May 26-June 1, 2005

dance

Homage to Hines

by Janet Anderson

Can you hear that beat? It's the avenue I'm taking you to — Walnut Street. The beat came courtesy of Randy Swartz's Dance Affiliates' lovingly produced Thank You Gregory, honoring the late, great tapper and the tradition he continued. While the show included wonderful film footage of Hines tapping away, it also took the audience on a sentimental journey through the 20th century, using photos, film and live dancers. It began with Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, continued with vaudeville (the Nicholas Brothers), movies (Astaire and Kelly) and the eccentrics (Donald O'Connor), and went right on down to Sammy Davis Jr. Whew!

A fine, small combo played onstage as the audience entered, establishing a club feeling in the theater. Tony Waag, evening co-producer, made a genial master of ceremonies and proved to be good tapper himself. Eight very alive tap dancers interacted with the photos and film, making the evening something more than an honorable effort showcasing an often-overlooked American dance form. Performing evocations of the famous folk, as well as tapping in their own individual styles, these dancers were the heart and soul of the show. Individually each was terrific, but, I'd guess, virtually unknown except to the most tap-enlightened.

Dancing under a photo of her younger self hoofing with the legendary Honi Coles, for example, Brenda Bufalino demonstrated irrefutably that tapping is an ageless dance form. The sixtysomething lady is dripping in lifetime honors, yet still makes the floor sound like a musical instrument. Josh Hilberman's taps ricocheted amongst and atop three drum-shaped platforms, while his wry facial expressions and applause-seeking hands kept the laughs coming. Van "The Man" Porter oozed stage presence every time he appeared, and demonstrated convincingly that it was tapper Jimmy Slyde who invented the moonwalk and not that other guy.

Still, nothing was more astonishing than Nate Cooper tapping on roller skates. I mean, who knew this was possible? Tap skating to "Breezing along with the Breeze," Cooper was also lyric and truly funny. Add in Bessie-winner Roxanne Butterfly, whose stage last name came about because her feet become frantically fluttering creatures. This leaves an inadequate but heartfelt nod of approval for Jason Samuels-Smith and Karen Callaway William. The program was packed and long, so if Dance Affiliates does this again (yes, please), a shorter version might serve the talent and the audience better — but hang on to the finale with everyone invited onstage to tap alongside the pros.

THANK YOU GREGORY May 19, Annenberg Center