Bunny Briggs

Bunny Briggs (February 26, 1922 – November 15, 2014) was an American tap dancer who was inducted into the American Tap Dancing Hall of Fame in 2006.

Briggs was born under the name Bernard Briggs in Harlem, New York on February 26, 1922.

Early life Although the exact date is unknown, Briggs went to see a show at the Lincoln Theater between the ages of 3 and 5. His aunt, Gladys, was in the chorus line and Bill Robinson was headlining. Upon seeing the famous Bojangles dance, Briggs knew immediately what he wanted to do, commenting that "[Robinson] was so calm. Everything he did was beautiful." Besides his mother's uncle teaching him a step or two, Briggs never took dance lessons. At the age of 5, Briggs had the opportunity to dance for Robinson; immediately following Briggs' performance, Robinson invited Briggs to dance on tour. His mother declined the offer on the grounds of Robinson's reputation as a gambling addict. At this time, he was also putting on white makeup and traveling with a mixed race saxophonist so they could perform in black and white clubs. Briggs almost didn't perform for personal reasons and beliefs, but Ellington convinced him to. It was at this performance that Ellington described Briggs as "the most super-leviathonic rhythmaturgically syncopated tapster-magician-ism-ist."

Discography Broken Windows, Empty Hallways (Prestige, 1972; with Houston Person)

Awards Briggs received the Flo-Bert lifetime achievement award in 1998. He received an Honorary Doctorate of Performing Arts in American Dance from Oklahoma City University. He was also nominated for a Tony Award for his performance in Black and Blue.

Legacy Bunny Briggs had immense influence on performing arts and the tap community by changing the art itself. "[Bunny] became to tap-dancing roughly what Ella Fitzgerald was to scat singing. He was the first to take an existing form of expression and update it for the new musical language then known as bebop" (Friedwald). He also redefined standards in the community, turning a step that was seen as cheating (the paddle and roll) into a trademarked move that he is remembered for.