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Savion Glover (born November 19, 1973) is an American tap dancer, actor, and choreographer.


Early life

The youngest of three sons, Glover was born to a white father, who left the family before he was born, and a black mother. Glover's great grandfather on his mother's side, Dick Lundy, was a shortstop in the
Negro leagues The Negro leagues were United States professional baseball leagues comprising teams of African Americans and, to a lesser extent, Latin Americans. The term may be used broadly to include professional black teams outside the leagues and it may be ...
. He managed eleven Negro league baseball teams, including the Newark Eagles.Lahr, 270. His grandfather, Bill Lewis, was a big band pianist and vocalist. His grandmother, Anna Lundy Lewis, was the minister of music at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey. She played for
Whitney Houston Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer and actress. Nicknamed "The Voice", she is one of the bestselling music artists of all time, with sales of over 200 million records worldwide. Houston in ...
when she was singing in the gospel choir, and was the one who first noticed Savion's musical talent. She once held him and hummed some rhythms to him, and he smiled and joined along. Glover graduated from
Newark Arts High School Newark Arts High School is a four-year magnet public high school, serving students in Ninth through twelfth grades in Newark, in Essex County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Newark Public Schools. The school is located in ...
in 1991.


Career

Glover stated that his style is "young and funk." When asked to describe what funk is, he says it is the bass line. "Funk is anything that gets one's head on beat. It is riding with the rhythm. It is a pulse that keeps one rolling with the beat." Gregory Hines, a tap legend, was one of Glover's tap teachers. Hines stated that "Savion is possibly the best tap dancer that ever lived." Glover liked to start his pieces with some old school moves from famous tappers and then work his way into his own style. Hines said it is like paying homage to those he respects. When
Honi Coles Charles “Honi” Coles (April 2, 1911 – November 12, 1992) was an American actor and tap dancer, who was inducted posthumously into the American Tap Dance Hall of Fame in 2003. He had a distinctive personal style that required technical prec ...
died, Savion performed at his memorial service. He finished his dance with a famous Coles move: a backflip into a split from standing position, then getting up without using one's hands. Glover rarely does this move because it wasn't his style, but he did it because it was Coles' style that he wanted to keep alive. "I feel like it's one of my responsibilities to keep the style." Henry LeTang called Glover "the Sponge" because he learned very quickly with everything thrown at him. LeTang taught the Hines brothers back in the 1950s and taught Glover for a little while before having him work for "Black and Blue," a tap revue in Paris in 1987. Many legendary tappers taught Glover such as LeTang, the Hines brothers,
Jimmy Slyde James Titus Godbolt (October 2, 1927 – May 16, 2008), known professionally as Jimmy Slyde and also as the "King of Slides", was an American tap dancer known for his innovative tap style mixed with jazz. Slyde was a popular rhythm tap dancer i ...
,
Dianne Walker Dianne Walker (born March 8, 1951), also known as Lady Di, is an American tap dancer. Her thirty-year career spans Broadway, television, film, and international dance concerts. Walker is the Artistic Director of TapDancin, Inc. in Boston, Massa ...
,
Chuck Green Charles Green (November 6, 1919 – March 7, 1997) was an American tap dancer. Green was born in Fitzgerald, Georgia. He would stick bottle caps on his bare feet as a child and tap dance on the sidewalk for money. He won third place in a dance ...
, Lon Chaney (Isaiah Chaneyfield),
Honi Coles Charles “Honi” Coles (April 2, 1911 – November 12, 1992) was an American actor and tap dancer, who was inducted posthumously into the American Tap Dance Hall of Fame in 2003. He had a distinctive personal style that required technical prec ...
, Sammy Davis Jr.,
Buster Brown Buster Brown is a comic-strip character created in 1902 by Richard F. Outcault. Adopted as the mascot of the Brown Shoe Company in 1904, Buster Brown, along with Mary Jane, and with his dog Tige, became well known to the United States of America ...
, Howard Sims, and Arthur Duncan.


