Here is the vibrant; colorful; high-stepping story of tap -- the first comprehensive; fully documented history of a uniquely American art form; exploring all aspects of the intricate musical and social exchange that evolved from Afro-Irish percussive step dances like the jig; gioube; buck-and-wing; and juba to the work of such contemporary tap luminaries as Gregory Hines; Brenda Bufalino; Dianne Walker; and Savion Glover.In Tap Dancing America; Constance Valis Hill; herself an accomplished jazz tap dancer; choreographer; and performance scholar; begins with a dramatic account of a buck dance challenge between Bill "Bojangles" Robinson and Harry Swinton at Brooklyns Bijou Theatre; on March 30; 1900; and proceeds decade by decade through the 20th century to the present day. She vividly describes taps musical styles and steps -- from buck-and-wing and ragtime stepping at the turn of the century; jazz tapping to the rhythms of hot jazz; swing; and bebop in the 20s; 30s and 40s; to hip-hop-inflected hitting and hoofing in heels (high and low) from the 1990s right up to today. Tap was long considered "a mans game;" and Hills is the first history to highlight such outstanding female dancers as Ada Overton Walker; Kitty ONeill; and Alice Whitman; at the turn of the 20th century; as well as the pioneering women composers of the tap renaissance; in the 70s and 80s; and the hard-hitting rhythm-tapping women of the millennium such as Chloe Arnold; Ayodele Casel; Michelle Dorrance; and Dormeshia Sumbry Edwards.Written with uncanny foresight; the book features dancers who have become international touring artists and have performed on Broadway; won Emmy and Tony Awards; and received the prestigious Dance Magazine; Adele and Fred Astaire; and Jacobs Pillow Dance awards. Presented with all the verve and grace of tap itself and drawing on eyewitness accounts of early performances as well as interviews with todays greatest tappers; Tap Dancing America fills a major gap in American dance history and places tap firmly center stage.
#3027632 in eBooks 2010-07-30 2010-07-30File Name: B00F3ZCH94
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Short but SweetBy TourmanGreat introduction to the history of Branson. The photos are helpful also. As a local tour guide of the area this book is a valuable resource for improving my tour narration.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy georgia gay cooperOrdered as a gift; know some of the people featured in this book! Very interesting!