JUBA Award

About CHRP

JUBA Award

The Story of JUBA

William Henry Lane was the first African American allowed to perform with white minstrel dancers in the 1840s. Lane and an Irishman named John Diamond were promoted in a series of staged tap dance competitions throughout the United States, and Lane won the huge majority. He went on to give command performances before the crowned heads of Europe and was proclaimed the greatest dancer of all time by American and European critics alike.

He was given the appellation "Juba"- master of all dancers. Juba (also spelled giuba) is a river/valley/city in Somalia/Ethiopia/Sudan . It is also a word in Swahili/Zulu/Italian with meanings as varied as "king" and "dove." A juba was also a dance created by slaves featuring hand clapping and foot stomping, referred to as "patting the juba".

For more tap history, click here.

JUBA! Award

William Henry Lane faced crushing prejudice in a country still divided by slavery and was still able to accomplish, to excel and to win. Lane's life is a testament to the ability of people to overcome all obstacles, to excel despite adversity and to affect change through acts of personal courage and fortitude. This award acknowledges those who personify these characteristics through their support of the art of tap dance.

JUBA! Awardees


Dianne Walker 2010	Sam Weber 2010	Gene Medler 2010	MCA Stage 2010

Lane Alexander 2009 Co-founder & director of CHRP,leader in institutionalization of American tap dance, and director of Emmy-nominated JUBA! Masters of Tap and Percussive Dance.	Arny Granat 2009 Co-founder of Jam Productions, largest independent promotion company in the US, and Jam Theatricals.	Elaine Cohen 2008 President of Live Marketing!	Joan Hill 2008 Classically trained pianist, accompanist and partner of Leon Collins. Creator of the “Joan Hill Tap-a-scat-a-matic Bebop System of Tap Notation”.

Muriel Foster 2007 Director & President of Sammy Dyer School of the Theatre	Harold Cromer 2007 Former member of internationally-known duo "Stump and Stumpy" with James Cross. Awarded “Living Treasure in American Dance Award” in 1996.	Skip Cunningham 2007 Chicago-native dancer & singer. Featured on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Tonight Show, & The Merv Griffin Show, and in films The Cotton Club & Tap.	Jimmy Slyde 2007 1927-2008. Rhythm tapper legend. Won National Heritage Fellowship, Guggenheim Fellowship, & Dance Magazine award. Featured in revue “Black & Blue”, & films Tap & The Cotton Club.

Ellen Hunt 2006 Blue Cross Blue Shield	Lou Conte 2006 Broadway veteran, choreographer & founder of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and the Lou Conte Dance Studio.	Arthur Duncan 2005 Tap dancer known for regular performances on The Lawrence Welk Show. First African-American regular on variety TV program.	Bill Hood 2005 American Airlines

Fayard Nicholas 2004 1914 –2006- Award-winning eldest brother of the Nicholas Brothers, began dancing at the Cotton Club and became a Broadway and film star.	Ernest "Brownie" Brown 2004 1916-2009. Legendary vaudeville tap dancer, part of Cook & Brown duo and the Copasetics. Member of the Tap Dance Hall of Fame.	Jeni LeGon 2004 Chicago native & one of first African American women tap soloists. Member of Hoofer’s Club & Tap Dance Hall of Fame. Performed with Bojangles Robinson, Fats Waller, and other greats.	Sammy Dyer 2003 Founder of the Sammy Dyer School of the Theatre, noted tap choreographer and educator.

Tommy Sutton 2003 Tap choreographer & founder of Mayfair Academy of Fine Arts in South Chicago. A pioneer in dance education and devoted to educating across the color barrier.	Jimmy Payne, Sr. 2003 1917-2000. Tap & Afro-Carribean dance performer & teacher. Students included Bob Fosse, Lena Horne, & Gregory Hines.	Leila Handelman 2002 Member of The Saints, volunteers for the performing arts, along with her husband, Neil Handelman. Organized “Munchie Patrol” backstage for artists at performances for 14 years.	Glenn Baruck 2002 President and Owner of Leo’s Dancewear, Inc.

Gregory Hines 2001 1946-2003. Award-winning American actor, singer, dancer and choreographer, seen in films such as The Cotton Club, White Nights, Tap, and in musicals such as Eubie! and Jelly’s Last Jam.	Ann Barzel 2001 1905-2007. American writer, critic and lecturer on dance, & once a dance critic for the Chicago Times. Known for her contributions to the Newberry Library.	Fawn Ring 2001 Executive producer of cultural & entertainment programming at WTTW Chicago. Driving force behind many of WTTW's most innovative arts programming initiatives.	The Honorable Mr. & Mrs. Richard M. Daley 2001 54th Mayor of Chicago. National reputation for innovative programs to address education, public safety, and neighborhood development.

Danny Daniels 2000 American tap dancer, choreographer & teacher. Featured in 1940’s Broadway musicals, winner of a Tony Award & Astaire Award for choreography, & composer of the Tap Dance Concerto.	Cholly Atkins 1998 American dancer and vaudeville performer, who later became noted as house choreographer for various artists on the Motown label.	Savion Glover 1998 Born 1973. American actor, tap dancer and choreographer. Star of The Tap Dance Kid and Bring in ‘da Noise, Bring in ‘da Funk on Broadway, and Spike Lee’s film Bamboozled.	Dr. Prince Spencer 1998 Member of Four Step Brothers, appearing in over 40 films, & toured Europe representing American dance. Awarded life achievement for breaking color barrier in 1985.

Richard Weinberg 1997	Bill Irwin 1997 Award-winning American actor/clown/producer who is credited for contributions to the renaissance of clowning in the 1970’s.	Vic Anderson 1997 Target	Fred Kelly 1996 Award-winning hoofer who popularized Mambo and Cha-Cha, directed pioneering television shows, and was one of America's leading dance teachers.

Lloyd Storey & Frank Colvard 1996 American tap dancers. Formed the Detroit Sultans tap ensemble.	Luke Cresswell 1995 Co-creator and director of dance percussion act Stomp, percussionist and TV music writer.