EP 41: Xanadu, Olivia Newton-John with Xanadu dancer Cheryl Baxter

EP 41: Xanadu, Olivia Newton-John with Xanadu dancer Cheryl Baxter

From Dance Dad With John Corella by Dance Dad LLC

September 18, 2025 · 1h 2m · Episode 42

About this episode

Cheryl Baxter shares her experiences working on Xanadu and the lessons learned from legends like Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly.

Cheryl Baxter’s very first job as a young dancer put her on the set of Xanadu with Olivia Newton-John, Gene Kelly, and Kenny Ortega. What does it feel like to step into a world like that straight out of a small town in Wisconsin? And how do you carry lessons from legends into a career that lasts for decades? Joining John Corella in this episode, Cheryl reflects on the magic of Xanadu, the influence of Gene Kelly’s ease and Olivia Newton-John’s authenticity, and the ways she has kept her career alive through every crossover - from film and television to teaching and even TikTok! Cheryl’s story invites you to think about resilience, reinvention, and the joy that comes from saying yes to new stages of life in dance. Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Dance Dad Introduction 03:20 Making Xanadu With Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly 06:00 Gene Kelly’s On Set Lesson: Relax and Have Fun 10:30 Meeting Olivia Newton-John and Early Xanadu Memories 16:10 Why Xanadu Became a Cult Classic 28:30 Reinvention and Career Crossover From Stage to TikTok 49:30 Filming Magic on Xanadu: Steadicam, Long Days, Big Finale 57:50 Stay Bold: Resilience and Reinvention in Dance Connect with Cheryl Baxter: Follow…

People in this episode

Host: John Corella

Guest: Cheryl Baxter

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Xanadu

Places: Wisconsin

More episodes of Dance Dad With John Corella

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Dance Dad With John Corella podcast page.