Tap America

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Tap America
(Image credit: Alamy Stock Photo)

As part of BBC4’s Dance Season, actor Clarke Peters (below), creator of the musical Five Guys Named Moe, explores the history of tap dancing

As part of BBC4’s Dance Season, actor Clarke Peters, creator of the musical Five Guys Named Moe, explores the history of tap dancing.

It’s a treat for the eyes and ears as Clarke reveals how the genre originated out of the slave trade, when men would make music with their feet in chain gangs.

By the 19th Century Irish clogging had further influenced the Afro-American dance scene.

Stars including Bill ‘Bojangles’ Robinson and the Nicholas Brothers emerged, playing supporting roles to white Hollywood stars.

Includes fabulous archive film footage, scenes from the Cotton Club and, of course, the legendary Shirley Temple, Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly.

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David Hollingsworth
David Hollingsworth
Editor

David is the What To Watch Editor and has over 20 years of experience in television journalism. He is currently writing about the latest television and film news for What To Watch.

Before working for What To Watch, David spent many years working for TV Times magazine, interviewing some of television's most famous stars including Hollywood actor Kiefer Sutherland, singer Lionel Richie and wildlife legend Sir David Attenborough. 

David started out as a writer for TV Times before becoming the title's deputy features editor and then features editor. During his time on TV Times, David also helped run the annual TV Times Awards. David is a huge Death in Paradise fan, although he's still failed to solve a case before the show's detective! He also loves James Bond and controversially thinks that Timothy Dalton was an excellent 007.

Other than watching and writing about telly, David loves playing cricket, going to the cinema, trying to improve his tennis and chasing about after his kids!