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2010 Tapology honoree
Tina Pratt is an extraordinary tap, ballet and modern dancer, producer, writer and lecturer from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Her performing experience is quite extensive, having performed with a number of fine entertainers, including Sammy Davis, Jr., Nancy Wilson, Flip Wilson, Redd Foxx, Pearl Bailey, Phyllis Diller, Frank Fontaine and Shecky Green. The roster of great dancers she has performed with also includes Baby Lawrence, Bunny Briggs, Shorts Davis, Howard “Sandman” Sims, Hines, Hines, and Dad and many, many more. She has performed jazz-tap with such greats as Count Basie, Sarah Vaughan, Ernie Wilkins, Jaki Byard, Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson, Tommy Turrentine and Milt Buckner.
Ms. Pratt has presented lecture demonstrations on the history of tap dancing at Emerson College in Boston as well as the Selma Burke School in Pittsburgh, NY University, Boys & Girls High, NY City Public School and Libraries, and Pace University. She is currently working on research on the history of jazz-tap and toured Europe for several seasons, teaches at The Jazz Cultural Theatre, is a member of the “International Hoofers Club”, writes for Jazz Spotlight News paper and is Producer and founder of Show Biz Assoc. productions “Salute to Black American Dances and Dancers.” |
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Mable Lee, is often described as irrepressible and exciting. At 80+ years young, Mable Lee is still entrancing audiences with her own special style. She will present for the Visiting Schools Day program to introduce young students to the wonders and history of tap. She also presents for the Senior Citizens outreach portions of the program. |
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Currently the Artistic Director of TapDancin’ Inc, of Boston, Dianne also works in conjunction with major dance organizations in Dallas, Minneapolis and Tokyo to facilitate collaborations and work opportunities for tap dance and dancers. Dianne Walker is considered a pioneer in the resurgence of tap dancing. Her twenty-eight year career spans Broadway, television, film and international dance concerts. Throughout the world of tap, she has been dubbed the “Ella Fitzgerald” of Tap Dance”. The Boston Herald called her “America’s First Lady of Tap” and in Dallas, “The Ballerina of Tap”. |
 Performer, choreographer, director, is a multi-talented dancer from California. He won both an Emmy and American Choreography Award for “Outstanding Choreography” for the Opening number of the 2003 Jerry Lewis/MDA Telethon in a tribute to the late Gregory Hines.. He was also the recipient of an Arts International Grant and an Alpert McDowell Fellowship Award and most recently received the 2007 Gregory Hines Humanitarian Award. Debbie Allen has featured his talents in several productions including the AMC television series “Cool Women”, Sammy (a tribute to the life of Sammy Davis jr.), and in a leading role of Soul Possessed with Patti LaBelle, Arturo Sandoval and Carmen DeLavallade. |
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Nelida Tirado Flamenco dancer. She has worked with the "Noche Flamenca and was featured flamenco star in the highly acclaimed show "Riverdance" on Broadway and the show “Jarocho” touring Mexico and China. Summer of 2005, she represented as a solo artist, Compania Maria Pages in The Aichi Expo in Japan. She was recently chosen to participate in The E-MOVES choreography showcase at Harlem Stage and presented her first solo concert June 2007 “Flamenco Pa’ Dos” with guest artist David Paniagua at The Peter Jay Sharpe Theater at Symphony Space. |
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A native of Boston, Derick K. Grant has been tapping for 28 years. Under the direction of two time Tony Award winning director George C. Wolfe, he was an original company member and Dance Captain for BRING IN ‘DA NOISE, BRING IN ‘DA FUNK at both The Public Theater and on Broadway. Mr. Grant recreated Savion Glover’s choreography and starred in the role of ‘da beat for the first National Tour of BRING IN ‘DA NOISE, BRING IN ‘DA FUNK. |
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Laurie Johnson received a BA from the George Washington University and an MBA from The University of Texas, Austin. Laurie’s previous career included stints on Capitol Hill and as an executive at various Fortune 500 companies. Laurie gave up her corporate career to pursue her love of tap dance. Since quitting her six figure corporate job she has tap danced on National television several times - first, with the late, great Gregory Hines, on his NBC sitcom, then as a featured guest on the John Walsh Show, Good Morning Texas and CNN's Real Life.
