Howard Sims

Who was Howard Sims?

Howard Sims, also known as "Sandman", was a tap dancer in vaudeville. He acquired his name from the sand he sprinkled on the floor to amplify the sound of his steps when he danced. In his senior years, Sims appeared at the famous Apollo Theater, comedically ushering failed acts offstage with a shepherd's crook, or "hook". He appeared in a 1990 episode of The Cosby Show as Rudy's tap dancing teacher, facing off against Cliff in a good natured tap challenge. Sandman was featured in the 1989 dance film Tap, along with Sammy Davis Jr, Gregory Hines and Savion Glover.

Sims was skilled in a style of dancing that he performed in a sand box. His mini-stage was a 3 sq ft-wide square made of 2×4s with a galvanized tin floor, which he had rigged to a microphone. Sims used to travel the United States challenging all tap dancers he came across to dance-offs.