Did you know that yesterday was National Tap Dance Day? The reason it’s designated as May 25th is because that’s Bill “Bojangles” Robinson’s birthday: May 25, 1878. Yep, it’s a real holiday, with the resolution being signed into law by President George Bush in 1989.
Since we were busy with Memorial Day yesterday, I think we can get an extension, don’t you? Pull out your dance shoes!
Or, if you prefer to celebrate in more sedentary style, here’s a terrific performance of Robinson’s from the 1935 Shirley Temple film The Little Colonel:
Have you ever tap danced? Do you think it could make a come-back? I’d love to hear from you.
Until next time,
Kathy
P.S. – While you all are dancing out there, I’ll be busy doing a Skype author interview with Ms. Hartt’s 6th graders. Wish me luck! 😉
Well, how in the name of all that’s Holy did I miss this? I am a tap dancer for crying out loud. And Mr. Robinson, and the lovely Miss Temple, are among my favorite performers to watch. It’s craziness I tell you. I should have pulled out my tap shoes and danced a jig or two. I guess I’ll have to wait another year now.
Nah, I’ll just go to tap class next Monday night and dance extra hard to make up for it. I couldn’t have danced yesterday anyway, because class was canceled due to the holiday. How ironic is that? Tap class canceled on National Tap Dance day.
Happy tapping.
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
Wow, you tap dance? I think that’s amazing. And yes, that is indeed ironic that your studio was closed on National Tap Dancing Day. So glad you enjoyed the video, Patricia! 🙂
Oh, your interview sounds like so much fun, Kathy! I hope it goes well!
Thanks so much, Margot! Yes, it went well, once they got the sound working on their end. So well, in fact, that the teacher asked if I could speak with her other two classes next week via Skype. 😉
I can fool myself into thinking I can tap dance in the privacy of my own home on my kitchen floor.
Sort of the dry version of singing in the shower, eh, Phil? 😉 Nice to see you!
As a matter of fact, I not only owned a pair of tap shoes, but beside lessons, I tippy tapped my way on stage in front of hundreds of people as a young girl. All thanks to Art Linkletter and his dance studio. I did take a little ballet as well. But I mainly excelled in Tap Dancing. My hat is off for Mr. Bojangles! 🙂
Wow, really? I’d love to see a pic of that. I’ll bet you were a cute kid, in your tap shoes. 😉
The emphasis is on “were a cute kid” Kathy. And I would like to see a picture of that myself. I don’t believe I have one. But…my mother may have one. I’m going to do a little investigation and see if I can’t find a tap dancing picture. Stay tuned. 😉