December 30, 2023 @ 12:39 PM
Maurice Hines, whose tap dancing expertise beautified plenty of Broadway, television and movie manufacturings as a professional dancer, choreographer and star, passed away Friday, numerous of his long time pals introduced.
Debbie Allen, that starred along with Hines in the all-Black actors of the 2001 scenic tour of “Guys and Dolls,” validated Hines’ fatality in a homage article on social networks on Friday, claiming “I will always treasure our journey together. My tears are for my inability to speak with you or to hold you. I will always speak your name.”
Finest understood for his efficiency in Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Cotton Club,” Hines’ Broadway credit scores consist of “Eubie!,” “Sophisticated Ladies” and “Bring Back Birdie,” in addition to “Uptown…It’s Hot!” and “Hot Feet” which were both produced, choreographed and guided by Hines. In 1986, he gained a Tony honor election for ideal star in a music in “Uptown…It’s Hot!”
Hines initially showed up on Broadway at 5-years-old, when he and his sibling Gregory (that passed away in 2003), debuted their tap dancing act– comparable to that of the well known Nicholas Brothers– in the 1954 manufacturing of “The Girl in Pink Tights.”
Very first debuting the function as the Hines Children, the brother or sisters were after that called the Hines Brothers prior to including their papa, Maurice Sr., right into the act, which was after that called Hines, Hines & & Papa. The triad done in clubs throughout the nation and in Europe, at some point coming to be routine entertainers at New york city City’s Beauty Movie theater and showed up on “The Pearl Bailey Show” and “The Tonight Show.”
While the household chose to go after solo jobs, Maurice and Gregory rejoined for a 1979 Broadway manufacturing of “Eubie!” and played bros Clayton Williams and Sandman Williams in 1984 movie “The Cotton Club.” In the film, the Williams bros integrate after a befalling and execute tap number “Crazy Rhythm!,” which Hines exposed was finished in 2 absorbs a 2008 meeting.
The bros’ functions in “The Cotton Club” mirrored their real-life broken connection adhering to a decade-long disagreement, which the brother or sisters at some point repaired. Maurice commemorated Gregory in 2016 program “Maurice Hines Is Tappin’ Through Life,” specifying that he really did not desire his sibling to be failed to remember after he died years previously in 2003 after a fight with cancer cells.
As a choreographer, Hines helmed “Harlem Suite,” which he additionally starred in, Louis Armstrong music “Satchmo” in addition to “Havana Night in Cuba.”
Hines is additionally the topic of docudrama “Maurice Hines: Bring Them Back,” which was exec generated by Allen.
