Happy National Tap Dance Day!

I remember around 2 years ago, the folks at Tap Love Tour broke down the steps for Bill Robinson's King For A Day (as seen in the video). It's one of the most advanced Bojangles routines there ever was, which is why he's known as the grandfather of tap dance, and also the King of Harlem.

Bojangles was also popular for tap dancing with Shirley Temple, making them the first interracial tap dance couple to ever appear in Hollywood, but he was most notable for popularising the stair dance:

What's especially notable about his style of tap dance is that he is upright, as opposed to the other hoofers during the height of tap dance. It almost looks like Irish dancing, minus the turn out.

Methinks this may have affected the way Classical Hollywood dancers (and some tap examination systems today) have thought about tap dance, where an upright body allows for jazz lines to develop and whatnot. But I'm not an expert here. Heck, I still haven't finished reading Tap Dancing America yet, but I think a good, comprehensive read on Bill Robinson's life would be this book: "Mr. Bojangles - The Biography of Bill Robinson" It'll be a great way to get to know more about the specific history of one of the greatest tap dancers in history, and to celebrate Bill Robinson's birthday and National Tap Dance Day in style!

What else are you planning to do during National Tap Dance Day? Taking tap classes? Doing a tap jam? Leave your comments below, and don't forget to check out the book!

#nationaltapdanceday #billrobinson #billbojanglesrobinson #tapdance #missioncelebrate #OperationTap