Her first book, Rich by Choice, Poor by Habit, is a concise guide to some of the most powerful, life-enriching tools and principles. Her message, Live for Today, Choose for Tomorrow, inspires individuals to shake off mediocrity and to "TAP IN" to their full potential.
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Currently Ryan is the soloist in the world renowned Step Afrika, the first professional dance company dedicated to preserving the art form of Stepping, Gumboot, and Tap. As a soloist, he creates innovative choreography nightly, which has been seen in across the United States, South Africa, Madagascar, South America, Canada, and Asia. Ryan has shared the stage with well know artists such as Marvin Hamlish, Donnie McClurkin, Jason Samuels Smith, and the late Gregory Hines. At the age of twenty-two he created Raw Sound Tap Company with the soul purpose to teach, restore and preserve the history of Tap Dance in the Maryland area. |
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Natasha Graham is a native of Flint, Michigan and a recent graduate of Clark Atlanta University where she earned her B.A in psychology with a minor in allied health. Currently, Natasha lives in Atlanta, Georgia where she is an administrative assistant at Therell High School by day and a full time dance instructor by night. Dancing since the tender age of two, she teaches ballet, tap, jazz, and hip hop at 3 dance studios and local community centers. A skilled and patient teacher, she teaches on average 23 classes a week.
Ms. Graham had the opportunity to open for artists such as B2K and Mario while exhibiting her art of dancing as well as singing ability. She has choreographed pieces for other dancers who have opened for Bow Wow and Lil Romeo. |
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Quynn Johnson is a professional Tap dancer who incorporates West African rhythms into her love of the dance. One of the original Flintstone Hoofers, Quynn has performed with Marvin Hamlish; at Lincoln Center in New York; on Sunset Beach in Jamaica; and at Latido Negro at Gala Hispanic Theater. Ms. Johnson performed with Prassana Kasturi bridging Kathak, classical Indian dance with American tap; and in Lima Peru as part of the International Cajon Festival. She was recognized as the #1 Maryland State choreographer for students 12 and under in 2006 and holds a BA in Health Management from Howard University in Washington, DC. |
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Alexandria Bradley a native from Flint, MI is a practioner of music. She expresses her love and knowledge through her voice and feet. She has performed at the “Cannes Film Festival” in France in 2001, the 2002 Winter Olympics, The Nijinski Awards Show in Monaco, France and “Improvography” at the Joyce Theater in New York City along with many other performances throughout the country. She performed as a vocalist/tap dancer in the Atlanta, GA production of “Bubblin’ Brown Sugar” starring Diane Carroll. In 2004 she was in a production as one of the main acts singing and tap dancing in Hamburg, Germany for 4 months.
Photo by Ben Johnson © |
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A Flint, MI native Frances began her training under the guidance of her father, Bruce Bradley, at Creative Expressions Dance Studio. She served as an instructor and choreographer for the Bradley’s Flintstone Hoofers. A 2006 graduate of Philadelphia’s University of the Arts with a BFA in Illustration she worked recently for the world renowned Mural Arts Summer Program in Philadelphia. Other notable performances would include: “Tap Masters Honorarium” in Oklahoma City, Savion Glover’s “Footnotes” in Detroit, MI, The 2000 National Tap Dance Day “Tap Extraganza” in New York City, “Bubblin’ Brown Sugar” in Atlanta GA and the West Oak Lane Jazz and Arts Festival in Philadelphia. |
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Cherisse Bradley is a dancer and vocalist - one of the Original Flintstone Hoofers. Cherisse is currently working as a vocalist and dance teacher in New York, continuing to use her skills to reach out to other youth. Cherisse has appeared in Debbie Allen's "Chocolate Nutcracker". She danced and trained with tap legend Chester Whitmore and was a member of the vocal group Attraction. She trained and taught at Creative Dance Studio in Flint. |
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