Bill Robinson was also good friends with the Queen of Tap Eleanor Powell. He taught her this stair dance and they also work together when she was a teenager in NYC, Bill Robinson and Pearl Bailey are her son's godparents
A real gifted and talented artist,of which we will not see the like again,some have come close,Sammy Davis,Gregory Hines, Fred Astaire,Gene Kelly, among the notables...
He was 54 years of age when this was filmed. Thanks for posting - a wonderful and inventive routine with no tricks. No wonder he was a very big star in his day. Didn't I see somewhere that a million people came out for his funeral?
Yes, I agree Hines did a great job with his film biography, It was so sad though, I cried my eyes at the end. Hines was a brilliant dancer and did BoJangles proud. Tragic.
Awesome. Even though the audience couldn't be bothered with watching.
13 лет назад+2
These old guys came up through vaudeville and such. They were originally stage actors and so they had to have a full routine nailed. Todays dancers don't have that background so many of them lay out a move or two and then cut. The editors have a field day but the dancers don't have to be great to be made to look good.
William Henry Lane (1825-1852), known as Master Juba, was an early-mid 19th century African-American dancer. He began his career at 16 years of age and became world famous as one of the best at performing jigs, break down, and tap.
Thank you for posting this historical gem! I included this video in a post on my cultural blog. Google Pancocojams Bill "Bojangles" Robinson - His Nickname & His Stair Dance. Thank you for your dance legacy and RIP Bill "Bojangles" Robinson!
Quick… how can you tell this was filmed before Fred Astaire got into the movies? Watch all those cuts that take you away from this brilliant dancer himself-- to the audience, for some ungodly reason; and to his feet. This is a dancer, and the whole man dances, not just his feet, and surely not that audience who has no interest in watching him--we don't have any interest in them, either. Fred Astaire revolutionized the filming of dancing: he insisted that the film show the whole person, and not cut away to body parts or the audience. He insisted that the audience get the chance to see the whole person dancing.
The power of indecision, should I go over this staircases or should I not..! oh i don't know... i don't know!! yes, no... maybe? Step-dancers a Awesome XD
The most perfect tap dancer of all time in my opinion, all taps could be heard and amazing control. What an accomplishment considering he had a shitty life. His parents must have been descended from slaves.
Swanee River is in there too. I recognized it early in the program. But I was so fascinated watching the dancing, I pretty much hardly heard the rest of the music. 😮
It is a medley of different songs, including "Smiles." The pianist is his accompanist at the time, Putney Dandridge, who also appears on screen in other parts of the film, and was a recording artist, mainly as a vocalist, from 1935-6. Dandridge is also one of the scat singers on "Goin' Nuts" by the Six Jolly Jesters from 1929.
the video itself says "1932". definitely during the great depression.
amazing how some of the best art, music, and dancing come out of hard times.
Bill Robinson was also good friends with the Queen of Tap Eleanor Powell. He taught her this stair dance and they also work together when she was a teenager in NYC, Bill Robinson and Pearl Bailey are her son's godparents
A real gifted and talented artist,of which we will not see the like again,some have come close,Sammy Davis,Gregory Hines, Fred Astaire,Gene Kelly, among the notables...
Let's not forget that he did not take tap lessons... it's a God given gift! WoW!!!
Bo Jangles must be the best and earliest tap dancer
He taught MANY how to do his thing.....Fred, Elleanor, Shirtly amoung others......
A splendid performance!
This incredible man literally made music with his feet!!
BLOODY MARVELOUS....BEYOND EXCELLENT, SHEER CLASS......30
¡Unbelievable! Nobody ever came close to his style and skill...
one did....Elle Powell
ah the real Bojangles - what a delightful surprise ☆〜
Wow, wow, wow. This is nothing short of brilliant!. Its mesmerising, fantastic, awe inspiring. Tap dancing at its best
He was 54 years of age when this was filmed.
Thanks for posting - a wonderful and inventive routine with no tricks. No wonder he was a very big star in his day.
Didn't I see somewhere that a million people came out for his funeral?
Totally awesome!
I can't believe I never saw that before. Amazing.
the man made music with his feet alone....
Yes, I agree Hines did a great job with his film biography, It was so sad though, I cried my eyes at the end. Hines was a brilliant dancer and did BoJangles proud. Tragic.
Happy Birthday Bojangles from the RVA! Happy National Tap Dance Day to everyone else!
Fabulous!
1934, it's written at the beginning... Amazing performance!!!!
Really 1932.
Greatness! Thank you for sharing.
smart, sassy feet! I remember seeing him and shirley temple dance on the stairs when i was a child and being so enchanted!
Beautiful, complex, yet so simple =)
oh my god that's fantastic
So amazing!
Wow just moving. Proud to be black.
i'm amazed that someone designed that set of stairs to have just the right amount of steps.
Awesome. Even though the audience couldn't be bothered with watching.
These old guys came up through vaudeville and such. They were originally stage actors and so they had to have a full routine nailed. Todays dancers don't have that background so many of them lay out a move or two and then cut. The editors have a field day but the dancers don't have to be great to be made to look good.
