Charles Cook (dancer)
Encyclopedia
Charles “Cookie” Cook was an African-American tap dancer and member of the Original Copasetics
. He was the dance partner of Ernest “Brownie” Brown
, with whom he performed from the days of vaudeville
into the 1960s.
They performed in film, such as Dorothy Dandridge
1942 “soundie” Cow Cow Boogie, on Broadway in the 1948 musical Kiss Me, Kate
, twice at the Newport Jazz Festival
, as well in other acts, including “Garbage and His Two Cans” in which they played the garbage cans.
Original Copasetics
The Original Copasetics were an ensemble of star tap dancers formed in 1949 on the death of Bill Bojangles Robinson that helped to revive the art of tap. The first group included composer / arranger Billy Strayhorn and the choreographer Cholly Atkins, as well as hoofers Honi Coles, Charles “Cookie”...
. He was the dance partner of Ernest “Brownie” Brown
Ernest Brown (dancer)
Ernest “Brownie” Brown was an African American tap dancer and last surviving member of the Original Copasetics. He was the dance partner of Charles “Cookie” Cook, with whom he performed from the days of vaudeville into the 1960s....
, with whom he performed from the days of vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
into the 1960s.
They performed in film, such as Dorothy Dandridge
Dorothy Dandridge
Dorothy Jean Dandridge was an American actress and popular singer, and was the first African-American to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress...
1942 “soundie” Cow Cow Boogie, on Broadway in the 1948 musical Kiss Me, Kate
Kiss Me, Kate
Kiss Me, Kate is a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. It is structured as a play within a play, where the interior play is a musical version of William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. The original production starred Alfred Drake, Patricia Morison, Lisa Kirk and Harold Lang.Kiss...
, twice at the Newport Jazz Festival
Newport Jazz Festival
The Newport Jazz Festival is a music festival held every summer in Newport, Rhode Island, USA. It was established in 1954 by socialite Elaine Lorillard, who, together with husband Louis Lorillard, financed the festival for many years. The couple hired jazz impresario George Wein to organize the...
, as well in other acts, including “Garbage and His Two Cans” in which they played the garbage cans.