Tap Dance Archive Productions

Jumping into this week like this! -Smash your baggage 1932

Jeni LeGon- Double Deal 1939

John Bubbles- I Love Lucy 1967

Hal Le Roy - Knight is Young 1938

Sandman Sims- No Maps On My Taps 1979

Eleanor Powell- Nightclub setting 1952

Gregory Hines- The Gregory Hines Show 1997

Gene Kelly and his alter ego perform Anything you can do in 1958’s Pontiac Special

Sammy Davis Jr. and Jack Benny- Fascinating Rhythm Live at the Hollywood Palace

Harold “Stumpy” Cromer with the Original Hoofers in 1977’s Cotton Club Gala

Germaine Ingram and LaVaughn Robinson are the definition of a power duo!

Although this is a 14 year old Peggy Ryan this isn’t her film she’s been in Hollywood films since she was 4 years old! Here she partners up with Lee Dixon and Virginia Grey in 1938’s Billy Roses casa manana revue

Donald O’Connor really could do anything he wanted and be great at it. Here we have him in Walking My Baby Home in 1953

Happy birthday to the queen Dianne Walker! Here we have a special moment with Gregory Hines and Dr. Jimmy Slyde at Jacob’s Pillow in 1996!

Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards just makes it look effortless! This clip is from NBC’s Superstars of Dance where she should have ran away with it but the judges were clueless. If you appreciate the art form you can see how insanely great she is! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvlv25Ud35QnsplJG_b1fibMZ0kDPRJON

The best way to stop aging is just don’t! Dr. Harold Cromer may just be the coolest person ever! His talents are just endless. Here we have a clip from the National Museum of American History and his performance at the 4th Dc Tap Fest! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvlv25Ud35QlRkn_iSrjukGOGnR4rM0Bi

Want to know why Ella Fitzgerald decided to sing rather than dance? During armature night at the Apollo the Edward sisters closed the main show and she didn’t think she could top that so split decision she decided to sing for her act! Ruth and Louise were unlike the other female tap dancers of the time as they were low to the ground doing rhythm tap.

Nicholas Brothers- Pie Pie Blackbird 1932

Here we have the debut of the Nicholas Brothers, Harold was 11 while Fayard was 18, this short was filled with some of the best black artist of the time, Nina May McKinney, Eubie Blake, and Noble Lee Sissle. Also this is the earliest I’ve seen the BS Chorus! This short got these two out of Philadelphia to NYC to perform at the Cotton Club where they stopped the show every night for 2 years. They moved to LA, had an amazing movie career, arguably making the best dance scene of all time.

Eleanor Powell in Honolulu 1939

With the weather warming up we all wish we could be at a beach right now. But what’s better than watching vintage tap videos! Here’s the stunning Eleanor Powell in 1939’s Honolulu.

Capella Josh with Old Kent Road

Who knows this tap dance standard?! Here we have the iconic Capella Josh by Josh Hilberman accompanied by Old Kent Road @oldkentroad1 back in 2017. Check out the full clip on our YouTube channel #tap #dance #tapdance

It’s Friday! Our new playlist just released on YouTube! This weekend we cover the multi-talented Josh Hilberman. Josh is one of the most original innovative dancers out there today. Here we have Josh in Calgary dancing playing the ukulele whistling and comedy all at the same time in 2010: A Tap Oddity.

Slip and Slide 1954

Here we have Slip and slide from burlesque in Harlem in 1954. Slide has some of Dr. Slyde’s steps and Slip has some Condos Brothers in him with the fast foot work on the chair! I’ve yet to find any more info on these guys on the internet, so if someone can fill us in that would be amazing! Check out more clips on our YouTube channel #tap #dance #tapdance

I wasn’t able to post the whole video when I originally put it out but here’s the whole clip. It’s one of our most viewed clips of all time! Here’s Ruby Keeler and Lee Dixon I’m Ready Willing and Able in 1937. Check out more clips on our YouTube channel!

Dr. Buster Brown with the Original Hoofers in 1972

If you need some clarification of what rhythm is here’s Dr. Buster Brown showing us how it’s done. Check out more clips on our YouTube channel

How fast have you seen the shim sham?! Here we have @dgrizzly73 @jayjan300 @cartierawilliams @lanealexander @kcbagsnj @danonielsen and @demi_remi blazing through this shim sham in 2013 at Zurich Tap Fest. Check out more clips on our YouTube channel #tap #dance #tapdance

Have you ever seen this one?! Here’s a rare video of The Four Step Brothers in 1943’s Hi,Buddy. Check out more clips on our YouTube channel #tap #dance #tapdance

My first time posting a whole video but you NEED to see this! We bring up Steve Condos a lot but let’s give some respect to Nick as well! This is Nick Condos in To Beat The Band in 1935. Check out more videos on our YouTube channel #tap #dance #tapdance

The accuracy!! With only 7 different platforms they can also be so clean! Here is the Miller brothers and Lois in Hi-Do-Ho in 1947. Check out more clips on our YouTube channel #tap #dance #tapdance