Teaching

He has been teaching tap since he was 14 years old. Glover created ''Real Tap Skills'', and started ''HooFeRz Club School for Tap'' in Newark, New Jersey."Savion Glover"
Filmbug.com
Wanting to bring back the real essence of At age seven, Glover drummed in a group called ''Three Plus One''. In the group, he demanded that he dance while he played the drum.Lahr, 273. Glover has a heavy foot for tap. He dances hard and loud in every step, and teaches his students how to "hit," a term related to one's ability to express oneself, complete a tap sequence, or say something.


Choreography


Notable choreographed pieces

*'' Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk'' *''Savion Glover's Nu York'', ABC special *ABC opening to Monday Night Football *''The Rat Pack'', HBO movie *Created a dance company called NYOTs (Not Your Ordinary Tappers) *PBS for President Clinton in Savion Glover's Stomp, Slide, and Swing: In Performances in the Whitehouse *Savion Glover/Downtown: Live Communication *''
Shuffle Along, or, the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed ''Shuffle Along, or, the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed'' is a musical with a score by Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle and a libretto by George C. Wolfe, based on the original book of the 1921 musical revue ''Shuffle A ...
'' When Glover choreographs a piece, he improvises as he generates a dance sequence. As he finds rhythms, he listens for new sounds at many points on the stage. "I'm feelin' the stage for sounds. You might find a spot on it that gives you that bass; you might find a spot on the floor that gives you that dead type tom-tom sound." "I think what makes Savion an incredible artist is his extraordinary joy in what he does. He is able to live in that state of joy and not compromise his emotional complexity like the earlier tap dancers had to," says George C. Wolfe.


Broadway


''The Tap Dance Kid'' (1985)

This musical was based on the 1974 novel ''Nobody's Family is Going to Change'' by Louise Fitzhugh. Glover's Broadway debut, at the age of 11, was as a replacement with this show. The musical was choreographed by Danny Daniels, with direction by
Vivian Matalon Vivian Matalon (11 October 1929 – 15 August 2018) was a British theatre director. Born in Manchester, Matalon began his career as an actor in a series of forgettable British films, but his greatest success has been as a director of West End, ...
; the music was by Henry Krieger and lyrics by Robert Lorick."The Tap Dance Kid"
'' Playbill''. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
Reviews of this show were mediocre. '' The New York Times'' claimed it was a traditional story to give children a dream to look forward to, but was not anything exceptional. However, the musical went on to be nominated for seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical.


''Black and Blue'' (1989)

Performed at the age of 15. For this performance, he became one of the youngest performers ever nominated for a Tony Award.Anna Kisselgoff
"Elegant Ghosts Haunt 'Black and Blue'"
'' The New York Times'', May 21, 1989.


''Jelly's Last Jam'' (1992)

In ''
Jelly's Last Jam ''Jelly's Last Jam'' is a musical with a book by George C. Wolfe, lyrics by Susan Birkenhead, and music by Jelly Roll Morton and Luther Henderson. Based on the life and career of Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe, known as Jelly Roll Morton and general ...
'' (1992), the tap dancing was choreographed by
Ted Levy Edward 'Ted' Levy was a professional rugby league footballer in the Australian competition the New South Wales Rugby League The New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) is the governing body of rugby league in New South Wales and the Australia ...
and Gregory Hines, who starred as
Jelly Roll Morton Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe (later Morton; c. September 20, 1890 – July 10, 1941), known professionally as Jelly Roll Morton, was an American ragtime and jazz pianist, bandleader, and composer. Morton was jazz's first arranger, proving that a gen ...
. Glover played the role of "Young Jelly", and was nominated for the
Drama Desk Award The Drama Desk Award is an annual prize recognizing excellence in New York theatre. First bestowed in 1955 as the Vernon Rice Award, the prize initially honored Off-Broadway productions, as well as Off-off-Broadway, and those in the vicinity. Fol ...
as Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical.


''Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk'' (1996)

Glover performed in this musical and also choreographed it. He was nominated for the Tony Award, Actor in a Musical for his roles as Lil' Dahlin' and 'da Beat and for Choreography. "Mr. Glover meticulously and respectfully demonstrates the techniques made famous by each, then blends them all into an exultant stylistic brew that belongs to no one but him. As dance, as musical, as theater, as art, as history and entertainment, there's nothing Noise/Funk cannot and should not do." -''The New York Times''.


''Shuffle Along, or, the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed'' (2016)

Glover choreographed the musical ''
Shuffle Along, or, the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed ''Shuffle Along, or, the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed'' is a musical with a score by Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle and a libretto by George C. Wolfe, based on the original book of the 1921 musical revue ''Shuffle A ...
'', which opened in 2016 at the Music Box Theatre. He has been nominated for a
Tony Award for Best Choreography The Tony Award for Best Choreography is awarded to acknowledge the contributions of choreographers in both musicals and plays. The award has been given since 1947, but nominees were not announced until 1956. Winners and nominees 1940s 1950s ...
and a
Drama Desk Award The Drama Desk Award is an annual prize recognizing excellence in New York theatre. First bestowed in 1955 as the Vernon Rice Award, the prize initially honored Off-Broadway productions, as well as Off-off-Broadway, and those in the vicinity. Fol ...
for his work on the musical.


Filmography


Film

*1988 - '' Driving Me Crazy'', Audition artist, First Run *1989 - '' Tap'', as Louis, TriStar *2000 - ''
Bamboozled ''Bamboozled'' is a 2000 American satirical dark comedy-drama film written and directed by Spike Lee about a modern televised minstrel show featuring black actors donning blackface makeup and the resulting violent fallout from the show's success ...
'', as Manray/Mantan, New Line *2001 - The Making of ''Bamboozled'' *2000 -
Barbra Streisand Barbara Joan "Barbra" Streisand (; born April 24, 1942) is an American singer, actress and director. With a career spanning over six decades, she has achieved success in multiple fields of entertainment, and is among the few performers awar ...
's " Timeless" *2006 - '' Happy Feet'', choreography and motion capture for "Mumble" *2011 - '' Happy Feet 2'', choreography for "Mumble"


Television

*''Shangri-La Plaza'', 1990 CBS pilot *''
Sesame Street ''Sesame Street'' is an American educational children's television series that combines live-action, sketch comedy, animation and puppetry. It is produced by Sesame Workshop (known as the Children's Television Workshop until June 2000) an ...
'' (1990–95) (also known as ''Les amis de Sesame'', ''Canadian Sesame Street'', ''The New Sesame Street'', ''Open Sesame'', and ''Sesame Park''), as Savion, on PBS *''Dance in America: Tap!'' *Black Film Makers Hall of Fame *The Kennedy Center Honors *Academy Awards Ceremony (1996) for Tom Hanks tribute *'' The Wall'', as Bracey Mitchell, 1998 Showtime TV movie *''The Rat Pack'', as the choreographer, 1998 HBO TV movie *'' Bojangles'', as Newcomer, 2001 Showtime TV movie *So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation (2016) - Choreographer *'' The Talk'' (2018) - Routine with co-host
Sheryl Underwood Sheryl Patrice Underwood (born October 28, 1963) is an American comedian, actress and television host. She first rose to prominence in the comedy world as the first female finalist in 1989's Miller Lite Comedy Search. Currently, Underwood is one ...
as part of the show's ''New Year's Evolution''


Episodic

*1987 - ''Super Dave'' *1998 - ''Sin City Spectacular'' (also known as ''Penn & Teller's Sin City Spectacular''), FX *1999 - ''
The Jamie Foxx Show ''The Jamie Foxx Show'' is an American sitcom that aired on The WB from August 28, 1996, to January 14, 2001. The series stars Jamie Foxx, Garcelle Beauvais, Christopher B. Duncan, Ellia English, and Garrett Morris. Although the show was no ...
'', "Taps for Royal," The WB *1999 - '' Saturday Night Live'', (Uncredited), NBC *2000 - ''Odyssey, America!'' *2003 - ''Cedric the Entertainer Presents'', Bartholomew, Fox


