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Mr. Sandman
Howard Sims earned his nickname through his use of sand, both as a medium in his dance routine visually and to create sonic atmospheres. Growing up in a dancing family, the Sandman loved…
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Radio City Rhythm
Jennifer Jones became the first Black Rockette in 1987, when she was twenty. Last year she published a memoir, Becoming Spectacular: The Rhythm of Resilience From the First African American Rockette. She has…
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Stretching in Hip Hop
Emilio Austin, Jr., better known as “Buddha Stretch,” has been around the hip hop dance world for decades & influenced the style heavily. Soul Train and popping were early places he learned about…
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Madam Butterfly
Pat Davis tells her own story in today’s post! As an original dancer on Soul Train, her personal styles, both of dance and fashion, helped her stand out among fellow performers. Her style…
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Tapping into Five Points
Credited by some with inventing tap dance as a form, Master Juba (also referred to as Boz’s Juba, given name believed to be William Henry Lane) lived and performed in the Five Points…
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Bubbling in Vaudeville
Originating the role of Sportin’ Life in Porgy and Bess, John William “Bubbles” (Sublett) created a new type of rhythm tap dancing, appeared early in Broadway shows, and was part of a duo…
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Dancer Katherine the Great
After a long, cold January, the best month of the year has arrived, somehow again almost unexpectedly! In this Black History Month, birthday celebration, and days of all kinds of love, I’m learning…
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The First Ten Days
MMXXVI has started off with a bang, as I think most of us expect these days…but also with a steady slowness that provides hope for anchoring amidst the chaos of the world (especially…
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Thankfulness: The Whole Point
As a kid, I certainly remember hearing and telling and acting out “the story of the first Thanksgiving.” As a teaching and learning tool, I love the ideas of coming together with neighbors,…