<P><BR><B>Class Act - The Jazz Life of Choreographer Cholly Atkins</B><P>By Cholly Atkins and Jacqui Malone. 260 pages. $24.95. Columbia University Press.<P>Here is the blurb from the <A HREF="http://www.columbia.edu/cu/cup/catalog/data/023112/0231123647.HTM" TARGET=_blank>Columbia Uni Press website</A> <P><BR>And a review by Jabari Asim in The International Herald Tribune<P><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>For this reviewer, no Motown group combined top-notch singing and dancing as well as the Temptations did. With their long-legged elegance and high-stepping precision, the quintet's synchronized motion offered perfect visual counterpoint to "Ain't Too Proud to Beg," "My Girl" and their many other hits.<P>The Temptations learned their masterly stage movements under the tutelage of Cholly Atkins, pioneer of a then-emergent art form called vocal choreography.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> <BR><A HREF="http://www.iht.com/articles/25282.html?nup=78av" TARGET=_blank><B>more...</B></A><P><BR><p>[This message has been edited by Stuart Sweeney (edited July 07, 2001).]

Hey, that was a good article. Did make me want to check out the book - especially if it has some pictures. I can't help but wonder if I've seen footage of Cholly Atkins, but don't have a face and style in my mind to go with him.<P>Cool that he was partners with Honi Coles - I had to send a link to the article (and this thread) to one of my teachers, Katherine Kramer who studied with Honi Coles. She also hosts Rhythm Explosion in Bozeman, Montana in the summer, teaching tap and jazz and more. This year a guest teacher is Brenda Bufalino who ALSO studied with Honi Coles. I'll have to ask them about Cholly Atkins too.