Legendary ‘Mr. Bojangles’ Teaches Shirley Temple the Stair Dance


The most well-known of Bill “Bojangles” Robinson’s accomplishments as a tap dancer and actor are his contributions to the discipline. At the age of five, he started dancing professionally. He was born in Richmond, Virginia. He was noted for his elegant, precise, and quick tap dancing.

In order to highlight his intricate footwork, Robinson frequently performed with his hands in his pockets. He was one of the first dancers to include complicated footwork into his performances.

Due in part to appearances in films like 1935’s The Little Colonel, which is being featured in this clip, he gained to fame in the early 20th century and became one of the most well-known tap dancers of his day.

Shirley Temple, another of the most well-known actors of the 1930s, is Robinson’s companion in this scene. She was frequently given jobs that required her to sing and dance and was recognized for her curly hair, cherubic face, and cheery demeanor.

Shirley passed away in 2014, while Robinson passed away in 1949. But fortunately for us, this movie—the only one to have “The King of Tap” performing with the “Little Princess of Hollywood”—conserves their amazing dance. Please take a look at the complete video below and let us know what you think by leaving a Facebook comment.

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