Gregg Burge
Gregg Burge | |
---|---|
Born | |
Died | July 4, 1998 | (aged 40)
Occupation(s) | Dancer, Actor, Singer |
Years active | 1972–1998 |
Gregg Burge (November 14, 1957 – July 4, 1998) was an American tap dancer and choreographer.
Early life
Burge was born in New York City and raised on Long Island, N.Y.
He chose a career in song and dance after seeing Sammy Davis Jr. on the Ed Sullivan Show. At age 7, he persuaded his parents to enroll him in tap classes at the Red Slipper Dance Studio in Merrick, N.Y. By age 10, he was winning local talent shows and was a three-time winner on ''The Ted Mack Amateur Hour'' on television. By 13, Burge was earning $30,000 a year.[1]
Burge won a scholarship to study at the Juilliard School when he was 17. He graduated from New York's Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts in 1975.[1]
Career
His credits ranged from television's
Television commercials followed, along with a job as a regular on ''The Electric Company'' and, at 13, a stint in the Off Broadway musical ''Bojangles.'' There he learned dance history firsthand, appearing with tap stars like Chuck Green, Rhythm Red and Mabel Lee, who taught him to improvise rather than simply dance steps. Mr. Burge received formal training in ballet and tap from the High School of the Performing Arts and the Juilliard School.
Burge was nominated for two
Burge choreographed Michael Jackson's "Bad" music video with Jeffrey Daniel and a video for reggae band Steel Pulse. He operated a dance studio on Long Island.
Death
Burge died of a brain tumor in Atlanta on July 4, 1998, at age 40.[1]
Filmography
Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
1985 | A Chorus Line | Richie |
1988 | School Daze | Virgil Cloyd |
1996 | Soul of the Game | Bill Robinson |
External links
- Gregg Burge at the Internet Broadway Database
- Gregg Burge at IMDb
- ^ ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 4, 2023.