Important tappers

Question 1

Condos Bros.

Answer 1

Frank and Nick Condos
Significance: Wings, expanded repertory, invented tap rudiments (articulation and speed drills)
Wings are an air step that became a standard part of tap rep in the 30’s with variations (three tap, the Pump, the Pendulum)
Frank creates the 5 tap wing
they dances in Vanities, toured Europe, when Frank left, Steve other bro stepped in.
Frank became single act, did Radio City twice, became a dance director after he retired

Question 2

Bill Bojangles Robinson

Answer 2

Vaudeville performer, tapper, musicals and films

• “Brown Buddies” musical, known for “Hot Mikado”
• Signif: perfected and presented old steps, stair dance wi different pitches one each is most well known work of his
• How: moves from waist down.
• technique and personality
• lots with Shirley Temple (1st interracial pair on film tapping)

Question 3

Shirley Temple

Answer 3

“America’s Sweetheart”

• innocence and hope for U.S.
• lots of films, tappers, became foreign ambassador
• supposed to be Dorothy in Wiz of Oz but MGM wouldn’t let her with contract
• dances a lot with Bojangles on film, (1st inter. tap pair on film)

Question 4

Fred Astaire

Answer 4

Known for: dancing with top hat and tails, original “cool cat”
-start in Vaudeville with sis, Adele, they did “whirlwind dancing”, early ballet training
How: released upper part of body before elevation, shows a dancer can use more than his feet. abrupt transitions and flowy movements, sudden stops, posing then going on
-Bway, Hollywood
-his style forms the fusion of tap ballet and ballroom under pressure of choreographing new dances.
Wants to entertain and tell a story.
dances revolve around tan idea ranging from realistic to abstract.

Question 5

Berry Bros

Answer 5

3 bros, Ananias, Jimmy, and Warren
worked at Cotton Club and toured, appeared in opening of Radio City Music Hall
-they started the split craze
flash act
short act comprises of a strut then a cane routine, 2 min. strut, cane dance was acrobatic, canes got thrown, etc.

Question 6

Nicholas Bros

Answer 6

Flash act
Harold and Fayard
immediate success, played Cotton club
arm hand movements
did splits, twists, flips, and tasty taps
Pie Pie Blackbird film
Follies on Bway
toured Englad 
learned stunts form Balanchine in Baves in Arms.
movies and Tv too.

Question 7

Ray Bolger

Answer 7

Scarecrow in Wiz of Oz
vaudeville, film, bway tv
known for Leggo mania, and slow splits
comedic tapper

Question 8

Ruby Keeler

Answer 8

-first female film dance start
married Al Jolson
42nd street, charming, buck dancer, charisma, pretty, musical, films

Question 9

Eleanor Powell

Answer 9

bway, hollwyd, dancer,
best dancer of time period aside from Fred
tapper

Question 10

Gene Kelly

Answer 10

Bway, Pal joey, brother took over for him
energetic/atheltic
singin in the rain, american in paris
ballet and tap
freed up camera movement and paired it with dance
innovative
danced with jerry mouse, paper dance, in rain
more of an everyman than astaire

Question 11

Dan o’ conner

Answer 11

vaudeville dancer with comic ability, movie musical,s singing int he rain

Question 12

Ann Miller

Answer 12

rapidfire, quick tapping, famous at 11