Savion Glover facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Savion Glover
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Glover in 2007
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| Born | November 19, 1973 Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
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| Years active | 1985–present |
Savion Glover (born November 19, 1973) is a famous American tap dancer, actor, and choreographer. He is known for his amazing tap dancing skills and for bringing new energy to this dance style.
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Early Life and Musical Roots
Savion Glover was born in Newark, New Jersey. He was the youngest of three sons. Music and rhythm were a big part of his family. His great-grandfather, Dick Lundy, was a baseball player in the Negro leagues. His grandfather, Bill Lewis, was a talented pianist and singer.
Savion's grandmother, Anna Lundy Lewis, was very important in his life. She was the music minister at New Hope Baptist Church. She even played for Whitney Houston when Whitney sang in the gospel choir. Savion's grandmother was the first to notice his musical talent. She once hummed rhythms to him, and he smiled and joined in. Savion graduated from Newark Arts High School in 1991.
Savion's Unique Dance Style
Savion Glover describes his tap dancing style as "young and funk." He says "funk" is anything that makes your head move to the beat. It's about riding with the rhythm and feeling a pulse that keeps you dancing.
Many legendary tap dancers taught Savion. One of his teachers was Gregory Hines, a famous tap dancer. Hines once said that Savion might be the best tap dancer ever. Savion often starts his dances with classic moves from older dancers. Then, he adds his own unique style. This is his way of showing respect to the dancers who came before him.
When another tap legend, Honi Coles, passed away, Savion performed at his memorial. He ended his dance with a famous Coles move: a backflip into a split, then standing up without using his hands. Savion doesn't usually do this move, but he did it to keep Coles' style alive.
Henry LeTang, another one of Savion's teachers, called him "the Sponge." This was because Savion learned new things very quickly. LeTang taught Savion for a while before Savion went to Paris in 1987 for a tap show called "Black and Blue."
Teaching Tap Dancing
Savion Glover started teaching tap dancing when he was only 14 years old. He created a program called Real Tap Skills. He also started the HooFeRz Club School for Tap in Newark, New Jersey.
When he was seven, Savion played drums in a group called Three Plus One. Even then, he insisted on dancing while he played the drums. Savion dances with a "heavy foot." This means he dances hard and makes loud sounds with every step. He teaches his students how to "hit," which means expressing themselves or completing a dance sequence.
Choreography and Creative Works
When Savion creates a new dance, he often makes it up as he goes along. He listens for different sounds on the stage. He might find a spot that gives a deep bass sound or a different drum-like sound.
George C. Wolfe, a director, said that Savion is an amazing artist because he truly loves what he does. He can feel that joy and still show deep emotions in his dancing.
One of the dance steps Savion performed in Barbra Streisand's show Timeless is now informally called the "Savion Glover Timestep" by many tap dancers.
Notable Choreographed Pieces
- Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk
- Savion Glover's Nu York, an ABC TV special
- The opening for ABC's Monday Night Football
- The Rat Pack, an HBO movie
- He created a dance company called NYOTs (Not Your Ordinary Tappers).
- He performed for President Clinton in "Savion Glover's Stomp, Slide, and Swing: In Performances in the Whitehouse" for PBS.
- Savion Glover/Downtown: Live Communication
- Shuffle Along, or, the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
Broadway Performances
Savion Glover has starred in and choreographed many Broadway shows.
The Tap Dance Kid (1985)
Savion made his Broadway debut at age 11 in this musical. It was based on a book called Nobody's Family is Going to Change. Even though reviews were mixed, the show was nominated for seven Tony Awards.
Black and Blue (1989)
Savion performed in this show when he was 15. For his role, he became one of the youngest performers ever nominated for a Tony Award.
Jelly's Last Jam (1992)
In Jelly's Last Jam, Savion played "Young Jelly." He was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for his performance.
Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk (1996)
Savion not only performed in this musical but also choreographed it. He was nominated for a Tony Award for his acting and for his choreography. Critics praised the show, saying it was amazing as a dance, musical, and piece of history.
Shuffle Along, or, the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed (2016)
Savion choreographed this musical, which opened in 2016. He was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Choreography and a Drama Desk Award for his work on the show.
Film and Television Work
Savion Glover has also brought his talents to movies and TV shows.
Film
- 1989 - Tap, as Louis
- 2000 - Bamboozled, as Manray/Mantan
- 2006 - Happy Feet, he did the choreography and motion capture for the penguin character "Mumble."
- 2011 - Happy Feet 2, he again did the choreography for "Mumble."
Television
- Sesame Street (1990–95)
- Dance in America: Tap!
- The Kennedy Center Honors
- Academy Awards Ceremony (1996) for a tribute to Tom Hanks
- The Wall, as Bracey Mitchell
- The Rat Pack, as the choreographer
- Bojangles, as Newcomer
- So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation (2016) - Choreographer
- The Talk (2018) - Performed a routine with co-host Sheryl Underwood.
TV Specials
- Tap Dance in America (1989)
- Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (1992)
- Sesame Street Stays Up Late! (1993)
- Savion Glover's Nu York (1998), where he was the host, executive producer, and choreographer.
- Olympic Winter Games, Closing ceremony (2002)
Stage Appearances
- 1984 - The Tap Dance Kid, (Broadway debut)
- 1989–91 - Black and Blue, Broadway
- 1992–93 - Jelly's Last Jam, as Young Jelly, Broadway
- 1996–97 - Bring in da Noise, Bring in da Funk, Broadway
- 1998 - Savion Glover: Downtown, New York City
- 1999 - Keep Bangin′, New York City
Tours
Savion has also toured with his shows:
- Foot Notes, The Concert, across the U.S.
- Bring in da Noise, Bring in da Funk, across the U.S. and internationally.
- Jelly's Last Jam, across the U.S.
- 2013 - Stepz, across the U.S. and London.
Awards and Recognition
- 1996 - Tony Award for Best Choreography for Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk
- 1992 - Dance Magazine Award for choreography. He was the youngest person to receive this award from the National Endowment for the Arts (N.E.A.).
See also
In Spanish: Savion Glover para niños
- List of dancers
