's "Skating with the Stars." And Rosie Perez, an original Fly Girl was the group's first choreographer. Perez, a former Soul Train dancer made her acting debut as Mookie's girlfriend in Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing" and "White Men Can't Jump" starring Wesley Snipes.