November 19 …
Savion Glover is a pioneering American tap dancer, choreographer, actor, and educator whose inventive rhythms and theatricality reshaped tap for contemporary audiences.
Born November 19, 1973 in Newark, NJ, Glover was raised in a musically rich environment, inspired by his grandmother, who directed gospel music at their church, and his grandfather, a talented big-band pianist. He began performing in his childhood and honed his skills at Newark Arts High School, where his education was centered around practical experiences and apprenticeships through street performances, local studios, and touring revues. These opportunities exposed him to both vernacular rhythms and the nuances of formal stagecraft.
Glover’s Broadway career took off as a child in “The Tap Dance Kid” and continued to flourish with significant roles in productions like “Black and Blue,” “Jelly’s Last Jam,” and notably “Bring in ’Da Noise, Bring in ’Da Funk,” which he co-created, starred in, and choreographed. He also brought his choreographic talent to “Shuffle Along” in 2016.
Glover worked in film, including Tap and Happy Feet, as well as television, making memorable recurring appearances on Sesame Street. His unique style, characterized as percussive “free-style hard-core” tap, seamlessly blends jazz, funk, hip-hop, and traditional tap dance.
Among Glover’s influences and mentors are Honi Coles, Henry LeTang, Jimmy Slyde, and particularly Gregory Hines, who not only taught him but also publicly supported his career. In return, Glover has guided many emerging tap dancers through his Real Tap Skills company and the HooFeRz Club School for Tap in Newark, where he collaborates with contemporaries like Dule Hill, Baakari Wilder, and Ted Levy.
Glover consistently pays tribute to his idols and predecessors — Bill Bojangles Robinson, Bunny Briggs, and the Nicholas Brothers — while engaging with peers across generations.
Glover’s accolades include a Tony Award for Best Choreography in 1996 for “Bring in ’Da Noise, Bring in ’Da Funk,” a Dance Magazine Award, numerous Tony nominations, Drama Desk recognition, and distinction from the NEA as a young recipient of significant arts funding.
The impact of Savion Glover on how tap dance is taught, performed, and integrated into mainstream entertainment is profound, and his ongoing roles as a teacher, company leader, and innovator firmly establish his legacy in American cultural and dance history.
