Tap dance is a lively and rhythmic style of dancing, characterized by the percussive sounds produced by the tap shoes worn by the dancer. It is rooted in African, Irish, and English dance traditions. This art has a captivating expression, highlighting footwork, syncopation, and improvisation.
Tap Dancers
Tap dance has a long history of development and innovation, and most of that history happened before the creation of Hollywood, in front of live audiences. However, just when the American film industry was entering its golden era of cinema, tap was also enjoying a creative peak of its own. When the two joined forces, tap dance became an unstoppable force on the American cultural landscape, and the world at large. Dancers became actors, and actors had to brush up on their skills to stand out in the scene.
The Pioneers and Innovators
Bill "Bojangles" Robinson
Bill Robinson, commonly known as Bojangles, was a pioneering tap dancer born on May 25, 1878, in Richmond, Virginia. Celebrated as the best-known and highest-paid African-American entertainer in the United States during the first half of the 20th century, Robinson made a lasting impact on the performing arts. His talent in tap dancing endeared him to audiences.
Renowned for his incredible speed, he famously claimed to run backward faster than most men could go forward. This final film in the career of Bill “Bojangles” Robinson was an appropriate Hollywood swan song for a man who is perhaps more responsible for the rise of tap and African American visibility in films than anyone else in his era.
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A loose biography of the life and times of Robinson, ‘Stormy Weather’ is notable for being packed with talent with its African American cast. Fats Waller, Katherine Dunham and her company, and Lena Horne all make memorable appearances, while Cab Calloway plays bandleader for a famous dance sequence with The Nicholas Brothers set to his raucous tune ‘Jumpin’ Jive.’ At the center of the action is the star himself, who even at the end of his life had plenty of gas in the tank to work the floor. ‘Stormy Weather’ is a must-see celebration of tap dance during its jazz age heyday.
Sammy Davis Jr.
Born on December 8, 1925, in Harlem, New York, Sammy Davis was a dynamic force in entertainment, with his career gaining momentum in the 1940s through unwavering determination, innate talent, and the support of friends like Frank Sinatra. As a key member of the Rat Pack alongside Sinatra and Dean Martin, Davis made a lasting impact with films such as Ocean's 11 and Sergeants 3.
Savion Glover
Savion Glover, born on November 19, 1973, in Newark, New Jersey, has emerged as a prominent figure in the world of tap dancing. He gained fame for his breakthrough role in the Broadway musical "The Tap Dance Kid." Glover's distinctive style is characterized by a blunt and driven approach, featuring a funk-driven, flat-heeled technique. He seldom gazes towards his audience but taps while facing offstage. His body style pays little attention to the carriage of the arms.
Eleanor Powell
Eleanor Powell, born on November 21, 1912, in Springfield, Massachusetts, stands as a triumphant figure in the realm of tap dancing, particularly as a female rhythm-tap soloist. Her legacy is etched in the annals of entertainment history, with her memorable tap dance numbers in musical films solidifying her reputation.
Powell is best known for her powerful and aggressive style of tap dancing, a distinctive approach that set her apart in a male-dominated field. In their only on-screen pairing, Powell and Fred Astaire showcase a dynamic that is very different than the one Astaire shared with Ginger Rogers. Here we find Powell as a powerful, almost leading force, with the choreography supporting her in this role-particularly in the sequence featuring Cole Porter’s ‘Begin the Beguine.’ In that full ensemble dance scene, Powell comes drifting out into the stage, beguilingly twirling and swaying until Astaire joins her for a magical partnered tap dance under the starlight of the stage. Besides being an excellent display of Powell’s considerable talent, ‘Broadway Melody of 1940’ is a wonderful mix of musical theater and tap.
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Fred Astaire
Born on May 10, 1899, in Omaha, Nebraska, Fred Astaire is a legendary figure in entertainment, broadly acknowledged as the "greatest popular-music dancer of all time." He left an indelible mark on dance by seamlessly merging ballroom and tap dance, crafting a sophisticated and refined style that reshaped the dance landscape. In addition to his dance prowess, Astaire excelled as an actor, singer, choreographer, and presenter.
Gregory Hines
The "Challenge" from Tap 1989 - Sammy Davis Jr. & Gregory Hines Tap Dancing
Gregory Hines, born on February 14, 1946, in New York, New York, played a pivotal role in the resurgence of tap dancing during the late 20th century. He is recognized for his versatility as a dancer, actor, choreographer, and singer. His reputation soared as the innovator behind improvised tap choreography, highlighting his exceptional skill and creativity.
Noteworthy among his contributions was the design of a miked portable stage that amplified tap sounds, ensuring the tap dancer's presence matched the intensity of accompanying loud music.
Before Gregory Hines came along, tap dance was declining, largely seen at Las Vegas variety shows and the occasional mention on television. That all changed with Hines, whose career rejuvenated the genre and presented it with new innovations for a fresh generation of dance fans worldwide.
