Savion Glover

Savion Glover (born November 19, 1973) is an American tap dancer, actor, and choreographer whose influence reshaped modern tap. The youngest of three sons born in Newark, New Jersey, he grew up in a musically rich household: his great‑grandfather Dick Lundy was a Negro‑league shortstop and manager, his grandfather Bill Lewis a big‑band pianist, and his grandmother Anna Lundy Lewis the minister of music at New Hope Baptist Church, a role that connected him to gospel legends such as Whitney Houston. After his white father left before his birth, his mother nurtured his innate rhythm, famously humming patterns while holding him, prompting Savion to smile and join in. He attended Newark Arts High School, graduating in 1991, but his professional debut came far earlier—at age eleven he replaced a role in the Broadway production The Tap Dance Kid (1985), and by fifteen he was performing in Black and Blue (1989), earning one of the youngest Tony nominations in history. Throughout his career Glover has defined a young and funk aesthetic, describing funk as ‘the bass line that gets one’s head on beat.’ Mentored by tap legends Gregory Hines, Henry LeTang, the Hines brothers, Jimmy Slyde, and many others, he blends classic steps with inventive improvisation, often “hitting” the floor with powerful, resonant sounds. His breakthrough choreographic work Bring in ‘Da Noise, Bring in ‘Da Funk (1996) won him a Tony for Best Choreography and solidified his status as a cultural icon. He has since choreographed Broadway hits such as Shuffle Along (2016), created his own company NYOTs (Not Your Ordinary Tappers), and contributed to film projects like Happy Feet (2006) where his motion‑capture tap informed the character Mumble. A dedicated educator, he founded Real Tap Skills and the HooFeRz Club School for Tap, teaching since age fourteen. Recognized with a Dance Magazine Award (1992) and countless television appearances—from Sesame Street to the Academy Awards—Glover continues to push tap’s boundaries while honoring its historic roots.