John Bedford, Dean of Oklahoma City University's School of American Dance and Arts Management, and Jo Rowan, Dance Department Chairman, announced recently that the University would confer Honorary Doctor of Performing Arts in American Dance degrees on nine individuals who have made significant lifetime contributions to the development, performance, preservation and promotion of tap dance. The recipients are Leonard Reed, Fayard Nicholas, Henry Le Tang, Cholly Atkins, Jeni LeGon, Prince Spencer, Bunny Briggs, Buster Brown and Jimmy Slyde.

The honorary doctorates will be presented on OCU's campus, February 23, 2002, at a special banquet which will be followed by a tap jam. The celebration events surrounding the conferral of the degrees will be presented in collaboration with the Robert L. Reed Tap Heritage Institute and in conjunction with Black History Month.

Leonard Reed represents Vaudeville, having been a performer and producer (even produced the shows for Joe Lewis, the boxer) in addition to the Apollo and Cotton Club. He is probably the best living authority on the Vaudeville circuits, theatre and nightclub shows from the past.

Fayard Nicholas, of the Nicholas Brothers, leaves a collection of dance movies that still hold up as the best tap dancing of the century. He is a Tony Award winner for Black and Blue.

Henry LeTang is the choreographer of the movies Tap and Cotton Club. Broadway shows for which he has choreographed include Sophisticated Ladies, Black and Blue, Eubie and others. He is a Tony Award Winner for Black and Blue and considered the best Broadway tap choreographer.

Cholly Atkins, partner of Honi Coles, of the team Coles and Atkins, developed the art of vocal choreography and did Motown choreography. He also won a Tony for his work in Black and Blue. Class Act is a new book on his life.

Jeni LeGon is the first female black tap dancer to have been given a contract with a major Hollywood studio. She has made many films and danced with Bill Bojangles Robinson. She continues to teach and is the subject of a documentary filmed in Canada. She had a performance and film career in Europe in addition to her US performing career.

Prince Spencer was a member of the Four Step Brothers for 29 years. The Four Step Brothers pioneered many tap innovations including "the challenge." They made movies and danced with the Duke Ellington band for many years at the Cotton Club.

Bunny Briggs appeared in Black and Blue as well as many other shows, clubs and circuits. He is highly respected by other tap dancers and appeared as the soloist in Black and Blue.

Buster Brown, a member of the Copasetics, is keeping tap alive each Sunday evening at a New York night club, Swing 46, where he hosts and gives many dancers an opportunity to perform.

Jimmy Slyde continues a performing career and is known as a musical tap dancer. He enjoyed a career in Europe and toured with all the major big bands.