The Flo-Bert Award honors "outstanding figures in the field of tap dance".Egan, Bill. Flo-Bert Awards, florencemills.com
History Named for eminent African-American performers Florence Mills and Bert Williams,1999 Show review the awards began in 1991. Flo-Bert, Ltd, the non-profit organization that makes the selections, was founded by historian and researcher Delilah Jackson in 1989. The organization is sponsored by the New York Foundation for the Arts.
The Flo-Bert Award is given annually. Honorees include Gregory Hines, Cab Calloway, Gene Kelly, Savion Glover, and the Nicholas Brothers. The award is meant to recognize life achievement in performing, teaching or supporting the art of tap dance.
The organization holds an awards show, The Tap Extravaganza. It is produced by The New York Committee to Celebrate National Tap Dance Day.
Honorees listed alphabetically; year of award indicated: HonoreeDescriptionYearJerry Amesfounder and artistic director of Jerry Ames Tap Dance Company2006Maceo Andersonoriginal member of The Four Step Brothers, early innovator of the acrobatic tap style1994Cholly Atkinspartner of Charles "Honi" Coles"; Motown choreographer1993Bob Audy2007Jean Bach2008Clayton "Peg Leg" Bates"1991John Bedford2006American Spirit Dance Company, Oklahoma City UniversityPhil Black1996Bunny Briggs1999Ernest "Brownie" Brownmember of the Hoofer's Club, original member of The Original Copasetics, half of vaudeville duo Cook and Brown2003Brenda Bufalinocreator and choreographer for the American and International Tap Dance OrchestrasCutcher, Jenai. "Teacher's wisdom: Brenda Bufalino". Dance Magazine, 1 May 2007.1999Cab Callowaydancer and bandleader1992Lon Chaney1991Heather Cornellco-founder of Manhattan Tap2012The Cotton Club Girls1992Harold CromerStumpy of the tap team Stump and Stumpy2005Stanley Donenfilm director (Singing in the Rain, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers)2003Paul Draperpartner of Larry Adler1993Arthur Duncan2004Mercedes Ellingtonchoreographer, dancer, producer; first black member of the June Taylor Dancers, granddaughter of Duke Ellington2009Savion Gloverstar of Bring in da Noise, Bring in da Funk2000Yvette Glovermother of Savion Glover2007Jane Goldbergtap performer and historianErnest Brown2002Chuck Green1991Ralph Guild2006Lionel Hamptonmusician1995Barry Harrispianist, composer and teacher1998George Hillman1991Gregory Hinesbrother of Maurice Hines1998Maurice Hinesbrother of Gregory Hines2008Milt Hintonjazz bassist1997Melba Huber1996Delilah Jacksonfounded Flo-Bert, Ltd. and the Flo-Bert Awards2001Gene Kelly1994Sali Ann Kriegsman1997Women in Tap biographies , Jazz Tap Ensemble.Mable Leesinger-dancer, one of the original Apollo Girls2004Jeni LeGonmember of the Whitman Sisters2001Henry LeTangtaught Gregory Hines; choreographer of the movies Tap and The Cotton Club, Broadway plays Eubie, Black and Blue and Sophisticated Ladies1995Bernard Manners1991Frankie Manningmember of Whitey's Lindy Hoppers2004Ann Miller1994Deborah Mitchellfounder of the New Jersey Tap Ensemble2007Cobi Narita2005The Nicholas Brothers1992Donald O'Connor1997Frank Ownespianist/arranger/composer2002Radio City Rockettes1996Leonard Reedinventor of the Shim Sham Shimmy2000LaVaughn Robinson2005Jo Rowan2006The Silver Belles1992Randy Skinner2010Jimmy Slyde1991Prince Spencerone of the Four Step Brothers2009Peggy Spina2008Bross Townsendpianist1996Tommy Tune2003Dianne Walker2003George Weinoriginator of the Newport Jazz Festival2004Ruth Williamsfounder of the Ruth Williams Dance Studio in Harlem1996
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External links Flo-Bert Awards by Bill Egan at florencemills.com