Savion Glover and Happy Tapping Feet

August 27, 2017 10:32 AM

Savion Glover is arguably the finest tap dancer of his generation, and yet his contribution to the movie "Happy Feet" was widely overlooked. His credit is way way down the list as choreographer for a movie that is based on tap dancing. He is working hard to redress the reputation that tap has. He teaches and tours relentlessly. My first exposure to him was when he was 16 and was already an up-and-coming star—this movie was Tap with not only Gregory Hines but also Sammy Davis jr, Jimmy Slyde, Sandman Sims, one of the Nicholas Bros., and others. It's a loving tribute to old-time hoofers.

There's a lot on youtube about the history of tap dance (including the moonwalk) and here's a link to start with: History of Tap Dance. New history is being made by Glover all the time—here's a review of his 2016 performance with jazz drummer Jack deJohnette, which includes a tap/drum "challenge" Magical Feets. And here's an article about the past informing the present and new tappers emerging into the limelight: The Hard Work of Making It all Look Easy

posted by MovableBookLady (9 comments total)

When a close friend and I were just becoming friends, she said "let's go to a movie; what would you like to see?" And I replied, "Happy Feet" (because I knew SG was the dancer). Her jaw dropped; she really didn't think it was my sort of movie at all (which it isn't, really). But I explained about him and tap dance and warbled on and on about Hines and Davis and Nicholas Bros. yadda yadda yadda. "Fine," she said. And we both had a good time.
posted by MovableBookLady at 10:50 AM on August 27, 2017 [5 favorites]

Savion was on Sesame Street when I was a kid. He and Snuffelupagus tapped and rapped.
posted by ChuraChura at 11:05 AM on August 27, 2017 [11 favorites]

It just hit me: the similarities between the changing up of speeds and rhythms of the taps in tap dancing and the variations of speed and rhythms of high-hats, wood blocks, and various sharp percussive sounds in modern EDM trap music. Example: Major Lazer - Original Don (Flosstradamus Remix). I doubt it is directly, consciously inspired and designed but the similarity is there.
posted by glonous keming at 11:19 AM on August 27, 2017

His performance in Bamboozled was stick-with-you-for-life haunting.
posted by Navelgazer at 11:20 AM on August 27, 2017 [7 favorites]

How about this, Sokka shot first: DeJohnette & Glover at Ornette Coleman's funeral?
posted by MovableBookLady at 11:55 AM on August 27, 2017 [3 favorites]

Still amazed that George Miller was the director of the Happy Feet movies.
posted by octothorpe at 1:47 PM on August 27, 2017

There's also his Tony-winning choreography in Bring in Da Noise Bring in Da Funk.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 3:45 PM on August 27, 2017 [4 favorites]

Savion Glover's choreography, that is.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 3:46 PM on August 27, 2017

Ooh, Tap is one of my favorite movies!! (I added it to FanFare a while back, but didn't convert too many people.) It was Sammy Davis, Jr.'s last film. After I saw it I was like MOAR TAP DANCING PLEASE ALWAYS
posted by Melismata at 8:16 AM on August 28, 2017 [1 favorite]