Reginald McLaughlin
better known as
Reggio The Hoofer
has traveled around the world to preserve and perform authentic, traditional tap dance.
The award-winning Reginald McLaughlin, better known as Reggio “The Hoofer” has tapped here, there, and everywhere. His dazzling footwork has entertained diverse audiences across the country and around the world (Poland, Canada, Spain, Japan, Germany, France, Venezuela, Switzerland, Finland, and India). His contributions in promoting the art of tap are immense: he has created numerous dance and educational programs for a wide range of tap enthusiasts. He is considered a Chicago tap icon and was awarded New York City’s prestigious Flo-Bert Award for his achievements as a hoofer, preservationist, historian, and his work with the youth of today. A few outstanding examples of past honorees include Gene Kelly, Gregory Hines, and Savion Glover.
Before Reggio decided to pursue his love and passion for tap dancing, he was a professional musician, playing for some of Chicago’s top R&B and Blues recording artists by the age of fifteen. Reggio’s tap history began when tap was at its lowest ebb, his only dancing opportunity at this time was performing in the Chicago subways – it was here that he developed his unique and extraordinary style of footloose and fancy-free hoofing. A fortunate turnaround in Reggio’s career occurred in the early 1990’s, when he partnered with another talented subway tap dancer, Ayrie King III, to work for Urban Gateways (an award-winning educational institution for the performing arts). It’s at this point in his career that he started performing in the schools, libraries, and museums. His fun educational programs consisted of enthralling stories about tap’s roots – interspersed with lively dance performances and audience participation. Soon afterwards, a variety of offers began to flow in from the tap festivals, workshop sponsors, dance shows, social event organizers, community institutions, performing arts organizations, etc.
After Reggio’s participation in a tap jam performance at Old Town School of Folk Music, he was offered a principal tap instructor’s position. Recognized by Gallery 37 (After School Matters) for his outreach skills and as a tap virtuoso, he was the first tap instructor to be included in its afterschool program. Reggio has created special dance programs for seniors for the Chicago Department on Aging, hospitals, and also outreach programs for children with special needs.
Early in his career Reggio had principal roles in the theatrical version of the Sammy Davis Jr. Story and two Duke Ellington musicals, "Jump for Joy" and "Beggar's Holiday."
In addition to studying under the veteran tap masters (individuals who were considered the best of the best during their prime), he has also expanded his percussive dance style by studying gypsy flamenco in Spain. During the years, Reggio has amassed a remarkable catalogue of dance achievements. His energetic style of hoofing has been profiled on numerous television programs and news highlights. For example, he has performed on the following PBS programs: Center Stage sponsored by the Illinois Arts Council, Art Beat Chicago, and Inside Kentucky Schools. Reggio has been the interviewed subject of many magazines and newspaper articles on tap dancing. He has appeared in four documentaries: Juba! Masters of Tap and Percussive Dance – partnering with the legendary Ernest “Brownie” Brown, Vanishing Act (the demise of vaudeville), Gallery 37 a Portrait of Chicago Youth, and his feet are featured dancing in the narration of The World of Nat King Cole. He has played principal roles in the following musicals: Duke Ellington’s Jump for Joy and Beggar’s Holiday, and The Sammy Davis Jr. Story. In the very special and extraordinary musical Keep a Song in Your Soul, Reggio was the choreographer for a series of performances exploring African-American roots in vaudeville with collaborators: Reginald Robinson (a celebrated ragtime pianist and MacArthur Fellow), the Grammy Award winning Carolina Chocolate Drops (a traditional string band), and the prestigious Old Town School of Folk Music. This project garnered the support of three funding awards: The National Endowment for Arts, The MAP Fund, and The Joyce Foundation.
In addition to the Flo-Bert Award, Reggio has also been the recipient of the following awards: The Illinois Arts Council’s Master/Apprentice Program Award, The Illinois Arts Council’s Professional Development Award, and the Distinguished Teaching Artist Award from the Old Town School of Folk Music.
He has completed two instructional videos and is now working on a documentary that highlights his friendship and dance relationship with former vaudeville and Cotton Club tap dancer, Ernest “Brownie” Brown. Reggio is the producer of two joyful annual tap shows: The Nut Tapper, a multicultural percussive variation of the classic Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite and a National Tap Dance Day extravaganza that celebrates tap as a true American folk dance. He has celebrated a milestone in his career by completing an autobiographical book, Reggio McLaughlin:Tap Dance of Life, which he is currently promoting. One of his future endeavors is to use his training from Second City, coupled with his dance prowess, to create and star in a one-man show.
Through these and his many other projects, Reggio uses his boundless energy as a dancer, choreographer, artistic director, producer, instructor, and author to promote the awesomeness of tap!
Reggio, Gregory Hines and Jimmy Payne, Sr.
To develop his talents as a performer and a professional, Reggio trained extensively in Chicago with legendary tap teachers Jimmy Payne Sr. and Bobby Ephraim. He traveled to New York City to study with with former Vaudeville hoofers and veterans of Broadway who passed on to him the styles and routines of their eras.