Jackie's true story of working in the coal mines for 13 years while clog dancing every chance he could, is truly magical. 'Billy Elliott' pales in comparison. It is the ultimate feel-good story and will inspire a whole new generation of struggling artists who might have never dreamt that they could escape their small towns and have their dreams come true. Rick McKay, Producer/Director: Broadway: The Golden AgeA"; My father danced on a table, a chair, a piano, a bar top and on the ceiling but he never danced on a barrel. How I wish he could have seen Jackie Toaduff do so and on a moving ship! Daddy would have loved it.A story of hope and determination, it is also heart warming and highly entertaining and I'm sure you will enjoy this voyage with Jackie Toaduff as much as I have. Ava Astaire McKenzie; During my years at MGM I was privileged to know many of the great singers and dancers of the day from Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly to Mario Lanza and Jimmy Durante. When I first saw Jackie perform I felt that he would have been right at home with these other great entertainers. Jackie's fabulous collection of stories and reminiscences of his life and career, from coal miner to headliner, enchants and fascinates. Margaret O'Brien, Academy Award-winning Actress
Jackie Toaduff is the son of a coal miner born in County Durham in the 1930's. He worked down the pit for over twelve years whilst at the same time making a name for himself as a tap and clog dancer. He became British Clog-Dancing Champion, making 17 solo appearances at the Royal Albert Hall, his dancing admired by the Prima Ballerina, Margot Fonteyn. He danced with the likes of Hollywood star, Ginger Rogers and Princess Margaret (and then back to work down the pit the next day). He and his partner, Roy, enjoyed considerable success onstage and were asked by the War Office to headline several shows abroad for the Combined Services as well as headlining shows in theatres, cabaret and on the QE2. Jackie has been credited with making clog dancing a spectacle and taking it worldwide. Jackie demonstrated clog dancing routines at the Royal Ballet Schools (Senior & Junior) and one outcome of these visits was a French ballet, "La Fille Mal Gardee", incorporating some of the elements of the North country garland and the clog dance steps. More recently, and several generations later, the North-East style of clog-dancing, which Jackie introduced to the Royal Ballet, has manifest itself, with all Jackie's rhythmical skill and vitality too, in the movie 'Billy Elliott'.
Jackie's true story of working in the coal mines for 13 years while clog dancing every chance he could, is truly magical. 'Billy Elliott' pales in comparison. It is the ultimate feel-good story and will inspire a whole new generation of struggling artists who might have never dreamt that they could escape their small towns and have their dreams come true. Rick McKay, Producer/Director: Broadway: The Golden AgeA"; My father danced on a table, a chair, a piano, a bar top and on the ceiling but he never danced on a barrel. How I wish he could have seen Jackie Toaduff do so and on a moving ship! Daddy would have loved it.A story of hope and determination, it is also heart warming and highly entertaining and I'm sure you will enjoy this voyage with Jackie Toaduff as much as I have. Ava Astaire McKenzie; During my years at MGM I was privileged to know many of the great singers and dancers of the day from Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly to Mario Lanza and Jimmy Durante. When I first saw Jackie perform I felt that he would have been right at home with these other great entertainers. Jackie's fabulous collection of stories and reminiscences of his life and career, from coal miner to headliner, enchants and fascinates. Margaret O'Brien, Academy Award-winning Actress
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