As a choreographer, he choreographed
many revues and was the dance director
for the legendary Mike Todd in his
“Theater Cafe” and his
Broadway production of “Gay
New Orleans” starring Gypsy
Rose Lee. One of his greatest performing
thrills was working with Bill “Bojangles”
Robinson in the Broadway Hit “The
Hot Mikado”.
At this point Tommy’s
reputation soon began to grow and
he found himself very much in demand
for his unique teaching skills. He
then opened a studio at 218 So. Wabash
in downtown Chicago which was an immediate
success. It was at this point that
Tommy realized that his own children
and the children of his community
were being neglected as to their dance
training and dance education. With
this goal in mind, in 1957 he established
Mayfair Academy of Fine Arts, Inc.
on Chicago’s South side which
was the beginning of a new era in
the career of Tommy Sutton and the
development of one of the finest schools
in the City dedicated to the best
dance training possible for the children
of his community. It is one of the
largest private schools of its type
which still flourishes today under
the direction of his daughter, Peggy
Sutton. Over the years Tommy has
taught thousands of students and Mayfair
Academy still flourishes today as
his legacy, his teaching methods and
techniques are still influencing thousands
of students across the country and
abroad.
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It was through Mayfair Academy that
he had the opportunity to choreograph
numerous Cotillion Balls for the Chicago
Links and many other civic organizations
which gained him the reputation of
“Chicago’s Cotillion Master”
and led to the production of his own
Mayfair Cotillions. Tommy Sutton has
received numerous awards and recognition
throughout the years and has served
with many dance organizations, such
as Chicago National Association of
Dance Master, National Association
of Dance Artist (NADAA), Dance Educators,
Dance Masters and “Take Five”.
In 1979 Tommy “retired”
and moved to Atlanta, Georgia where
he was on faculty at Spelman College,
Atlanta University Dance Theater and
taught various Teachers workshops
all over the country and abroad. While
in Atlanta he wrote and published
“Tap along with Tommy”
a technical manual for the tap dance
teacher, in addition he also produced
a videotape, album and cassette tape.
To all those that knew Tommy or even
just crossed his path briefly, he
was known for his charm, personality
and charisma. He has inspired and
influenced so many throughout the
years with his persistence in bringing
out the best in everyone. In his later
years he became a much sought after
Master teacher and lecturer on the
subject of Tap Dance and he taught
master workshops all over the United
States as well as Jamaica and Europe.
Tommy Sutton was one of the last of
the “Red Hot Hoofers”
of our time!
Mr. Tommy Sutton,
76, founder of Mayfair Academy passed
away in his Atlanta home on Saturday,
January 7, 1995. Tommy Sutton’s
teaching career spanned over 50 years,
gaining him an international reputation
as a leading authority on the art
of “Tap Dancing”. |
