Comparing Tapdancing of Robinson and Glover :: Bill Bojangles Robinson Savion Glover

Abstract Comparing the tip off dancing of tap stars aviator Bojangles Robinson and Savion Glover in the two Hollywood films billowy Weather (1943) by Andrew Stone and Bamboozled (2000) by Spike Lee, calls for the analysis of to each one films historical context. There argon race issues profoundly embedded either in the political and social situation at the time the film was made, as is the case with unpeaceful Weather, or in the narrative of the film, as with Bamboozled. This article pro- poses that the markers for the maturation of tap spend a penny been nearly aligned with the progress of African Americans in this country.Tap dancing, an art grounded in African American culture, has moved from an upbeat style with its collection of step that characterize the Jazz Age, such as the Charleston and the Stomp fourth dimension Step, to a style that better mirrors raps explosive rhythms and tilt towards synchronization. Much like African American music, tap- dancings evolution has been closely aligned with social progress and the slow breaking-down of stereotypes developed in the minstrel shows of the late 1800s. The direct effects of racist stereotyping on tap-dancing are best observed in pre- 1960s Hollywood films because these films reached a wide, more often than not white, audience and were financed and directed by Whites. Tap legend, Bill Bojangles Robinson, the star of gusty Weather (1943), was forced to funnel his talent through a colander of social prejudices set to White Hollywoods liking, and these social confines are visible in his dancing in this film. It was not until the 1980s that modern tap emerged in Hollywood as an energetic contest cry from young African American dancers who demanded respect for their art general anatomy by refusing to conform to stereotypes. The film Bamboozled (2000), directed by Spike Lee, contrasts contemporary tap to the old-school style. In it, Savion Glover performs both the funky, urban style in alley s cenes and the smiley, traditional style in modern-day minstrel shows recreated for the film. In fiat to demonstrate how early conformity with and later break away from stereotypes have fueled the formation of two different generations of tap dancing, I depart discuss historical context, and specifically the influence of minstrel shows on Stormy Weather and the 80s tap revival on Bamboozled, ahead isolating and analyzing a scene from each film as translator of the two styles of tap-dancing.Stormy Weather, by white director Andrew L. Stone, follows the story of Bill Bojangles Robinsons character (Bill Williamson) as he makes his way to the top in show business.