The Killer Dillers

Killer Diller Man from the South

admin — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 23:44:29 +0000

In 2009 the Killer Dillers won 1st Place in the Team Division at the International Lindy Hop Championships in Washington DC, with this six-person Lindy Hop routine.

Dancers: Kevin St Laurent, Jo Hoffberg, Nathan Bugh, Evita Arce, Juan Villafane, Sharon Davis
Choreography by: The Killer Dillers (ensemble)
Song: Killer Diller Man From The South, The Cats & The Fiddle
Performance: International Lindy Hop Championships 2009 (ilhc.com)

Fascinating Rhythm

admin — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 23:42:36 +0000

This piece entitled Fascinating Rhythm, is a recreation of the world famous Berry Brothers’ act in the 1941 film Lady Be Good. With soft shoe tap, cane juggling and acrobatics, it requires such a high level of skill that The Killer Dillers have been the first to attempt it since the Berry Brothers themselves in the 1940s.

Dancers: Nathan Bugh, Kevin St Laurent, Juan Villafane
Choreography by: The Berry Brothers, 1941
Performance: Jump Session Show, Seattle May 2009 (campjitterbug.com)

And here is an edit of the Killer Dillers performing Fascinating Rhythm in New York in 2009, alongside excerpts of the Berry Brothers performing the original piece in 1941:

Read the rest of this entry, for more information about the legendary Berry Brothers.

About The Berry Brothers:
The Berry Brothers were a famous flash act duo (and later trio) in the 1920s, 30s and 40s. Their specialties included soft shoe tap, cane, spectacular splits and death-defying acrobatics. The brothers were Ananias (or Nyas) Berry, James Berry and Warren Berry. They performed alongside Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway at the Cotton Club in Harlem, were the first African-American act at the Copacabana in 1929, and performed at the grand opening of Radio City Music Hall in 1932. They also headlined at New York’s Apollo Theatre, the Zanzibar Cafe, Harlem’s Savoy Ballroom, The Moulin Rouge in Paris, and The Rio Cabana in Chicago. Their film credits include Lady Be Good (1941), Panama Hattie (1942), Boarding House Blues (1948), and You’re My Everything (1949).

The Berry Brothers are remembered as one of the greatest dance acts in the history of the American stage and cinema in the twentieth century. At a time when tap dancers were “a dime a dozen,” these brothers combined their talents to form a unique act that remains unsurpassed. Their mixture of the Cakewalk’s Strut, tap dancing, thrilling acrobatics, and amazing cane work was a winning and lasting formula.

La Vie En Rose

admin — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 23:41:06 +0000

This burlesque feather fan dance pays tribute to the great Sally Rand, the burlesque starlet who defined fan dancing in the 1930s and became a household name. For this number, Sharon Davis dons a tight-lacing corset and ballet pointe shoes encrusted with over 3000 Swarovski crystals. Her fans are made of pure white ostrich feathers, with a span of 6-feet each.

Dancer: Sharon Davis
Choreography by: Sharon Davis, 2010
Song: La Vie En Rose, Louis Armstrong
Performance: Jump Session Show, Seattle May 2010 (campjitterbug.com)

Berry Me Not

admin — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 23:40:35 +0000

This number entitled Berry Me Not, is a tribute to the world famous Berry Brothers’ performance in the 1942 film Panama Hattie. The Killer Dillers are renowned for being the only dancers today authentically recreating the Berry Brothers’ sophisticated combination of soft shoe tap, cane spinning, spectacular splits and death-defying acrobatics.

Dancers: Juan Villafane, Nathan Bugh, Kevin St Laurent
Choreography by: The Berry Brothers, 1942
Performance: Jump Session Show, Seattle May 2009 (campjitterbug.com)

Honolulu

admin — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 23:39:49 +0000

In this number, Jo Hoffberg recreates Eleanor Powell’s dance from the 1939 film Honolulu. At the time, critics called this number “the sexiest dance ever filmed.” Eleanor Powell was known for her virtuosic tap dancing, dizzying spins, acrobatics, feminine movement and dazzling smile. In this performance, Jo is joined by all-girl group The Atomic Cherry Bombs of Orange County, California (atomicballroom.com).

Dancers: Jo Hoffberg & The Atomic Cherry Bombs
Choreography by: Eleanor Powell, 1939
Performance: Jump Session Show, Seattle May 2010 (campjitterbug.com)

Stompin’ at the Savoy

admin — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 23:39:19 +0000

In this act, Nathan Bugh and Evita Arce take on the age old song-and-dance tradition in a tribute to the legendary tap dancers, Honi Coles and Cholly Atkins. Singing Chick Webb’s classic, Stompin’ at the Savoy, in this performance Nathan and Evita were accompanied by Italy’s Nine Penny Big Band.

Performers: Nathan Bugh & Evita Arce
Choreography: Nathan Bugh, in tribute to Honi Coles & Cholly Atkins
Orchestra: The Nine Pennies Big Band, Italy
Song: Stompin’ at the Savoy, Chick Webb (1934)
Performance: Swing Brother Swing Festival, Italy (May 2010)

The Bellboys

admin — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 22:54:22 +0000

This trio jazz routine incorporates 1920s Charleston and classic 1940s jazz steps, with a nod to the legendary Gene Kelly in films such as Anchors Aweigh (1945) and The Pirate (1948).

Dancers: Sharon Davis, Kevin St Laurent, Jo Hoffberg
Choreography by: Sharon Davis, 2010
Song: I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate, Clarence Williams
Performance: Jump Session Show, Seattle May 2010 (campjitterbug.com)

Stratosphere

admin — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 22:47:35 +0000

Charles Lindbergh (aka Lucky Lindy), was the aviator whose pioneering solo flight across the Atlantic in 1927, splashed newspapers that year with the headline “Lindy Hops the Atlantic.” The mother of all swing dances, the Lindy Hop, took its name from these very headlines. With a nod to Lindbergh and other great aviators of the jazz age, Kevin and Jo present a Lindy Hop routine entitled Stratosphere.

Dancers: Kevin St Laurent & Jo Hoffberg
Choreography by: Kevin St Laurent & Jo Hoffberg, 2009
Song: Stratosphere, Jimmie Lunceford & His Orchestra
Performance: Jump Session Show, Seattle May 2010 (campjitterbug.com)

Killer Diller Shim Sham

admin — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 22:40:10 +0000

This piece is the Killer Diller’s take on the classic tap shim sham, which we have affectionately named The Killer Diller Shim Sham. In this particular performance, the number is performed in soft shoe and a cappella.

Dancers: Nathan Bugh, Evita Arce, Kevin St Laurent, Jo Hoffberg, Juan Villafane, Sharon Davis
Choreography by: Nathan Bugh, 2009
Performance: Swing Brother Swing Festival, May 2010

Showgirl’s Holiday

admin — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 22:25:00 +0000

Sharon Davis and Jo Hoffberg present Showgirl’s Holiday, a feather fan dance duet with brilliant red ostrich feather fans. Danced to a burlesque bump & grind classic, this act is a glittering spectacle of vintage glamour, with graceful feather fans and two sparkling showgirls in the spotlight.

Dancers: Sharon Davis, Jo Hoffberg
Choreography by: Sharon Davis, 2009
Song: Stripper’s Holiday, Sonny Lester & His Orchestra
Performance: Barcelona Spain, April 2010 (barswingona.org)