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Black and Blue

[Daily Post] Charles Cholly Atkins HAPPY BIRTHDAY

September 30, 2014 By Tap Legacy

to all dancers, dance enthusiasts and tap dancers. Join us in celebrating the Birthday of Charles Cholly Atkins today 09/30/1913, born Charles Sylvan Atkinson in Alabama. A Tap Master and National Treasure.

Atkins, a tap dancer and vaudeville performer, would later become the house choreographer for the various artists on the Motown music label.

Atkins’ first found fame was in one of the top vaudeville class acts with partner Charles Honi Coles. Billed as Coles & Atkins, they toured nationally and internationally performing with the bands of Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, and Count Basie, among others.

In 1964, following many years as a freelance choreographer for vocal groups, Atkins was hired by Berry Gordy to work with the artists on his newly formed Motown label. Atkins’ new style of vocal choreography would define an entirely new kind of choreographic style and supply the trademark moves of many quintessential Motown acts such as Gladys Knight and The Pips, The Supremes, The Temptations, and The Four Tops, among others.

Atkins continued working with Motown artists well into the 1980s, however, over the years Atkins’ own choreography may also be seen in groups outside of the Motown family, such as The Cadillacs and the O’Jays. All totaled Atkins worked with more that 75 vocal groups and 20 solo acts over the course of his choreographic career.

Atkins received a Tony Award in 1989 for choreography of the Broadway show Black and Blue, which he shared with Henry LeTang, Frankie Manning and Fayard Nicholas. In 1993, The National Endowment for the Arts awarded Atkins its most prestigious dance honor: a three-year choreographers fellowship.

Other awards and honors include induction in the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, the first recipient of the Elder Mentors Award from the Smithsonian Institution’s Center for African American History and Culture, an Honorary Doctorate in Dance from Oklahoma City University. Atkins was also a founding member of the Copasetics and a member of the Tap Legacy Foundation’s Honorary Board.

Sit back and enjoy this clip of Coles and Atkins, Cholly is on screen left when the clip starts.

Class… Rhythm and Musicality like no other, WOW!!!

 

 

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[Daily Post] James Buster Brown

April 27, 2014 By Tap Legacy

Dr. James Buster Brown, member of the Original Hoofers and The Copasetics.

At the age of 16, he and two friends put an Act together called the Three Aces, then changed it to the Speed Kings a mix of acrobatics, tap dance and jive.

Buster toured with Cab Calloway, Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, his highlight was working with Duke Ellington.

later at Swing 46 a NYC Jazz Club, he held court every Sunday with Buster’s Tap Jam, every Sunday…Yes!!!

Buster was instrumental in the tap dance rebirth in the late 1970’s, he performed on Broadway in Bubbling Brown Sugar, and Black and Blue, on film The Cotton Club, and on TV in a PBS Special.

The clip is a 1983 performance, Enjoy…

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[Daily Post] Lon Chaney

March 3, 2014 By Tap Legacy

This is Lon Chaney, a Tap Master and National Treasure.

Born as Isaiah Chaneyfield, went from being a boxer to a tap dancer, known as the father of the Paddle and Roll.

Chaney started performing in the 60’s and 70’s with The Original Hoofers, he also appeared in both Paris and Broadway productions of Black and Blue. co hosted with Jimmy Slyde La Cave where this clip is taken in 1994, La Cave is better known as the University. Enjoy.

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[Daily Post] Lon Chaney HAPPY BIRTHDAY

January 27, 2014 By Tap Legacy

To all dancers, dance enthusiasts and tap dancers, join us in celebrating the Birthday of Lon Chaney today 01/27/1927.

A Tap Master and National Treasure. born Isaiah Chaneyfield, went from being a boxer to a tap dancer.

Started performing in the 60’s and 70’s with The Original Hoofers also appeared in both Paris and Broadway productions of Black and Blue, known as the King of the Paddle and Roll. Chaney was the co host of  La Cave with Jimmy Slyde.

Enjoy the clip from Broadways Black and Blue. Chaney is the first from the right and the last man out in the Hoogers Line

 

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[Daily Post] Dr. Jimmy Slyde

November 26, 2013 By Tap Legacy

Dr. Jimmy Slyde. A Tap Master, a National Treasure and an Honorary Board Member of the Tap Legacy™ Foundation.

Began tap dancing at the age of 12 with teacher Stanley Brown at The New England Conservatory of Music, after seeing Bill Robinson perform.

Slyde was part of the tap dance revival of the 1980s. He was in films such as The Cotton Club, Tap and Round Midnight, as well as a number of television specials.

Slyde collaborated with Steve Condos on a program of jazz tap improvisation at the Smithsonian Institution and performed across the United States and in South America.

In 1989, Slyde received a Tony Award nomination for his Broadway debut in the musical Black and Blue. He was also the recipient the Flo-Bert award (1991) the NEA National Heritage Fellowship Award (1999), the Charles Honi Coles Award (2001), a Guggenheim Fellowship for Choreography (2003), and an Honorary Doctorate of Performing Arts from Oklahoma City University.

Sit back and enjoy this Master Artist at play….. Watch and listen to the Clarity and Rhythmic Musicality in SMOOOOOTH!!!

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[Daily Post] George Hillman

September 27, 2013 By Tap Legacy

To all dancers, dance enthusiasts and tap dancers, join us in celebrating today 09/27/1906 the Birthday of George Hillman, a Tap Master and National Treasure.

Broadway credits include Curley McDimple (1967) and Black and Blue (1989).

Film credits include Cotton Club (1984) and Last Embrace (1979).

Sit back and enjoy George’s tap dancing, he is the second tap dancer to solo in this clip of “The Track” – also known as “The Hoofer’s Line” – from the Broadway production of Black and Blue.

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