Educational Media Reviews Online

Winner of several awards, this beautiful feature-length documentary highlights the decades long career of brothers Maurice and Gregory Hines, actors, choreographers, directors, musicians, and tap dance extraordinaire.

Groomed to be the next Nicholas Brothers, Maurice’s early dance career, along with brother Gregory, begins on stage at the historic and legendary Apollo Theatre in Harlem, New York. Openly gay, Hines lives in his truth to reminisce about his rise to fame vis-à-vis memorable stories with contemporaries, friends, and mentors from both the film and theatre industries. He provides behind-the-scenes commentary about the dynamic relationships and choreography in the primarily African American Broadway plays, “Eubie,” “Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Ladies,” and “Jelly’s Last Jam.” In addition to directing and choreographing numerous theatre productions, music videos, and more, he is most noted for his involvement in the critically acclaim productions, “Hot Feet,” and “Uptown…it’s Hot!” Notwithstanding an unexplained complicated relationship with Maurice, the brothers remain supportive of each other oftentimes recommending the other for roles in films and stage productions. An example of this bond is reflective of their joint appearance in the film The Cotton Club, playing brothers whose lives eerily mimic the career of the Nicholas Brothers. Together and individually, they appear on numerous television programs to include “60 Minutes,” “The Johnny Carson Show,” “The Equalizer, ““Sesame Street,” “The View,” and more.

Throughout Hines’ award-winning career, he finds ways to reinvent himself. He defies societal expectations of traditional ballet and jazz performances, and teams with Mercedes Ellington to co-found BalletTap USA, an alternative dance troupe that combines both contemporary and traditional choreography to jazz, pop, and rock songs. At 70 plus years old, Hines remains a permanent fixture in the dance world as director and choreographer at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy, Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, and others scattered throughout the country. Hines continues to inspire a new generation of dancers by “giving back” to the dance community. He is indeed a living legend and should be remembered in the annals of history as the crème de la crème of the dance and theatre world.

The film includes archival footage and photos of Broadway productions, pioneer hoofers Coles & Atkins, Bunny Briggs, Baby Laurence, Teddy Hale, the Nicholas Brothers, television interviews, and more. Speakers include cast members of Broadway productions, Debbie Allen, Chita Rivera, Mercedes Ellington, the late Gregory Hines, Jason Samuels Smith, Frank Hatchett, Mel Johnson, Jr., Elise Neal, Cheryl Davis (daughter), Silas Davis (former partner), and a host of other well-known names in the entertainment industry. Special recognition is given to Allison Loggins-Hull for her original score composition. This film serves as an excellent resource for African American, Dance, and Film Studies.

Awards:
Winner, Grand Jury Prize, Best Documentary, American Black Film Festival; Winner, Metropolis Grand Jury Prize, DOC NYC; Winner, Grand Bridge Award, Dumbo Film Festival

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