“By Golly, there oughta be a law to make everyone love tap dancing”

In November of 1989, John Conyers and Al D’Amato won the congressional passage of Resolution 131 and declared May 25th National Tap Dance Day. This date was chosen because it was the noted birthday of Bill “Bojangles” Robinson. And, May 25th was the date the legend chose for his birthday because he didn’t have a birth certificate!

This almost 30 year-old holiday is shuffling throughout the world with festivities in NY, Tokyo, Japan, India- even Iceland. The close-knit tap community is fierce, talented and passionate. gendance celebrated with ATDF’s “Sunset Boat Ride and Tap Jam” and witnessed tap icons in action including Tony Waag, Jason Samuels Smith and Dewitt Fleming Jr.

Legend of the evening? Harold Cromer, who began his 50 year career as a tapper on roller skates. Also a member of song and dance comedy team, Stump and Stumpy, Cromer appeared in leading theaters and nightclubs with Duke Ellington, Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday and Count Basie. He’s also toured with Nat Cole and Ella Fitzgerald, among many others. In the late 1950’s, Harold became the host of Rock and Roll’s The Biggest Show of Stars, introducing talents like Buddy Holly, Paul Anka, Frankie Avalon, Chuck Berry, Aretha Franklin, and Marvin Gaye.

Click here for a fun next gen message from Tony Waag.

Click here to meet tapper, Carlos Morales. Listen in as he explains how he found the cash to come to NYC. Due to a lack of advanced classes in Puerto Rico (where he’s from) he became self-taught by practicing 5 hours a day since childhood. Thanks to tap mavens like Ben and Avi Miller, he ventured to NY and learned the terminology for his fancy footwork. “I had no clue that a ‘cramp roll’ was called that until I came to NYC. I’d been doing the move for years; finally I get to learn the terms!”