17 Facts About Dianne Walker

Dianne Walker began her dance training in Boston with Mildred Kennedy-Bradic and later studied with Leon Collins, Jimmy "Sir Slyde" Mitchell, and Jimmy Slyde.

Dianne Walker is considered a pioneer in the resurgence of tap dancing.

Dianne Walker is often seen in jazz clubs and festivals around the US.

Dianne Walker was featured in both the original Paris production and the two year Broadway run of Claudio Segovia and Hector Orezzoli's musical Black and Blue.

Dianne Walker is in the PBS production of Black and Blue directed by Robert Altman.

Dianne Walker was the only female to dance in the famed "Hoofers Line" which included Jimmy Slyde, Ralph Brown, Buster Brown, Lon Chaney, Chuck Green, Bunny Briggs, and Savion Glover.

Dianne Walker was Assistant Choreographer and Dance Captain for the show's Tony Award winning choreography and recreated choreography for a European tour of Black and Blue.

Dianne Walker was featured in Fascinating Rhythms, a thirteen-city Dance Umbrella tour with Jimmy Slyde, Savion Glover, and bucket drummers Drummin Too Deep.

Dianne Walker is featured in the motion picture Tap starring Gregory Hines and Sammy Davis Jr.

Dianne Walker has taught at numerous colleges, including Harvard, Williams College, the University of Michigan, and UCLA.

Dianne Walker has been the recipient of grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, Massachusetts Cultural Council Jacobs Pillow, and the New England Foundation for the arts.

Dianne Walker was a participant in the Dance USA Task Force on Dance Education and in 1997 represented the United States as an adjudicator for the World Tap Dance Championships held in Dresden, Germany.

Dianne Walker is on the board of several tap dance organizations and was appointed, by the governor of Massachusetts, to a seat on the board of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a post she has held since 1996.

Dianne Walker is quick to recognize her debt to many of the tap legends that have given to her so generously throughout her career, such as Honi Coles, Cholly Atkins, Eddie Brown, the Nicholas Brothers, Peg Leg Bates, Steve Condos, Henry LeTang, Prince Spencer, Gregory Hines, LaVaughn Robinson, and many others.

Leon Collins died in 1985, leaving Dianne Walker to continue as one of the directors of his school.

Dianne Walker received the "Savion Glover Award for Keeping the Beat Alive" in St Louis, Missouri in 2000.

In 2004, Dianne Walker received the Hoofers Award from Tap City NYC and was presented with an award in Los Angeles, in memory of Gregory Hines.