‘Tap’ is a worthy vehicle for Hine’s talent, and the ensemble cast is chock full of dancers and entertainers from yesteryear, including Sammy Davis Jr. in his last film role. The entire film is an homage to the past and bridge to the future, with a young Savion Glover representing the future of the style. Veteran choreographer Henry Le Tang puts his vision into the club scenes, and an iconic tap dance challenge scene finds Hines dancing with some of the greatest masters of the past, including Steve Condos, Howard Sims, Harold Nicholas (the younger half of The Nicholas Brothers), Jimmy Slyde, Bunny Briggs, and Arthur Duncan. If you want to see a movie that has more legendary tap dancers in it than an entire studio catalog, ‘Tap’ is a film you don’t want to miss.
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Ginger Rogers
Ginger Rogers, born on July 16, 1911, in Independence, Missouri, was an iconic figure during the Golden Age of Hollywood, renowned for her versatility as an actress, dancer, and singer. She achieved widespread fame as the cherished partner of Fred Astaire in a series of timeless movie musicals. Rogers captivated audiences with her exceptional ability to mix sass, sophistication, and astonishing footwork, setting a standard for grace and style in the realm of dance.
Ann Miller
Ann Miller, born on April 12, 1923, in Houston, Texas, was a dynamic actress and dancer best known for her contributions to classical Hollywood cinema musicals during the 1940s and 1950s. With a vibrant personality and remarkable tap dancing skills, Miller left an enduring impact on the entertainment industry. Her fame reached new heights when she secured a seven-year contract with RKO at the age of thirteen.
Gene Kelly
Gene Kelly, born on August 23, 1912, in East Liberty, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was a versatile artist, excelling as a dancer, actor, singer, director, and choreographer. His fame peaked in the 1940s and 1950s, primarily known for his energetic and athletic dancing style.
Although not a blockbuster at the time of its release, ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ is widely considered to be one of the greatest dance musicals of all time, and a classic in terms of movies featuring tap dance. It also premiered in the later period of Hollywood’s Golden Age, which might account for its slower path towards widespread acclaim and recognition. Although there are many great dance scenes in the film, including some with a young Debbie Reynolds, the true classic tap dance scene that needs mentioning is the title song’s sequence. Kelly’s character Don Lockwood turns what could have been a wet and wretched experience into a jubilant expression of everything that makes dance movies magical.
The Nicholas Brothers
The Nicholas Brothers, Fayard and Harold Nicholas, hailing from Philadelphia, were widely acclaimed as the greatest tap dancers of their era. Excelling in a range of dance techniques, particularly during the 1930s and 1950s, they left an indelible mark on the world of dance. Renowned for their highly acrobatic technique, the brothers were celebrated for their extraordinary artistry and daring innovations.
Sandman Sims
Sandman Sims, born on January 24, 1917, in Fort Smith, Arkansas, made a significant impact on the tap dancing scene. Launching his career in vaudeville, he became famous for his unique style, showcasing his skill in a dancing technique performed within a wooden sandbox of his own construction.
The distinctive aspect of his performances was the sand he sprinkled, altering and amplifying the sound of his dance steps. This innovative use of sand not only added a rhythmic texture to his routines but also earned him his well-deserved nickname.
Shirley Temple
Shirley Temple, born on April 23, 1928, in Santa Monica, California, emerged as a multifaceted talent in the realms of acting, singing, and dancing. She rose to fame as Hollywood's number-one box-office draw during her childhood years from 1934 to 1938.
Shirley Temple captivated audiences with her charming performances, showcasing her ability to sing and tap-dance her way to stardom. In her four-film appearances with Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, ‘Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm’ has the plot and characterizations that are probably most recognizable to modern viewers. This comedy of errors about a pint-sized beauty queen who is tossed into a rustic setting is full of dance sequences that seem incredible to have been performed by its nine-year-old star. The colorful dance scenes work largely due to the incredible talent of the young actress and the effortless adaptability of her adult counterparts, particularly Robinson. Their closing dance of the wooden soldiers is a tap dance marvel to behold for dancers of all ages.
Tap Dance on the Silver Screen
Here is a list of movies that brought tap dancers to new heights on the silver screen:
| Dancer | Movie | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Bill "Bojangles" Robinson | Stormy Weather | 1943 |
| Jeni Le Gon | Double Deal | 1939 |
| Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers | Swing Time | 1936 |
| Eleanor Powell | Broadway Melody of 1940 | 1940 |
| Gene Kelly | Singin' in the Rain | 1952 |
| Shirley Temple | Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm | 1938 |
| Ann Miller | Kiss Me Kate | 1953 |
| Gregory Hines | Tap | 1989 |
| Clayton “Peg Leg” Bates | The Dancing Man | 1992 |
