"CHOREOGRAPHERS"

                                       "JEROME ROBBINS"

  Choreographer--"JEROME ROBBINS"--  "WEST SIDE STORY"                       

                                                                    1918---1998
      A career that produced 5 TONY AWARDS on Broadway for High Button Shoes, an EMMY AWARD for his television version of PETER PAN and an ACADEMY AWARD for the movie version of WEST SIDE STORY, JEROME ROBBINS brilliance to create spontaneously for the exact period in time has always been at the height of Dance Culture.
                                  "WEST SIDE STORY"  

 When choreographers and new choreography was in need, Jerome Robbins choreography of FANCY FREE, INTERPLAY, FACSMILE and SUMMER DAY, catapulted the American Choreographer to sensational success.

                                       "FANCY FREE"
     Jerome Robbins, Choreographer for American Ballet Theater, New York City Ballet and Ballet U.S.A. created, polished, and perfected his Choreography on the bodies of the dancers who were to perform them.  Jerome Robbins had entered dance school and had been promoted from class to class as he improved in ability. He quickly became a Principal (lead) dancer when he started his professional career. His education at his craft and the realization of Choreography being an ART form,  Jerome Robbins a professional dancer  on Broadway, a director of plays, musicals, television and movies didn't make sacrifices for merely a craft, it was a passion that became a crusade.
           Also a favorite of mine from the Musical "Gypsy" below.

  Being highly influenced myself  by Jerome Robbins Choreography  I saw "GYPSY" at the Geary Theater downtown San Francisco and it  has always been one of my favorites..!

Mr. Robbins numerous awards include the Kennedy Honors award. He also served on the New York State Council on the Arts & Dance panel. Jerome Robbins choreography has epitomized   American dance with intensity and expression.

"TAP DANCE LEGENDS"

                                                      "GREGORY HINES"

     Tap dancing his way out of the ghetto, Gregory Hines has been considered one of the Top Tap Dancers of his generation. By age 6 he and his brother Maurice were performing at the famed Apollo Theater in harlem. It's been said that as a TAP DANCE LEGEND, Gregory Hines could paint Rhythms with Space rather than Sound.

          Gregory Hines, with his smooth solo Tap Style became Internationally known after Tap Dancing started rebuilding in the 70's.  Gregory Hines with many of the TAP DANCE LEGENDS Elders and Master Artists have inspired new generations.

             Audiences listen intently as Gregory Hines plays it dangerously throwing unexpected things out to the audience.  When you see Gregory smile while improvising it might be because he surprised himself by inventing a new step during his performance. This TAP DANCE LEGEND, feels passionately that Tap Dancing must  defend its choreographic integrity by "improvography," a new word which Hines coined. It means using your imagination to create choreography instantaneously.

             Gregory Hines feels that the future of Tap isn't in the mechanics, but in the boldness of the NEW Tap Dancers and choreographers, with percussive phrases of a composer, the Rhythms of a drummer and the training to be a Dancer..!

                  TAP DANCE LEGEND GREGORY HINES