The ABC’s of Black Dance
By Azaria Rianne Hogans
Alvin Ailey Jr., Arthur Mitchell, and Alonzo King,
Bill Robinson, Blondell Cummings, and Bill T. Jones also sing.
Chuck Davis, Chloe Arnold & sister, and Camille A. Brown,
Donald McKayle and Debbie Allen are movin’ all around.
Next, Eleo Pomare, Frankie Manning, and Florence Mills,
Gregory Hines and Garth Fagan, yeah, they’ve got some awesome skills! Hope Boykin’s choreography is always her very best.
Ingrid Silva is dancing from Brazil to the great US.
Josephine Baker, Judith Jamison, and Joan Myers Brown,
Kyle Abraham is sharin’ the true knowledge of the town.
Lauren Anderson and Misty show dancers too can be Black.
The Nicholas Brothers and Norma Miller had fierce attacks.
Ok-wui Ok-pok-wa-sili—try it! Say it again with me.
Pearl Primus and Paula Kelly always make smiles guaranteed.
Queenmother Katherine Dunham, she’s the mom of black modern dance. Raven Wilkinson and Rennie Harris taking a bold stance.
Sammy and Savion can tap dance from daytime to the night.
Talley Beatty tells stories that are such a marvelous sight.
Underwood’s grace and ballet technique always makes our jaw drop. Virginia Johnson, the Whitman sisters, the list won’t stop.
Xaba, Xavier, and Yarborough are some of the best. Will you add your name? There is room for many more. You’re up next.
There are many more dancers whose names we all should loudly sing,
But before we end our list, Zollar, keep doin’ your bold thing.