Joey Hollingsworth

Joey Hollingsworth was born in 1937 in London, Ontario, and was raised by adoptive parents. He learned to tap dance at a very young age and was dancing professionally by the time he was five. In the 1940s, he met and danced with Bill Bojangles Robinson backstage at a performance in London, Ontario. Hollingsworth appeared extensively on television from 1950s-1970s. Credits include Pick the Stars (CBC Television), The Ed Sullivan Show, Wayne and Shuster Show, and Mr. Rogers Neighbourhood. In the 1960s he danced in numerous Civil Rights events in Canada and the U.S. He was also part of recordings by the guitarist Lenny Breau. Hollingsworth has received multiple awards and accolades for his work and contributions, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ontario Black History Society on January 28, 2018. Although there are many newspaper articles and videos clips of Hollingsworth available online about his life in dance and show business, his advocacy for equality and human rights and his role as an outstanding Canadian have not been properly documented. His is a remarkable talent and should be included in Canadian dance history narratives. He is now retired and lives in Hamilton, Ontario.