I think the most popular vision many people have of Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson, is his amazing dance with Shirley Temple in the movie, The Little Colonel. The routine they did together going up
and down the stairs captured the hearts of millions of people and is
a classic to this day.
He had though, a long career before this 1935 film. He got his first professional
job in 1892, performing as a member of the pickaninny
chorus for Mayme Remington with The South Before the
War.
Robinson then went on to New York to hit the vaudeville Orpheum circuit, but did not wear blackface makeup that performers customarily used. He was an inductee in 2002 American Tap Dance Foundation's Hall of Fame, where they outline his prestigious career in this article :
http://www.atdf.org/awards/bojangles.html
The following is one of my favourite videos I have seen of his
famous 'step dance'. The 1932 footage is a bit grainy, but well worth a peek, enjoy !!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjCFYpWDmfM
Just a note, I actually meant for you all to watch THIS following
clip from Bill Bojangles, truly amazing !!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4D4OER3vts
Every once and a while I will stumble upon rare, and not so rare footage of some of my favourite tappers in film, old and new. Classics like "Jumpin' Jive" with the Nicholas Brothers in the film Stormy Weather, how they could even walk after doing that number blows me away.
Sammy Davis Jr. and Gregory Hines in the number, "Challenge"
scene from the film Tap.
Bill 'bojangles' Robinson's Stair dance from Harlem is Heaven.
Gene Kelly in "Singin' In the Rain"
Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire in Swing Time.
and the amaaaaazing Ann Miller, whirling, twirling, and speed tapping her way through "Shakin' the Blues Away" in Easter Parade.
How she didn't fall over after doing all those turns is a mystery to me, I don't care how well she spotted !
These are just to name a few of the countless women and men that have left me awe-inspired over the years. So, as a tribute to these talented tappers that have brought so much joy and inspiration to so many people, young, and also late bloomers like myself, I decided that now and then I would write "Tap Tidbits", showcasing an artist/artists with a tap number that left me saying "I want to learn THAT!" or "HOW did they do THAT?"
This first one may surprise you. I have never seen it before, and never thought that this celebrity, who was an amazing philanthropist/comedian, was also a damn good dancer. I hope you enjoy !!
http://videos2view.net/Hope-Cagney.htm
This video came to me via my good childhood friend, Peggy Bentley.
