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Screening of documentary short "Dancing Tony: A Hand Dance Legend"
The National Hand Dance Association presents: A Celebration of Dancin' Tony: A Hand Dance Legend
Sunday, August 2, 2026
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library
Auditorium, 5th Floor
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
(Doors to the MLK Library open @ 1:00 p.m.)
Join us for a special program celebrating the life and legacy of Gene Autry, known throughout Washington, DC's hand dance community as "Dancin' Tony." Now 89 years old, Tony has been a beloved figure in the region since the 1950s, recognized for his distinctive style and enduring contributions to Washington's hand dance tradition.
Over the decades, Dancin' Tony became a familiar presence at many of the city's historic dance venues, including Turner's Arena, Uline Arena, The Chateau, Circles, and the Solar Eclipse. Through the sponsorship of the National Hand Dance Association, a collection of videos, photographs, newspaper articles, interviews, honors, and awards documenting his life and legacy will be donated to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library's People's Archive.
The program will feature a screening of the 15-minute documentary short, Dancing Tony: A Hand Dance Legend, followed by a panel discussion with guest speakers who will share stories about his life, his passion for hand dancing, and the lasting impact of Washington's hand dance community. The afternoon will also include poetry and a special tribute by Randi Payton.
The event will also welcome the Dancin' Tony Archival Collection, a donation of materials and documents from the family of Dancin' Tony to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library's People's Archive.
Project Directors:
Beverly Lindsay-Johnson and Maxine Grant
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Registration requested through Eventbrite.
AGE GROUP: | Seniors | Adults |
EVENT TYPE: | Special Collections | Musical Performance | Film |