by Eric Hoggatt
Tap dance legend, Arthur Duncan made an appearance on Wednesday at Tips & Toes Salon. The Willits chapter of the Arthur Duncan Fan Club was on hand to greet the tap artist.
Duncan had been spending time at “Tap Camp” being held in the Dos Rios area. This was his first visit to Northern California. Duncan was heading to SFO to catch a plane back to L.A. and made time in his busy schedule to mingle with his fans at Tips & Toes.
Duncan is being considered for a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was presented with an honorary star by the fans gathered.
While best-known as a song-and-dance man, Duncan also branched out into acting, appearing in movies such as Tap with Gregory Hines and Sammy Davis, Jr, and on television shows such as Diagnosis Murder with Dick Van Dyke, and stage such as the National Tour of My One And Only with Tommy Tune.
At age 73, Duncan is thought of by many as the greatest tap dancer performing today. He was the recipient of numerous awards, such as the 2004 Flo-Bert Award for Lifetime Achievement of Tap Artistry in New York City, and the 2005 Living Treasure in American Dance Award from Oklahoma City University.
Today, he continues to perform throughout the world to the delight of his many fans from 17 years on the Lawrence Welk Show. In 2003 Duncan starred in the short film “Tap Heat” and is currently in negotiations for three movie rolls.
Duncan will be headlining on National Tap Day at San Francisco’s Royce Gallery on May 25th 2007 along with Rosie Radiator and other tap dancers.
Tips & Toes owner Jo Ann Pinkerton graciously invited the Nickel & Dime to cover the event and it was an honor to shake the hand of a legend!
