DANCER HAS HOLLYWOOD HISTORY : DONNA MOREL HAS WORKED WITH A HOST OF TOP TINSELTOWN TALENTS.

PALMDALE - Dance students at the Palmdale Senior Center may not be aware they are getting instruction from one of the best.

They may not know that Donna Morel, who teaches them on Mondays and Thursdays, is a member of the Screen Actors Guild with years of film and stage experience behind her.

She worked with Bob Hope, Gene Kelly, Ann Miller, Van Johnson, Xavier Cugat, Donald O'Connor and many others.

``My background in theatrics is a great basis, I think, for ideas on how to keep my classes exciting and enthusiastic,'' she said. ``Obviously, I'm a ham and love to put on a show. The more acting there is to do, the more I like it.''

Now 64, Morel got her inspiration to dance as a youngster during World War II, when she often accompanied a cousin to USO dances. She sat on cushions on the edge of the dance floor to watch.

``I knew then I wanted to dance. I wanted to dance more than anything else,'' she said.

Once finally old enough to get a work permit, Morel took a job as a soda jerk in order to save money for dancing lessons.

She had watched the moves of other dancers so long that dancing came to her as naturally as breathing and only a few months after her first lessons, she began dancing in a professional chorus line in Hollywood.

Her first big performance was in a B movie called ``The Daltons Women.'' She was paid $11 a day.

``I would have done it for nothing,'' she said.

She toured with Bob Hope and his troupe through the Aleutian Islands, circa 1950, during her school vacations.

``We did a show once at Point Barrow for only five or six men who were so isolated that bigger groups wouldn't go in. He was like that. We went to all the bases in the islands. It took us about three weeks to get to them all.''

``I danced in the chorus of `Brigadoon,' '' she said. ``That was with Van Johnson and Cyd Charisse. I also danced with Van Johnson in a segment of `Go Home With Bonnie Jean.' It wound up on the cutting room floor and that was a big disappointment.''

For the movie ``Love Melvin,'' with Debbie Reynolds and Donald O'Connor, Morel used the screen name of Gale Robins. Her role in that production was her first chance to sing, she said.

She worked in several movies after that. She was in ``The Clown,'' with Red Skelton; she played the role of Agouri in ``The Desert Song'' with Gordon MacRae; and took the part of Katie Brown in ``Calamity Jane'' with Doris Day.

``I even did water ballet with Esther Williams. I was real lucky. I worked all the time. I don't know whether they just liked my smile or what,'' she laughed.

As late as two years ago she had a minor speaking part in a television series pilot of ``Driving Miss Daisy'' with Robert Guillaume in the role of Hoke. It never emerged as a series.

Morel came to Palmdale in 1986 from Burbank and became actively involved in Palmdale Repertory Theater productions, including ``Arsenic and Old Lace'' and ``South Pacific.''

She also teaches preschool.

The widow of Alexander Victor Morel, she was married once before and has three sons, Michael Guin of Oregon, Daniel Guin of Canyon Country and Andre Morel of Burbank.

``I've been busy constantly in show business, except when I took time out for the boys,'' said Morel. ``It's a little tougher to get parts these days. I look too young for some things and too old for others. Besides, I have too many local commitments.''

Still a beauty with the figure of a woman half her age or younger, she teaches tap and ballroom dancing and has plans for some dance programs involving teens and tiny tots.

``I just love people and I love what I do,'' she said. ''I have to because I don't get paid enough to make a living at it.''

LANCASTER - The Friends of the Antelope Valley Senior Center will elect officers and hear year-end reports at 1:30 p.m. Friday in the multipurpose room of the center, 777 W. Jackman St.

President Larry Skaggs urged everyone with ideas on how to make the center a better place to bring them along and hear what others have to suggest.

``We always welcome constructive input,'' he said.

LANCASTER - Menus for the week at the senior life nutrition sites in Lancaster, Palmdale and Pearblossom have been announced. All meals include bread, margarine and coffee, tea or milk.

Monday: Closed (Martin Luther King Jr. Day).

Tuesday: Old fashioned beef stew, broccoli, tossed salad and peaches.

Wednesday: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, succotash, beet salad and fresh fruit.

Thursday: Roast pork, stuffing, carrots, coleslaw and spiced applesauce.

Friday: Tahitian chicken, au gratin potatoes, stewed tomatoes, tossed salad and Jell-O with pineapple.

This column is devoted to activities and news of interest to all senior citizens. Those with any information pertaining to that age group are invited to contact Bettie Rencoret, [phone], or leave messages at the Antelope Valley Bureau Daily News offices, 267-5741.

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Photo: Donna Morel, 64, teaches dance at the Palmdale Senior Center. A veteran screen actress, Morel has appeared with many stars.

Bettie Rencoret/Daily News