Leon Collins
Encyclopedia
Leon Collins was a famous American tap dancer.
Collins was born in Chicago, Illinois. He began tap dancing at an early age, and later worked professionally with various groups, with partners and later big bands (Jimmie Lunceford
) until the 1960s when tap dancing began to fade.
During this interim, he restored cars, and in the 70's tap dance began to experience a revival. At the urging of people like Tina Pratt and Stanley Brown, he came out of retirement and began to teach. In 1976, he opened a studio with Boston's First Lady of Jazz, Mae Arnette. The studio, Star Steps Studio, was located in the Roxbury Section of Boston, MA
. In 1982, the studio moved to Brookline and a new partnership was formed. Leon and three of his students, Clara Brosnaham "CB" Hetherington, Dianne Walker
and Pamela Raff opened the Leon Collins Dance Studio Inc. During this time, Leon formed a company with his students and Joan Hill (pianist). Leon Collins & Co. performed mainly in the New England area from 1982 until his untimely death in 1985. He had a few bit parts in the movies and is known for his exceptional tap dancing and teaching. He was best known for his work with jazz and bebop and in his latter years his work with classical music, in particular, his rendition of "Flight of the Bumblebee".
A documentary produced by David Wadsworth, Songs Unwritten, was filmed about Collins and released shortly after his death. He died of lung cancer in Boston 1985.
Collins was born in Chicago, Illinois. He began tap dancing at an early age, and later worked professionally with various groups, with partners and later big bands (Jimmie Lunceford
Jimmie Lunceford
James Melvin "Jimmie" Lunceford was an American jazz alto saxophonist and bandleader in the swing era.-Biography:...
) until the 1960s when tap dancing began to fade.
During this interim, he restored cars, and in the 70's tap dance began to experience a revival. At the urging of people like Tina Pratt and Stanley Brown, he came out of retirement and began to teach. In 1976, he opened a studio with Boston's First Lady of Jazz, Mae Arnette. The studio, Star Steps Studio, was located in the Roxbury Section of Boston, MA
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. In 1982, the studio moved to Brookline and a new partnership was formed. Leon and three of his students, Clara Brosnaham "CB" Hetherington, Dianne Walker
Dianne Walker
Dianne Walker is a tap dancer, also known as Lady Di. Her thirty-year career spans Broadway, television, film, and international dance concerts. Walker is the Artistic Director of TapDancin, Inc. in Boston, Massachusetts.-Career:...
and Pamela Raff opened the Leon Collins Dance Studio Inc. During this time, Leon formed a company with his students and Joan Hill (pianist). Leon Collins & Co. performed mainly in the New England area from 1982 until his untimely death in 1985. He had a few bit parts in the movies and is known for his exceptional tap dancing and teaching. He was best known for his work with jazz and bebop and in his latter years his work with classical music, in particular, his rendition of "Flight of the Bumblebee".
A documentary produced by David Wadsworth, Songs Unwritten, was filmed about Collins and released shortly after his death. He died of lung cancer in Boston 1985.