Amazing!!!
Wow!he was an amazing tap dancer
Love the drape of those trousers.
Brings my step aerobics instructor down a peg.
He was about 54 when he did this routine -- imagine what he must have been like in his 20s... too bad movie musicals weren't around 20 years earlier
such a unique talent it was
very talented
He was just so amazing! Tap sorta died with him.
A great dancer !
William Henry Lane (1825-1852), known as Master Juba, was an early-mid 19th century African-American dancer. He began his career at 16 years of age and became world famous as one of the best at performing jigs, break down, and tap.
TigerRocket f
Unbelievable talent - Gregory Hines probably comes closest to him in tap dancing ability.
Gregory Hines played him well in the movie Bojangles
he sure can climb those stairs!
Incredible.
Legend
Legs of steel, that man!
wow
thats art!
thanks
Wow....
Shoot, wish we could've had a bojangles party!
You're very welcome! =)
Next visit to Richmond VA see the statue erected in his honor featuring him doing this dance.
Nothing better than watching that man tap
Nice post Roach. Thanks.
Thank you for posting this historical gem!
I included this video in a post on my cultural blog. Google Pancocojams Bill "Bojangles" Robinson - His Nickname & His Stair Dance.
Thank you for your dance legacy and RIP Bill "Bojangles" Robinson!
Excellent!
thanks!!
I like the song of
Mr.bojangles it was so cool and nice also amaizing ...bye... By Demoshieo and Lieshia.
Wonderful!
Thanks for this
It's his birthday today. Thank you to the person who uploaded that - so great!
watching history
Seems like Bob Fosse must have gotten inspiration from Mr. Bojangles, with the hat and all the tap moves!!!
Wow thats all i can say!
Quick… how can you tell this was filmed before Fred Astaire got into the movies? Watch all those cuts that take you away from this brilliant dancer himself-- to the audience, for some ungodly reason; and to his feet. This is a dancer, and the whole man dances, not just his feet, and surely not that audience who has no interest in watching him--we don't have any interest in them, either. Fred Astaire revolutionized the filming of dancing: he insisted that the film show the whole person, and not cut away to body parts or the audience. He insisted that the audience get the chance to see the whole person dancing.
Amazing!!
he done did near bojangled the hoot out of dem there steps.
True, this isnt real "Step Dancing" but i think the person who posted this mean it as in dancing on STEPS. Never the less...Jangles is genious.
does the one person who dislikes this live in a bungalow and have a deep rooted fear of all things stair related??
It's his birthday again today. D'oh now the guy is three years older.
SPLENDID!!!
The power of indecision, should I go over this staircases or should I not..! oh i don't know... i don't know!! yes, no... maybe?
Step-dancers a Awesome XD
Nekogami-Crystal p
Anyone know if this was choreographed or did he improv it?
I'd actually go as far to call that genius.
esse cara e fantástico, sua agilidade e incrível.
Sammy Davis Jr learned from him.
be still my beating heart
The most perfect tap dancer of all time in my opinion, all taps could be heard and amazing control. What an accomplishment considering he had a shitty life. His parents must have been descended from slaves.
Fred astaire , tried this and broke is toe.
Tugorma SlimKing in your Dreams
How great! Based on the condition of the film and his appearance I'd guess 1929-30 for this film. Does anyone have any information on its origins?
μέγα ταλέντο !!
what is that song on the piano in the background
A medley of several songs, including "Old Folks at Home," "Smiles" and others.
Swanee River is in there too. I recognized it early in the program. But I was so fascinated watching the dancing, I pretty much hardly heard the rest of the music. 😮
Does anyone know the soundtrack of this performance?
+Adrian Stramtu It kind of sounds like "My Ol' Kentucky Home".
+Jesse Corder Opening credit says Swanee River. Not really recognizable.
The song Swanee River
It is a medley of different songs, including "Smiles." The pianist is his accompanist at the time, Putney Dandridge, who also appears on screen in other parts of the film, and was a recording artist, mainly as a vocalist, from 1935-6. Dandridge is also one of the scat singers on "Goin' Nuts" by the Six Jolly Jesters from 1929.
was he tapping so fast some periods I didn't see his feet move just heard the sound
1934 .....I think.
The hight of the great depresion.
Wenn ich noch mal geboren werde lerne ich steppen...versprochen.
Screw the drummer, if you had this dude he could drum like a pro while dancing!
Don't even seem like they were paying him no mind. Just had money just to go and be dressed nice smh
Dude was in his 50s here. Wow!!!
Fuckin' amazing! Jesus H!
👣👣👣👏👏👏👏👏
FORGET THE CUP DANCE!!!!!!!!!!
wth happend2 dance
What seven people gave this a dislike????...
Lol. Act a fool wit it
this isn't step dancing...it's tap dancing. step dancing is a white country thing more like a variation of a highland fling or something.
None like him
Ninguém dava atenção ao show isso devia acontecer sempre que um negro se apresentava
Wow. Lost talent.