TV specials

*1989 - ''Tap Dance in America'' (also known as ''Gregory Hines' Tap Dance in America''), PBS *1991 - ''The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts'', CBS *1992 - ''Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade'', NBC *1992 - ''Jammin': Jelly Roll Morton on Broadway'' (documentary), PBS *1993 - ''Sesame Street Stays Up Late!'' (also known as ''Sesame Street Stays Up Late! A Monster New Year's Eve Party''), as Savion, PBS *1994 - ''Sesame Street's All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!'', ABC *1994 - ''In a New Light `94'', ABC *1995 - ''The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts'', CBS *1996 - ''Vanessa Williams & Friends: Christmas in New York'', ABC *1997 - ''It Just Takes One'', USA *1997 - ''53rd Presidential Inaugural Gala'', CBS *1998 - ''Slide and Swing with Savion Glover'', Stomp, PBS *1998 - ''Savion Glover's Nu York'', as the Host, ABC *1998 - ''Savion Glover's Nu York'', Executive producer and choreographer, ABC *1998 - ''The First 50 Years, Quincy Jones'', ABC *1998 - ''The New Jersey Performing Arts Center Opening Night Gala'', PBS, *1999 - ''Disney's Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra in Concert'', Disney Channel *1999- ''The Jamie Foxx Show'' *2000 - ''The Steadfast Tin Soldier: An Animated Special from the "Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child" Series'' (animated), the voice of toy dancer, HBO *2001 - Barbra Streisand-Timeless, Brother Time, Fox *2001 - Barbra Streisand-Timeless, as the choreographer, Fox *2002 - Olympic Winter Games, Closing ceremony, NBC *2002 - AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Tom Hanks, USA


Awards presentations

*1989 - The 61st Annual
Academy Awards The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...
Presentation, ABC *1989 - 16th Annual
Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame The Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame, Inc. (BFHFI), was founded in 1974, in Oakland, California. It supported and promoted black filmmaking, and preserved the contributions by African-American artists both before and behind the camera. It also sponso ...
, syndicated *1996 - The 68th Annual
Academy Awards The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...
Presentation, ABC *1997 - Launching the Tonys, as the Presenter, Broadway `97, PBS *1997 - The 51st Annual Tony Awards, CBS *1997 - 39th Grammy Awards, CBS *1998 - The 13th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards, syndicated *1998 - 12th Annual
Soul Train Music Awards The Soul Train Music Awards is an annual music awards show which previously aired in national broadcast syndication, and honors the best in African-American culture, music and entertainment. It is produced by the makers of ''Soul Train'', the pro ...
, syndicated *1999 - 30th
NAACP Image Awards The NAACP Image Awards is an annual awards ceremony presented by the U.S.-based National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to honor outstanding performances in film, television, theatre, music, and literature. Similar to ...
, Fox *2001 - The 32nd NAACP Image Awards, Fox


Music videos

2001 - "Timeless: Live in Concert", Brother Time *Also appeared in the music video " Attack Me with Your Love" by Cameo (1985) *Also appeared in the music video "Havana" by Kenny G *Also appeared in the music video "
It's All About the Benjamins "It's All About the Benjamins" is a song by American rapper and producer Puff Daddy. It was released as the third single from his debut studio album '' No Way Out''. "Benjamins" is a slang word for money, referring to Benjamin Franklin's image ...
" by
Puff Daddy Puff may refer to: Science and technology * Puff, a small quantity of gas or smoke in the air ** Puff, a light gust of wind ** Exhalation ** Inhalation * Puff model, volcanic ash tracking model developed at the University of Alaska Fairbanks * P ...
and the Family


