Dancers

The Charleston is a dance named for the city of Charleston, South California. The rhythm was popularized in mainstream dance music in the United States by a 1923 tune called “the Charleston” by composer/pianist James P. Johnson.

Josephine Baker

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Josephine baker was a dancer, singer actress and comedian. She was the first African American performer to break free of racial offense. She is known to audiences in both Europe and the United States, she is known as “Black Venus”, “Black Pearl” and Creole Goddess because of her audiences and beauty.

                She was born on June 3rd, 1906 in St. Louis, Missouri. Her original birth name was Freda Josephine Mcdonald.  In the start of her career she toured the United States with two comic groups The Jones Family Band and The Dixis Steppers in 1919. After the group split up she tried to become a chorus girl for the Dixie Steppers in the presentation Shuffle Along. She was rejected because of her skin color and because of how skinny she was. Her carrier really took off when she traveled to Paris to perform in la Revue Negre. The piece was described as new and exotic with Josephine dresses in nothing but a feathered skirt.

Billy "Bonjangles" Robinson

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Billy "Bonjangles" Robinson
The famous tap-dancer Bill"Bonjangles" Robinson became famous with his role in Blackbirds of 1928, and all- black musical on Boradway. He was known for his elegant style and grace with white and black audiences Blacks and whites developed different opinions of him. To whites he was nicknamed "bonjangles" (happy go luck) but to blacks he was referred to as a "squabbler". Audiences enjoyed his style which included a frenetic manner of the jitterbug During the 1930's he preformed at the famous Cotton Club. Today he is most famous for dancing with Shirley Temple in a series of films during the 1930's.

He was featured in films such as The little Colonel, The littlest Rebel, Rebecca of Sunnyborook Farm and Just Around the Corner.