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Birth
Born In Richmond Virginia -
Period: to
Age 1-5
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Inspiration
Bill Robinson began dancing for small change at bars and local dives -
Discovery
A local show host noticed how well Bill could dance and offered him a spot as a pickaninny in a local show -
Escape
In 1890 Bojangles ran away from his hoe in Virginia to Washington DC where he began to work odd ball jobs looking for work. -
Hired
In 1891 he was hired by a performance company and travelled around doing different shows. -
Army
In 1898 Robinson returned home to Richmond Virginia and joined the United States Army -
Buck and Wing
In 1900 Bojangles entered a buck and wing dancing contest winning a gold medal and defeating then famous dancer Harry Swinton -
Vaudeville
In 1905 robinson worked with George W. Copper as a side by side vaudeville team -
Full time
By 1912 Robinson had been signed as a partner to a world renowned vaudeville team and began to make an estimated 3500 a week.