Stage appearances

*1984 - ''The Tap Dance Kid'', (Broadway debut) Title character *1989–91- ''
Black and Blue ''Black and Blue'' is the 13th British and 15th American studio album by the English rock band the Rolling Stones, released on 23 April 1976 by Rolling Stones Records. This album was the first recorded after former guitarist Mick Taylor quit ...
'',
Minskoff Theatre The Minskoff Theatre is a Broadway theater on the third floor of the One Astor Plaza office building in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. Opened in 1973, it is operated by the Nederlander Organization and is named aft ...
, Broadway *1992–93 - ''Jelly's Last Jam'', as Young Jelly, Virginia Theatre, Broadway *1996–97 - '' Bring in da Noise, Bring in da Funk'', Ambassador Theatre, Broadway *1998 - ''Savion Glover: Downtown'', Variety Arts Theatre, New York City *1999 - ''Keep Bangin′'', Players Theatre, New York City *2001 - ''Foot Notes'', Wilshire Theatre, Los Angeles *2002 - Savion Glover with TiDii the Egg, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY"Savion Glover Biography (1973-)"
Film Reference.


Tours

* 2000 - ''Foot Notes, The Concert'', U. S. cities *2002 - ''Bring in da Noise, Bring in da Funk'', U.S. cities/international cities *Also toured U.S. cities in ''Jelly's Last Jam'' *2013 - ''Stepz'', U.S. cities/London


Albums

*1989 - ''Black and Blue'' (original cast recording), DRG *1992 - ''Jelly's Last Jam'' (original cast recording), Mercury *1995 - ''Hot Jazz for a Cool Yule'', Pacific Vista Productions *1996 - ''Bring in da Noise, Bring in da Funk'' (original cast recording), RCAVictor *1996 - "Prince: Joint 2 Joint" (tap dance breakdown), from the album ''Emancipation'' *2002 - "Talib Kweli-Stand 2 the side", from the album ''Quality''


Publications


Books

*1997 - ''Contemporary Black Biography'', Volume 14, Gale *1997 - ''Newsmakers'', Issue 4, Gale *2000 - ''Savion! My Life in Tap'', with Bruce Weber, HarperCollins


Periodicals

*November 1994 ''Dance Magazine'' *April 1996 ''Dance Magazine'' *May 23, 1998 '' TV Guide'', p. 6


Awards

*1996 - Tony Award for Best Choreography for '' Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk'' *1992 - ''Dance Magazine'' Award for choreography, making him the youngest recipient in N.E.A. history.Lahr, 270–275.


References


Sources

* Brantley, Ben
"THEATER REVIEW;Story of Tap as the Story of Blacks"
Rev. of Broadway. ''The New York Times'', November 16, 1995. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
Filmbug. "Savion Glover"
Filmbug Movie Stars. New Line Cinema, January 1, 2000. Retrieved February 13, 2011. * Hill, Constance Valis
"Tap Dancing America"
Oxford University Press. Retrieved February 10, 2011. * Kisselgoff, Anna

''New York Times'', May 21, 1989. Retrieved February 14, 2011. * Lahr, John. ''Light Fantastic: Adventures in Theatre''. New York: Dial, 1996. Print.
"Savion Glover Biography (1973-)"
Film Reference. NetIndustries, LLC. January 1, 2010. Retrieved February 14, 2011.

Rev. of Broadway. ''The New York Times'', December 22, 1983. Retrieved February 12, 2011.


External links

* * *
Archival footage of Savion Glover performing in 2002 at Jacob's Pillow

Archival footage of Savion Glover performing in 2005 at Jacob's Pillow
{{DEFAULTSORT:Glover, Savion 1973 births Living people 20th-century American male actors African-American choreographers African-American male actors African-American male child actors African-American male dancers American choreographers American male child actors American male dancers American male film actors American male musical theatre actors American male stage actors American male television actors American tap dancers Drama Desk Award winners History of Newark, New Jersey Male actors from New Jersey Male actors from Newark, New Jersey Musicians from Newark, New Jersey Newark Arts High School alumni Tony Award winners