I chose 20th century tap
dancing because the dancers during this time period showed great innovative
style and had a lot of unique talents.
Fred Astaire alone made me become interested in tap dancing, because he
was so smooth in his motions and was flawless.
Although we never performed this type of dancing in class, I would enjoy
doing so in the future although my skills would not nearly match up to those of
the tap dancers in the 20th century.
There was a huge change in tap dancing during the 20th
century. Before the 20th
century, tap dancing was a flat-footed, shuffling style. The tap dancers in the 20th
century brought tap “up on its toes” by using light and swift footwork. Audiences loved tap dancing during the 20th
century because it seemed to ignite with many great performances by
extraordinary dancers. Some of the
greatest tap dancers of the 20th century include Bill “Bojangles”
Robinson, Fred Astaire, and Gene Kelly.
Bill “Bojangles” Robinson- Claiming he could “run backward faster than most men could go forward,” Bill Robinson was a famous African American tap dancer during the twentieth century. Bill Robinson’s dancing had a very upright notion, but had a swinging effect with his taps. His moves emphasized the beat of the taps more than the entertainment of his bodily movements. His success seemed endless, and he was even named the greatest of all dancers by at least seven New York newspapers. Bill Robinson had several performances with Shirley Temple including “Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm” and “The Little Colonel.” Bill Robinson was well known for his generosity. It is estimated that he gave away over one million dollars in charities and loans. Bill “Bojangles” Robinson was a great man, showing so by working with the young Shirley Temple for most of his career.
Fred Astaire- Using his entire body, Fred Astaire was an extraordinary tap dancer. Fred Astaire was very entertaining. His dances can be divided into four categories – exhibition ballroom romances, tap competitions, solos, and solos with props. The most frequent type performed was exhibition ballroom romances. Astaire’s most famous of this style are the love duets with Ginger Rogers, such as “Cheek to Cheek” and “Night and Day.” Fred Astaire was very good at making above average dancing look easy. His motions were merely flawless. Fred Astaire is also well known for his solos with props, such as his performance “Puttin’ On the Ritz.” He could dance with just about anyone and anything.
Gene Kelly- Having an extensive ballet background, Gene Kelly successfully transformed into a fantastic tap dancer during the twentieth century while keeping his ballet traits intact. Kelly’s dancing style was relaxed yet innovative. Gene Kelly was a graceful, charming, and beloved entertainer. His style resembled that of Fred Astaire, by enjoying the use of props and the movement of his entire body, not just his feet. Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire actually had a performance together called “The Babbitt and the Bromide.” The two gentlemen did a fantastic job working together in this performance and made it seem like they belonged together on the stage. Gene Kelly moved around on a set more than a typical tap dancer. Some of his greatest performances included “I’m Singing in the Rain” and “Whenever You’re Away From Me.” Gene Kelly was also a great, every day individual. Gene Kelly once stated, “I didn’t want to move or act like a rich man. I wanted to dance in a pair of jeans. I wanted to dance like the man in the streets.”
- Mark Lewellyn
Bill “Bojangles” Robinson- Claiming he could “run backward faster than most men could go forward,” Bill Robinson was a famous African American tap dancer during the twentieth century. Bill Robinson’s dancing had a very upright notion, but had a swinging effect with his taps. His moves emphasized the beat of the taps more than the entertainment of his bodily movements. His success seemed endless, and he was even named the greatest of all dancers by at least seven New York newspapers. Bill Robinson had several performances with Shirley Temple including “Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm” and “The Little Colonel.” Bill Robinson was well known for his generosity. It is estimated that he gave away over one million dollars in charities and loans. Bill “Bojangles” Robinson was a great man, showing so by working with the young Shirley Temple for most of his career.
Fred Astaire- Using his entire body, Fred Astaire was an extraordinary tap dancer. Fred Astaire was very entertaining. His dances can be divided into four categories – exhibition ballroom romances, tap competitions, solos, and solos with props. The most frequent type performed was exhibition ballroom romances. Astaire’s most famous of this style are the love duets with Ginger Rogers, such as “Cheek to Cheek” and “Night and Day.” Fred Astaire was very good at making above average dancing look easy. His motions were merely flawless. Fred Astaire is also well known for his solos with props, such as his performance “Puttin’ On the Ritz.” He could dance with just about anyone and anything.
Gene Kelly- Having an extensive ballet background, Gene Kelly successfully transformed into a fantastic tap dancer during the twentieth century while keeping his ballet traits intact. Kelly’s dancing style was relaxed yet innovative. Gene Kelly was a graceful, charming, and beloved entertainer. His style resembled that of Fred Astaire, by enjoying the use of props and the movement of his entire body, not just his feet. Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire actually had a performance together called “The Babbitt and the Bromide.” The two gentlemen did a fantastic job working together in this performance and made it seem like they belonged together on the stage. Gene Kelly moved around on a set more than a typical tap dancer. Some of his greatest performances included “I’m Singing in the Rain” and “Whenever You’re Away From Me.” Gene Kelly was also a great, every day individual. Gene Kelly once stated, “I didn’t want to move or act like a rich man. I wanted to dance in a pair of jeans. I wanted to dance like the man in the streets.”
- Mark Lewellyn
