PAUL KENNEDY - November 19, 1940-March 16, 2002
Paul Kennedy lived seven years longer than his doctors expected. He battled diabetes and many complications that led to his feet and legs being amputated in two separate surgeries before the heart attack that led to his death. He was a spiritual man and a creative force in the world of dance. Paul was the first black male dancer at the Boston School of Ballet and received a B.F.A. in Dance from the Boston Conservatory.
Paul established Universal Dance Design in Los Angeles with his sister, Arlene, in 1980 and they delivered some of the best young tap dancers in the business. Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards was the first female dancer in "Bring In 'da Noise, Bring In 'da Funk." Derek Grant danced Savion's role in the touring company and also performed on Broadway. Cyd Glover and Dormeshia danced in Broadway's "Black and Blue." There are many other gifted students. Paul often called them his "diamonds in the rough."
"The key to our success is the diaper crew," Paul said in a previous interview. "When I have a class of very young students, they grow up to become the divas of dance. Their understanding of dance and their technical facilities are strong. By the time they are five, they are dancing like ten year olds. Children are like diamonds in the rough. We smooth and polish them. We're trying to build children into better human beings."
"Paul and Arlene's students have beautiful footwork and their recitals are like Broadway shows," said Patsy Swayze. "They help all children whether or not they can pay and also teach the children of many celebrities."
" My son asked me which dancing school he should take his daughters to and I responded, 'take them to Paul and Arlene Kennedy-they're the best'," said Fayard Nicholas of the famous Nicholas Brothers.
Paul and Arlene were destined to dance because their mother, Mildred Kennedy Bradic, introduced them to the art at an early age. Her motto was, "If you can walk, you can dance." Bradic began her dancing career at the age of seven. Later, without her mother's knowledge, she earned 35 cents weekly for teaching dance classes at a Boston Community Center.
Known as the 'Brown Bomber,' Bradic danced on the New England and New York circuits and once with the Fats Waller show. The dancers often met in Boston at Charlie's Restaurant on Columbus Avenue. Frequent visitors to Charlie's Restaurant included Derby Wilson, Freeman and Freeman, Buck and Bubbles, Jimmy and Jerry Diamond, and the Will Mastin Trio. Sammy Davis, Jr. used to baby-sit Bradic's children.
When Bradic tried to enroll her children in several Boston dancing schools, they were turned away and told they were too young. In 1946 she decided to open her own school at the Lenox Street Project's Social Hall. She charged 30 cents a class. Today there are at least ten former students from the projects who have large dancing schools all over New England.
After three years, she moved the Kennedy School of Dance to Massachusetts Avenue. (She was the first teacher of Dianne Walker). When she rented the school to dance companies, Paul's job was to mind the studio and lock up. Watching other dance companies rehearse, Paul learned that he could pick up steps faster than many of the dancers. He took over his mom's Boston school from 1963 to 1977, when his mother moved to Washington, and added voice and instruction in musical instruments.
In 1977 Paul closed the school and went on the road choreographing for Kool and the Gang. He came to Los Angeles with Gladys Knight and the Pips and worked with Motown groups: High Energy, The Commodores, The Temptations, and Earth, Wind and Fire.
Meanwhile, Arlene toured Europe with the Bob Curtis Dancers performing in clubs, theatres, movies and television. She was the lead dancer with the Ben Johnson Dancers. When Arlene became homesick, she joined her mother in Washington D.C. and taught at the Academy of Theatrical Arts and at her mother's school.
In 1980, when Paul signed a two-year contract as Marvin Gayle's choreographer, he sent for Arlene to assist him. Paul and Arlene also began teaching at Victoria Park in Carson, California. In 1988 they moved to their present studio on the west side of Los Angeles and named it the Universal Dance Design Studio. Their students have performed all over the world.
In 1998 Prima Ballerina Alicia Alonso invited The Kennedy Tap Company to Cuba after they performed at a reception for the National Ballet of Cuba in Los Angeles. After several weeks, the official invitation arrived and fourteen children made the trip. They performed at the World International Ballet Competition and for many Cuban school children in rural areas. Fayard Nicholas, who had two granddaughters in the company, toured with the group. It was believed to be one of the first cultural exchanges of this kind. Their fame spread all over Cuba in a matter of days. At the closing Gala they were placed at the end because no one wanted to follow them. They were invited back to Cuba and to several other countries. Paul could not make the trip because of his dialysis, but was happy for them to be the only tap company with all the international ballet companies.
Paul received many awards including the Peg Leg Bates Award at Robert Reed's St. Louis Tap Festival, The Glory Award, and The Lehman Award. The California State Senate paid tribute to Paul and Arlene and Senator Diane Watson wrote: "We know our future is brilliant when we see young people performing like professionals who otherwise would be lost to the streets. We know our future will be bright when we see these young stars whose talents have been tapped by the Kennedys. We know their future is in good hands."
Paul was a member of the Greater Faith Ministries Church and his funeral service was held at First Zion A.M.E. Church. Many students performed his dances and Gregory Hines recalled the good times with the Hoofer's Club. There were musical and dance expressions of love and standing room only. Paul would have loved that.
During May and June many tap legends have hosted their own tributes to Paul Kennedy: Ambassador of Tap Ardie Bryant featured the Kennedy Dance Company at a California State University at Los Angeles performance, Debbie Allen held a celebration at her new studio in Los Angeles, and Dianne Walker organized an event in Boston. Paul will always be remembered.•