Gregory Hines, who is no longer with us, exploded onto the big screen in the eighties, demonstrating a new, and refreshing interpretation of tap. He single handily brought about a resurgence of tap dancing through out the world, in fact these pages would not exist if he had not sparked the interest in tap dancing for a new generation of enthusiasts and tap dancers alike. He was also an outstanding actor who has played many character parts, although the majority of which the parts did not require him to show his extra ordinary talent for tap.

He started tap as part of a double act with his brother Maurice in 1957, at the age of 11, and through those formative years he was able to see and meet many of the great tap dancer of the 40's. Bunny Briggs was a great influence, Gregory sights Bunny as having a profound effect on the way he taps and gives him credit for giving him an insight to how rhythm is used by many of the tap dancers of that time.

He has shown the world that there is another side to tap which has it's roots in black Afro-American culture. All of his films which show his tap mastery are an inspiration to any one, tap dancers, dancers and non dancers alike.

He is a master of both improvisation and choreography and his incorporation of afro-Cuban rhythms in his tap routine in White Nights were an innovation that brought a new dimension to tap and its rhythms.

Gregory has been fortunate enough to have been able to portray a few of his tap inspirations. He played Sporting life in a stage scene from White Nights, who was a character John Bubbles played with great acclaim on stage in Porgy and Bess. He also later on played Bill Robinson (Bo Jangles) in a film biography of his life. A special feature in the film was the stair dance which Gregory reproduced step by step such was his commitment and attention to detail.

He also played Sandman (loosely based on Sandman Simms.) in the movie The Cotton Club, and was also able to work with Honi Coles who appeared in the Hoofers Club scene in the movie and his brother Maurice.