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Birth
He was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas but grew up in Los Angeles, California. -
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The Life of Howard "Sandman" Sims
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The Beginning of a Love for Tap
At the young age of three, Howard Sims learned to tap dance from his father. This was his only method of learning since he wasn't formally educated in tap. One of his most famous sayings is that "if you can walk, you can dance" (arts.gov). -
Development of Sand Dancing Style
His dreams to become a boxer began this sand dancing as it orginated in a rosin box after breaking his hand boxing. Before he would dance on sand, though, his techniques consisted of either gluing sandpaper on his shoes or a mat. Sims would then dance until he either wore out his shoes or the mat that didn't have the sandpaper on it. His final strategy consisted of putting loose sand in a box complete with a sounding board and a mike. -
Development of Sand Dancing Style
To Sims, "the steps are not taught: you create them as you go along...it's not the steps, but the sounds" (biography.jrank.org).
His nickname "Sandman" came from his unique style that defined him. Sims woulf dance on a board covered with sand or dance on a stage that was sprinkled with bits of sand. The purpose of the sand was to make "a variety of distinctive brushing, grinding sounds" (biography.jrank.org). -
First Performing Gig
Sims moves to Harlem, New York to live in its African-American Community and becomes a regular performance at the Apollo Theater. -
Success at Apollo Theater
Mid 1950s-1980s-Sims became the Apollo Theater's stage manager. He won 25 amateur contests at that theater. -
A Static Career
1950s-1960s-Sims struggled to maintain a professional status for his tap dancing career. He relied on his other job at the Apollo Theater of teaching dance in addition to running a cafe and working as a mechanic and carpenter. At the time, he was unknowingly instructing Gregory Hines and Ben Vereen, who would later become stars all their own. A jack of all trades, he remained invested in boxing while teaching Sugar Ray Robinson and Muhammad Ali who would later become famous as well. -
An Evolving Career
Sims performed in the opening of "Tap Happening," an off-broadway production that included a "street corner-style dance contest" (biography.jrank.org). -
Appearance in a Documentary
Sims appearance in George T. Nierenberg's "No Map on My Taps" was considered to be one of the most significant. -
A Legend of Tap Dance Revival
1980s- He traveled the world as a representative of the U.S. State Department as a sort of ambassador of the art form of tap dance. -
Appearance on a TV Show
Sims appeared in "Uptown: A Tribute to the Apollo Theatre." -
Appearance on a TV Show
Sims appeared on "It's Showtime at the Apollo." -
Appearance in Film
In Francis Coppola's "The Cotton Club," Sims made an appearance as a hoofer, a professional dancer. -
Recognition by an Award
Sims received a National Heritage Fellowship in combination with a $5,000 prize from the Folk Arts Program of the National Endowment for the Arts. -
Leaving a Legacy
Sims used his $5,000 prize from the Folk Arts Program of the National Endowment for the Arts to convert part of a Harlem parking lot into a children's outdoor dancing school. This act stemmed from his belief that it was a responsibility of his to pass on both the knowledge that he had of tap dancing as well as his love for it to others. Clearly, he had hopes of investing these things into the youth of the time and those of the future. -
Appearance on a TV Show
Sims appears on "Motown Returns to the Apollo." -
Appearance in a Play
Sims was honored in a verse play composed by Sandra Hochman entitled "The Sand Dancer" that was originally performed in New York. Sims served as a cameo appearance in it and even performs his unique sand dance for the audience. -
Praise
Jack Anderson, a reporter for the "Times," acknowledged Sims as "one of our finest tap dancers" (biography.jrank.org). -
Appearance in a Documentary
Sims' appearance in "Tap Dance in America" is considered to be one of his most significant appearances as well as it was aired on PBS. -
Appearance in Film
Sims' appearance in "Tap" is considered to be his most significant screen role. This film was created to honor tap dancing and starred Gregory Hines, a former student of Sims', Sammy Davis Jr., and Savion Glover. Sim received a special role as the "Sandman," a role based on his own story. The film even included the tap dance "competition" that occured at Apollo Theater. -
Appearance in Film
Sims appeared in "Harlem Nights." -
Appearance on a TV Show
Sims appeared in an episode titled "Mr. Sandman" of "The Cosby Show" as a tap dance teacher. -
Recognition
Sims was an honoree at the Fourth Annual Young People's Tap Conference. -
Death
He died at age 86 in The Bronx, New York. Just before his passing, Sims had been a victim of Alzheimer's disease. Years earlier, at the age of 60, a quote from Sims himself that encompassed the final moments of his life was this: "I'm in show business not for a season, but for a reason...I want to just dance my way away at the end" (biography.jrank.org).
