Henry LeTang: He did it because he loved it!
We are always happy to read your comments / share your stories and memories of Henry, we must remembr his work and contribution to the world of dance.
HenryLeTang.org
Tap Legacy Foundation,Inc.- 292 Fifth Avenue, New York NY 10001- 4th Floor,
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Sharon LeTang / The LeTang Family
myspace.com/letangjazzblues
LeTang Jazz/Blues Promo & Presentation
Contact: Sharon LeTang - [email protected] / (718) 529 - 4475
Legendary Broadway Choreographer, Master Tap Teacher: Dr. Henry LeTang
June 19, 1915 - April 26, 2007
Henry LeTang is a native of New York who began his dancing career at age seven. Having fully polished his own technique by age seventeen, he opened his studio in 1937. His first big star student was Betty Hutton. Henry's inimitable style transformed and emphasized the importance of choreography for nightclub performers, thereby establishing him as one of the country's foremost motion stylists. Another beautiful hopeful came to Henry for direction and made it big, her name was Lena Horne.
Dr. LeTang choreographed the movies Tap and the Cotton Club. His Broadway credits include the smash hit Sophisticated Ladies, staring Gregory Hines and Judith Jamieson, which earned him a Tony nomination and the Outer Critic Circle Award for outstanding tap choreography on this show and also Eubie.
Henry won a Tony in 1989 for the Broadway musical Black and Blue. Some of Mr. LeTang's students and protégés include: Gregory Hines, Debbie Allen, Maurice Hines, Bette Midler, Milton Berle, Lee Marvin, Harry Belafonte, Joey Heatherton, Chita Rivera, Lola Falana, George Kirby, Nancy Wilson, Sugar Ray Robinson, and Billie Holiday. His fine work was represented on Broadway by his students and stars of Bubbling Brown Sugar, Guys and Dolls, and My One and Only, and Tap Dance Kid. The legendary Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, who summed up his choreographing talent, "That young man's staging is really copasetic." - Tap Heritage.com
Henry LeTang has taught, the famous and novice, choreographed for Broadway Shows, Television and Movies for over five decades, and received numerous awards. The following is a sampling of some of his accomplishments. At 91years he teaches private classes to professional dancers in Las Vegas.Henry LeTang has taught, the famous and novice, choreographed for Broadway Shows, Television and Movies for over five decades, and received numerous awards. The following is a sampling of some of his accomplishments. At 91years he teaches private classes to professional dancers in Las Vegas.Awards2003 - American Choreography Award2002- Honored at Oklahoma City University, School of American Dance and Arts Management and The Robert L. Reed Tap Heritage Institute - presented an honorary doctorate - Doctor of Performing Arts in American Dance.Established the Tap program at Oklahoma City University;
Received "A Living Treasure in American Dance" AwardOuter Critics Circle Award for outstanding Tap Choreography
for "Sophisticated Ladies"Drama Critics Award for "Eubie"Drama - League Award: for "Stardust" starring Gloria Loring, (Days of Our Lives) at the International City Theatre, in San Francisco, directed by Tony Award winner Henry LeTang.Flo - Bert Award: 1995 recipient for the advancement of the art of Tap through teaching and choreography.Broadway MusicalsThe Wiz: choreographed the " Tin Man " "Slide Some Oil To Me"Black & Blue: 1989-1991 Tony Award Winning Musical
with Ruth Brown, Linda Hopkins, Carrie Smith, Bunny Briggs, Savion Glover (partial listing of cast)Sophisticated Ladies: 1981 -1983 (Tony nominee) with Gregory Hines, Judith Jamison, Phyllis Hyman, Hinton Battle, Mercedes Ellington, Mercer Ellington (partial listing of cast)Eubie: 1978-1979 (Tony nominee) with Gregory & Maurice HinesEthel Beatty, Terry Burrell, Alaina Reed (partial listing of cast)Crazy With The Heat, My Dear Public, Dream With MusicShuffle Along: 1952 Revue with Eubie Blake, Noble SissleMOVIESTAP: 1989 Directed by Nick Castle, Starring Sammy Davis Jr. Gregory Hines, Suzzanne Douglas, Sandman Sims, Bunny Briggs,Savion Glover. Arthur Duncan, Jimmy Slyde, Steve Condos, Harold Nicholas, Dianne
Walker.Cotton Club: 1984 Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, starring
Richard Gere, Gregory Hines Maurice Hines, Laurence Fishburne, Nicolas Cage, Lonette McGeeBojangles: 2001 Showtime Emmy Nominee with Gregory HinesTelevisionStaged shows for George Balanchine, Olson and Johnson, Milton Berle.
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