Career
Darcel started dancing professionally at the age of 13. She danced in films, on television, performed on Broadway, and choreographed and performed for shows in Las Vegas. Darcel also staged and toured the United States with her own one-woman production.
Darcel danced and toured with the legendary Temptations.
As her popularity grew, so did her exposure in the entertainment world and she soon appeared in the films Xanadu, Jesus Christ Superstar, Night Shift, The Girl, the Gold Watch and Dynamite, The Last Married Couple in America, Mame, Scrooged, Funny Girl and Funny Lady. Darcel was also featured in the Kool & the Gang video for their single "Fresh".
Some of Darcel’s television credits include The Sammy Davis Junior. Show, National Broadcasting Company Follies, Redd Foxx Show, Leslie Uggams Show, Pearl Bailey Show, The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour and the Carol Burnett Show.
Darcel made her first national appearance on the hit television series Darcel"s first appearance on was during the two-hour "79.
Darcel was one of eight dancers who appeared on the special. Due to the high ratings of "79, the show became a weekly series in late summer 1980. Darcel along with three other dancers (Alexander Cole, Deborah Jenssen, and Paula Beyers) who were on "79 joined once the weekly series started.
Another dancer, Gayle Crofoot who was also in "79, appeared on in late 1982.
During the second season of Darcel received more exposure than the other seven dancers as she was featured dancing solo once or twice during the Top 10 countdown. She returned to during the later part of Season 5 in the summer of 1985.
In Season 6 her role on the series enlarged from principal dancer to part-time master of ceremonies, in which she had many speaking parts including regularly announcing the Top 10 countdown. (Darcel was the first celebrity to do David Letterman’s very popular Top 10 countdown on the Late Show with David Letterman).