When you watch the old Motown groups do their famous dance routines .. you can thank Cholly Atkins for teaching them their moves .. as Michigan Music History remembers Cholly Atkins, who passed away 20 years ago today. Born Charles Atkinson in September of 1913 in Pratt City, Alabama.. “The Man with the Moves” would get his start in Vaudeville in the 30s, and with his partner Honi Coles, became one of the top dance teams at the Apollo Theater. Appearing in the Broadway production of “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” from 1949-1952 .. he would pass along his dancing techniques, known as “vocal choreography’ to acts like the Moonglows, the Cadillacs, Little Anthony & the Imperials and others. When the Miracles were just getting started, Bobby Rogers of the group was their choreographer, and even taught other Motown acts a few moves, until Cholly Atkins began to work with the Miracles as a freelance choreographer. Officially hired by Berry Gordy in 1964, he would teach the Temptations, 4 Tops, Supremes .. all the acts, their famous routines. In the 70s, Atkins would work with acts like the O’Jays, Sylvers and others. Cholly Atkins developed the ‘partner’ dance, which he called the Graystone .. named after the famed Graystone Ballroom. Moving to Vegas, he would continue to teach dance until 2003 .. when he died of pancreatic cancer on April 19th, 2003, just 5 months shy of his 90th birthday. Remembering Motown choreographer Cholly Atkins …
