TRADITIONS IN TAP HONORS LaVaughn Robinson FOR LIFE WORK IN TAP
LaVaughn Robinson became the 7th tap artist to be honored at the Tradition in Tap event held in New York City November 4-6. Avi Miller, Ofer Ben and Germaine Salsberg produce these semi-annual events to honor the life work of the tap legends, promote tap awareness, and display great tap performances.
Germaine Ingram presented the Tradition in Tap Award to Robinson and spoke about their twenty year partnership. Melba Huber conducted a tap history event based on the life and friends of LaVaughn Robinson. Those speaking in tribute to Robinson were: JoAnn Regan, Nicole Hockenberry, Jason Samuels Smith, Ayodele Casel, Germaine Ingram, Loraine Condos, and Lance Liles.
Tap was part of Robinson's life from the beginning. His mother taught him his first tap time step in the kitchen of their home when he was very young. He danced on the downtown streets of Philadelphia during the depression in his teens to contribute to the family income. He made lots of money doing this. "I made more than my father made," said Robinson. He danced the "close to the floor" style used by many dancers from Philadelphia. "The tap dancers who inspired me were Teddy Hale, Baby Lawrence, Paul Draper, and Leon Collins," Robinson recalled.
After a tour in the Army, he danced all over the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia. Later, he taught and performed in Israel and toured in the former Soviet Union and Africa. He has received the National Heritage Award, a PEW Fellowship in the Arts, Artist of the Year Award from the Pennsylvania Governor, and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Public television broadcast his well received documentary, "LaVaughn Robinson, Dancing History." In 1950 he became a member of the faculty of the University of the Arts, in Philadelphia. After 25 years the university conferred on him the title of "Distinguished Professor."
Many of the other events and performances emphasized the impact of Robinson's life and career. For three days, at the Nola Studios in New York, Germaine Ingram taught the routines of LaVaughn Robinson. Robinson himself assisted her. Lance Liles, Nicole Hockenberry, and Vanessa Sonon taught adult and student classes. Germaine Salsberg, Ofer Ben, and Avi Miller taught the morning warm-ups. Hank Smith presented a video on Robinson.
This year the event introduced a Youth Program and a Participants Showcase that was held in a theatre at Saint Clement's Episcopal Church. There were no rehearsals and no costumes. The dancers sat in the audience and came to the stage when announced by Germaine Salsberg who was the emcee. There were 17 numbers and a surprise and inspiring performance by Ayodele Casel.
Beverly Moore and JoAnn Horn were the show-stoppers with two dances from the past. Both showed the feminine side of tap and danced to great old music. Hank Smith displayed some clean sounds in a cappella and enjoyed tap dancing for everyone. Lance Liles showed off a great personality and gave a personal tribute to his teacher and mentor, LaVaughn Robinson.
Jaimie Chandler, Tina Fuentes, Kathryn Ponza and Germaine Salsberg presented a Femme Funk number and credited Robert Reed, Van Porter, Buster Brown and Jimmy Slyde. The Tap Tel-Aviv Company danced a beautiful piece, "It Don't Mean a Thing If You Ain't Got that Swing" and Avi Miller, Ofer Ben and Germaine Salsberg danced Buster Brown's punctuated "Laura."
The Denise Danielle Studio presented two excellent group student numbers. Glen Giron and Eli Barnes displayed a nice comedy approach in their dance. Lisa Muraco, Andrew Merrigan, JoAnn Snaley and Noah Sterling showed off their personal styles.
The audience discovered a future star in the performance of Andrew Pirozz who danced with Jessica Miklowcic. This level of stage personality has not been seen in tap in a long time from such a young artist. His facial expressions and body movements, appropriate for the number and not over done, combined with his tap dancing, marked him as a future star.
Germaine Ingram sang "There Will Never Be Another You" and expressed her love and appreciation to LaVaughn Robinson for their 20 year partnership. The casual and successful show concluded with the Shim Sham.
Following the award to Robinson, Avi Miller presented a surprise award to Melba Huber, praising her writing, studio, and role as a dance educator and support of Tradition In Tap. Mrs. Huber was accompanied at the event by two of her former students, Julie Doyle and Jennifer Yee. Germaine Salsberg gracefully presented the beautiful plaque. At the top of the plaque is a real tap shoe that looks like the Gregory Hines black and white shoe.
The New York weather was like spring, and everyone had a wonderful time, and left with thanking Tradition in Tap for the beautiful memories, that will be hard to top the next time.
Photos and information on past honorees can be found at www.TraditionInTap.org. Past honorees include Bill Robinson, Dr. James "Buster" Brown, Dr. Henry LeTang, The Four Step Brothers and Dr. Prince Spencer, Dr. Jeni LeGon and Phil Black. The next event will be in May during Memorial Day weekend and the
Flo-Bert Awards. Don't miss either of these events.