Bill "bojangles" Robinson, Shirley Temple and Fred Astaire

"Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson's "Little Darlin'" Shirley Temple



This clip features both Temple and Robinson from the movie "The Littlest Rebel". As you watch the clip pay attention to how many times Robinson takes Temple's hand and notice the choreography that occurs at that point. Does it appear to be easy or somewhat difficult? Robinson and Temple had an understanding that when the choreography became particularly difficult for Temple, Robinson would take her hand and squeeze it to reassure her. Robinson and Temple were featured in many movies together and both were successful independent of eachother. They remained very good friends until his death. (Tap Stars and Their Stories). Robinson does a bit of "hoofin" in the second video. Can you identify any of the steps or the variation of the steps that Temple and Robinson do in these videos?



Hermes Pan and Fred Astaire

Hermes Pan was Fred Astaire's choreographer although they often co-choreographed numbers together. Pan often made cameo shots such as this one in "Puttin on the Ritz" as a background performer. This tap number is what people will typically think of when they think of tap. This is a very classic number. Astaire like many stars from this era started off as a Vaudeville performer as a child. He and his sisters had their own tap act. Astaire revolutionized film by insisting that a dance sequence be shot in one shot from beginning to end. Prior to this much choreography was lost because only sections of it were filmed. Pan and Astaire were very much perfectionists and had a very similar style. They worked together for many years. Astaire continued to perform until he was in his 80's just prior to his death. (Tap Stars and Their Stories). Astaire was most widely known for his co-star from several movies, Ginger Rogers. The Astaire and Rogers duo were featured in several films from the late 1920's to the mid 1930's. Herme Pan worked with the Astaire and Rogers team for all but two of their films. The second sequence features Eleanor Powell also famous during this era for her ability to tap.





Now that you've read the chapter and watched the clips on Astaire and Temple. Please respond to the following questions. Be aware, there really are no right or wrong answers for most of these, but be prepared to support your answers with specific examples.

1. Compare and Contrast- compare the artistic styles between the clips featuring Temple and the clips featuring Astaire.

2. Can you identify any of the basic or variations of the basic steps we have learned in class in any of these clips. If so, what were the steps and in what clips?

3. Compare these performers to performers now. What are the similarities and what are the differences that you noticed?

4. What do you think the purpose was of these and other dance numbers in the movies during this time? How are movies different now?

5. Tap is considered to be a "dying" art. Would agree or disagree with that statement and why? Support your answer with examples.

6. These clips are from about the 1930's. What do you think was going on in history that may have influenced tap during this time?

7. What did you like/dislike about these clips and why?

8. What did Astaire do that revolutionized dance and film during this era?

This assignment is due no later than Thursday, Oct. 9 by 3:30 pm.