Did you know a tap dancing icon is from right here in Greenville County?
Tuesday, May 13 was National Tap Dance Day, and I was excited to celebrate with a group “Shim Sham” dance + performances from local tap dancers at the SC Children’s Theatre (after plans for an event at Camperdown were rained out).
While there, I learned Clayton “Peg Leg” Bates is from right here in Greenville. I love learning new (to me) pieces of local history. He was born in Fountain Inn in 1907 and danced on the streets before losing a leg in a cotton gin accident. He then taught himself to tap dance on a wooden leg and had an iconic career, including performing on “The Ed Sullivan Show” at least 22 times + before King and Queen of the United Kingdom in 1936 and 1938.
Two statues honor his legacy: One on East Washington in Downtown Greenville and one in front of Fountain Inn City Hall.
