THE HOOFER AWARD

Return to Recipient List 

Tina Pratt
2008 Hoofer Award Recipient

Tina Pratt, dancer extraordinaire, hails from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She received her training in tap and classical ballet from Mamie Barth Studio in Pittsburgh, also attended by another great dancer, Gene Kelly. She also has studied modern dance at the Modern Institute of Contemporary Dance, Boston, Massachusetts as well as a host of other fine dance studios in the country. Her performing experience is quite extensive, having performed with a number of fine entertainers, including Sammy Davis, Jr., Nancy Wilson, Flip Wilson, Redd Foxx, Pearl Bailey, Phyllis Diller, Frank Fontaine and Shecky Green. She also has performed with a roster of dancers including Baby Lawrence, Bunny Briggs, Shorts Davis, Howard “Sandman” Sims, Hines, Hines, and Dad and many, many more. She has performed jazz-tap with such greats as Count Basie, Sarah Vaughan, Ernie Wilkins, Jaki Byard, Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson, Tommy Turrentine and Milt Buckner.In addition to performing, Tina busies herself with an active teaching schedule. She has taught a history of jazz-tap dancing at various YWCAs in Pittsburgh and Boston, as well as instructing dancers in tap at the Boston Center of the Arts and the School of Contemporary Music/Afro-American Center in Pittsburgh. She has presented lecture demonstrations on the history of tap dancing at Emerson College in Boston as well as the Selma Burke School in Pittsburgh, NY University, Boys & Girls High, NY City Public School and Libraries, and Pace University. She is currently working on research on the history of jazz-tap and performing with Jaki Byard 18 piece big band, The Apollo Stompers and the Barry Harris Jazz Ensemble. Toured Europe, for several seasons, was awarded a citation, for outstanding performer, by UJC and CASH; Teaches at The Jazz Cultural Theatre; member of the “International Hoofers Club;” writes for Jazz Spotlight News paper and Producer and founder of Show Biz Assoc. productions “Salute to Black American Dances and Dancers,” which is held every February for Black History Month.

Return to Recipient List