Dr. Jimmy Slyde

Dr. Jimmy Slyde is one of the world's great tap masters whose career spans over five decades. Born James Godbolt, he was raised in Boston and began dancing about the age of 14. The name change came about through the remarkable incorporation of dramatic sliding in tap choreography that he and his former partner, Jimmy "Sir Slyde" Mitchell, made famous. As the Slyde Brothers, they performed throughout the world in clubs and at major festivals. In addition to his Tony Award-nominated performance in Black and Blue (New York and Paris productions) and on the Lincoln Center Majesty of Tap program, Dr. Slyde has appeared with The Original Hoofers in 1000 Years of Jazz and the movie, The Cotton Club. Other film credits include Round Midnight, About Tap and Tap.

As a soloist, he has performed in concert halls and clubs throughout Europe and the U.S., at the Colorado Dance Festival, for the Boston Dance Umbrella and in San Francisco for Jazz in the City, among others. He was a featured performer at a special White House performance on American dance, hosted by Savion Glover, and at Carnegie Hall's Tribute to the Nicholas Brothers. Dr. Slyde was also the originator and host of weekly tap shows at New York's jazz clubs, La Cave and La Place, which featured some of the brightest young tappers, along with star performers. The Miller Theatre, New York City, and the New York Tap Dance Community paid tribute to Dr. Slyde in 1993 by presenting an evening to celebrate his 45 years of Foot Poetry-in-Motion.

He has taught in the U.S., France, Switzerland and Brazil, paying particular attention to his hallmarks of melody and tone. For his contributions to the art of tap dance, Dr. Slyde was awarded with a historic honorary degree of Doctor of Performing Arts in American Dance from Oklahoma City University.