Bill Robinson
Awards & Honours
3
Awards Won
6
Honours
3
Rankings
1
Covers
3
Records
Bill Robinson's achievements are historic. He was the highest paid Black entertainer in America during his prime, a remarkable feat in a segregated era. He transformed tap dance by elevating it onto the toes, creating a lighter, faster style that became the standard. His stair dance remains one of the most iconic routines in dance history. He was the first Black performer to receive the Key to the City of Richmond. In 1999, Time magazine listed him among the 100 most important people of the 20th century in the Entertainers & Artists category. His influence on tap and popular dance is immeasurable.
Awards
Honours & Distinctions
National Museum of Dance Hall of Fame
Inducted as a Mr. & Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney Hall of Fame inductee.
Hollywood Walk of Fame Star
Posthumously awarded a star for Motion Pictures at 7000 Hollywood Blvd.
U.S. Postal Service Stamp
Honored with a 29-cent stamp as part of the Black Heritage series.
Statue in Richmond, Virginia
A bronze statue of Robinson was erected in a park named in his honor.
Honorary Degree from the University of Richmond
Posthumously awarded an honorary degree.
Guinness World Record
Ran 50 yards backward in 5.6 seconds, a stunt performed for publicity.
Rankings & Lists
100 Most Important People of the 20th Century
100 Greatest Dancers of All Time
Most Influential Figures in the History of Tap Dance
Magazine Covers
Time Magazine
1935-02-11
Bill Robinson: He dances up a stairway to fame.
Records & Feats
First Black entertainer to headline a Broadway show
Robinson starred in Blackbirds of 1928, a major hit that ran over 500 performances, making him the first Black performer to headline a Broadway production.
Invented the stair dance
Robinson created the iconic stair dance, a rhythmically intricate routine performed up and down a flight of stairs, which became his signature and a landmark in American dance.
Highest paid Black entertainer in America
During the 1930s, Robinson was the highest paid Black entertainer in the United States, a remarkable achievement in a segregated industry.