Jack Wiggins

Jack Wiggins was an African-American entertainer of the early twentieth century, now remembered primarily for his elegant style in tap dancing. Wiggins worked as a performer at the legendary Hoofers Club on "Swing Street" in Harlem, New York, where he inspired Laurence Donald "Baby Laurence" Jackson (later a member of the Tap Dance Hall of Fame). ["'Baby Laurence' Jackson," American Tap Dance Foundation, Tap Dance Hall of Fame, [http://www.atdf.org/awards/laurence.html] ] . Wiggins also influenced Fayard and Harold Nicholas of the famous Nicholas Brothers tap duo. ["Fayard Nicholas." by Terry Monaghan, "The Guardian", January 27, 2006, [http://arts.guardian.co.uk/news/obituary/0,,1695842,00.html] ] Wiggins was recognized as a master soloist in the "Class Act" style of tap dancing. ["Tap Dance in America: A Very Short History" by Constance Valis Hill, [http://www.nypl.org/research/lpa/dan/hines/TAPENCY2002cites.pdf] ] A signature dance of Wiggins' was the "tango twist." ["Pete Nugent," Street Swing Dance History Archives, [http://www.streetswing.com/histmai2/d2pete_nugent.htm] ]

In a 1993 interview with "The Los Angeles Times", Nipsey Russell remarked that he had been inspired to become a performer around the age of 10 while watching Wiggins on stage. "He came out immaculately attired in a well-dressed street suit and he tap-danced," Russell said. "As he danced, he told little jokes in between. He was so clean in his language and was lacking in any drawl, he just inspired me. I wanted to do that." ["Rhyming Funnyman Nipsey Russell Dies," by Joe Holley, October 4, 2005, "The Washington Post", [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/03/AR2005100301733.html] ]

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