Zoo image

Zoo: 1981-1983

By late 1981, Legs & Co had become more integrated into the studio audience on Top of the Pops, rather than performing set-piece routines for non-present chart acts. But times were changing, and Flick Colby felt the time was right to reintroduce male dancers into the fold, as music videos were slowly replacing the dated TOTP dance routines when artists were not able to perform in the studio. Legs & Co's stint on TOTP came to an end in October 1981, and a twenty-member dance troupe named Zoo replaced them, with a set of performers drawn from the pool of ten female and ten male dancers each week. Three members of previous troupes, Menhenick, Corpe and Chellamah, made at least one appearance each between 1981-1983.

By 1982, record companies were offering the BBC free promotional music videos, meaning dance troupes and routines were no longer required, and so on 29th September 1983, Zoo performed for the last time, and the use of dance troupes was consigned to the TOTP history books. From 1983 onwards the audience and cheerleaders took a more active role, often dancing in more prominent areas such as behind performing acts on the back of the stage, and on podiums to reinforce the classic 80s ‘party atmosphere’.

Dance Troupes

Performances


Appearances

Episode Track / Artist
29/09/1983 What I Got Is What You Need
Unique
28/07/1983 Feel Like Makin' Love
George Benson
21/07/1983 The Crown
Gary Byrd & The Gb Experience
07/07/1983 Iou
Freeez
16/06/1983 Wanna Be Startin' Something
Michael Jackson
02/06/1983 Waiting For A Train
Flash & The Pan
05/05/1983 Candy Girl
New Edition
24/02/1983 She Means Nothing To Me
Phil Everly & Cliff Richard
Christmas 1982 - Part 2 Walking On Sunshine
Rocker's Revenge
Christmas 1982 - Part 1 The Model
Kraftwerk
Christmas 1982 - Part 1 Abracadabra
Steve Miller Band
Christmas 1982 - Part 1 I've Never Been To Me
Charlene
11/11/1982 The Girl Is Mine
Michael Jackson & Paul Mccartney
04/11/1982 Ooh La La La (let's Go Dancin')
Kool & The Gang
14/10/1982 Back On The Chain Gang
The Pretenders
07/10/1982 House Of The Rising Sun
The Animals
30/09/1982 Take A Chance With Me
Roxy Music
23/09/1982 Hard To Say I'm Sorry
Chicago
16/09/1982 Why
Carly Simon
09/09/1982 There It Is
Shalamar
09/09/1982 Ruff Mix
Wonder Dog
02/09/1982 The Message
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
26/08/1982 Walking On Sunshine
Rocker's Revenge
12/08/1982 Big Fun
Kool & The Gang
05/08/1982 Love Is In Control (finger On The Trigger)
Donna Summer
01/07/1982 Murphy's Law
Cheri
24/06/1982 Inside Out
Odyssey
10/06/1982 Do I Do
Stevie Wonder
22/04/1982 Cat People (putting Out Fire)
David Bowie
15/04/1982 Ever So Lonely
Monsoon
08/04/1982 I Can Make You Feel Good
Shalamar
18/03/1982 Layla
Derek & The Dominos
04/03/1982 Deutscher Girls
Adam & The Ants
25/02/1982 Theme From 'hill Street Blues'
Mike Post Feat. Larry Carlton
04/02/1982 Never Give Up On A Good Thing
George Benson
21/01/1982 Ticket To The Moon
Electric Light Orchestra
14/01/1982 Don't Walk Away
The Four Tops
07/01/1982 Yellow Pearl
Phil Lynott
Christmas Day 1981 O Superman
Laurie Anderson
Christmas Day 1981 Can You Feel It?
The Jacksons
24/12/1981 Get Down On It
Kool & The Gang
17/12/1981 I'll Find My Way Home
Jon & Vangelis
03/12/1981 Why Do Fools Fall In Love?
Diana Ross
19/11/1981 Under Pressure
Queen & David Bowie
12/11/1981 Let's Groove
Earth, Wind & Fire
05/11/1981 Twilight
Electric Light Orchestra

PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHT

There It Is by Shalamar

Danced to by Zoo 09/09/1982

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