Savion Glover


Choreographer, Dancer

About

Birth Place
Newark, New Jersey, USA
Born
November 19, 1973

Biography

Savion Glover was one of the most recognized tap dancers of the later 20th Century and perhaps one of the great dancers of all time. Born on November 19, 1973, Glover was a tap dancing prodigy. Even tap dance legend Gregory Hines, who was one of Glover's teachers, once stated that Glover was "possibly the greatest tap dancer that ever lived." Glover made his Broadway debut at the age of ...

Bibliography

"Savion: My Life in Tap"
Savion Glover, Bruce Weber and Gregory Hines, Morrow Junior (2000)

Biography

Savion Glover was one of the most recognized tap dancers of the later 20th Century and perhaps one of the great dancers of all time. Born on November 19, 1973, Glover was a tap dancing prodigy. Even tap dance legend Gregory Hines, who was one of Glover's teachers, once stated that Glover was "possibly the greatest tap dancer that ever lived." Glover made his Broadway debut at the age of 12 in "The Tap Dance Kid" in 1985. Four years later, he made his feature film debut in "Tap" (1989), which starred Hines and legendary Rat Pack member Sammy Davis, Jr. In the same year, Glover became one of the youngest performers nominated for a Tony for his role in "Black and Blue" (1989). At fourteen years old, Glover was himself teaching others the art of tap dance and continued to find new ways to put the spotlight on his chosen medium. Glover made his first of several appearances in the influential educational series "Sesame Street' (PBS 1969-) in 1991. He broke through to a wider audience with the Off-Broadway show "Bring In da Noise, Bring In da Funk" in 1995, which won Glover his first Tony Award for choreography after it moved to Broadway in 1996. Glover accepted the honor to perform for President Bill Clinton's Inaugural Gala after his reelection in early 1997. In 2000, Glover scored his highest-profile film role in Spike Lee's controversial media satire "Bamboozled," in which he co-starred with Tommy Davidson as an African-American team who revived blackface performances for a modern TV audience. When the Winter Olympics arrived at Salt Lake City in 2002, Glover was tapped to perform at the Games' closing ceremony. Glover started his own tap school, The Hooferz Club, with the aim of educating a new generation about the art of tap dance.

Filmography

 

Cast (Feature Film)

The Roads Not Taken (2020)
Bojangles (2001)
Newcomer Rae
Bamboozled (2000)
The Wall (1998)
Tap (1989)
Driving Me Crazy (1988)
Himself

Dance (Feature Film)

Happy Feet Two (2011)
Choreographer
Bamboozled (2000)
Choreographer
The Rat Pack (1998)
Choreographer

Misc. Crew (Feature Film)

Driving Me Crazy (1988)
Other

Cast (Special)

2002 Olympic Winter Games (2002)
The 32nd NAACP Image Awards (2001)
Performer
Barbra Streisand -- Timeless (2001)
Brother Time
30th NAACP Image Awards (1999)
Performer
Disney's Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra in Concert (1999)
Stomp, Slide and Swing With Savion Glover (1998)
12th Annual Soul Train Music Awards (1998)
Performer
The New Jersey Performing Arts Center Opening Night Gala (1998)
Quincy Jones -- The First 50 Years (1998)
Savion Glover's Nu York (1998)
Host
The 13th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards (1998)
Performer
Broadway '97: Launching the Tonys (1997)
Presenter
53rd Presidential Inaugural Gala (1997)
It Just Takes One (1997)
The 51st Annual Tony Awards (1997)
Performer
Vanessa Williams & Friends: Christmas in New York (1996)
The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts (1995)
Performer
Sesame Street's All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever! (1994)
In a New Light '94 (1994)
Sesame Street Stays Up Late! A Monster New Year's Eve Party (1993)
Savion
Jammin': Jelly Roll Morton on Broadway (1992)
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (1992)
The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts (1991)
Performer
Shangri-La Plaza (1990)
The 61st Annual Academy Awards Presentation (1989)
Performer
16th Annual Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame (1989)
Performer
Gregory Hines' Tap Dance in America (1989)

Producer (Special)

Savion Glover's Nu York (1998)
Executive Producer

Music (Special)

Savion Glover's Nu York (1998)
Music
The 61st Annual Academy Awards Presentation (1989)
Song Performer

Dance (Special)

Barbra Streisand -- Timeless (2001)
Tap Choreography
Savion Glover's Nu York (1998)
Choreography

Misc. Crew (Special)

The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts (1991)
Other
The 61st Annual Academy Awards Presentation (1989)
Other

Life Events

1985

Made broadway debut in "The Tap Dance Kid"

1989

Made feature film debut in "Tap"

1989

Was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance in "Black and Blue"

1991

Made first performance on "Sesame Street"

1997

Won Tony Award for Best Choreography for "Bring In Da Noise, Bring In Da Funk"

2000

Co-starred in Spike Lee's controversial "Bamboozled"

2006

Was the choreographer for the animated film "Happy Feet"

2011

Reprised his role as choreographer for the sequel "Happy Feet 2"

2013

Toured the United States and London with the dance how "Stepz"

2016

Made a guest appearance on "Late Night With Seth Meyers"

2016

Was the choreographer of the Tony Award-nominated musical "Shuffle Along"

Bibliography

"Savion: My Life in Tap"
Savion Glover, Bruce Weber and Gregory Hines, Morrow Junior (2000)