Bill “Bojangles” Robinson

The boundary-breaking tapper charmed audiences and performers alike in vaudeville, Broadway and film.

Tap dancing on the balls of one’s feet hardly seems like a novel idea, but the technique is due largely to beloved hoofer … Continue reading →

History Lesson Plan: Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes

Reimagining ballet for the 20th century
In 1909, Sergei Diaghilev organized the first Ballets Russes performance at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. A Russian impresario, Diaghilev had been producing opera and orchestral concerts for Western … Continue reading →

History Lesson Plan: Bob Fosse

The choreographer who changed Broadway jazz
From pigeon-toed stances and widespread palms to sinewy, meticulous isolations, few choreographers evoke such strong imagery as Bob Fosse (1927–1987). Not only did he revolutionize the look of musical theater … Continue reading →

History Lesson Plan: Martha Graham

One of the most influential choreographers of the 20th century, Martha Graham (1894–1991) helped lead the American modern dance revolution, breaking from the traditions of classical ballet as well as the romantic style of earlier … Continue reading →

Providing Context

How three faculty members teach dance history
As trained dancers, we embody history. Every jump, contraction and tendu reveals lineage—an evolution of movement over time through culture. It also gives form to the politics and social … Continue reading →

Fine, All Right, Cool

The Copasetics provided fellowship for tappers in lean times and laid the groundwork for the rhythm tap of today.
In grainy footage from 1975, members of the Copasetics Club, including Charles “Honi” Coles, Leslie “Bubba” … Continue reading →