Service to honor dance man LeTang

Choreography giant Henry LeTang, a Tony Award winner whose pupils included Gregory and Maurice Hines, Billie Holiday, Ben Vereen, Lena Horne, Chita Rivera and Lola Falana, will be memorialized today in North Las Vegas.

LeTang died Thursday at age 91 at Desert Springs Hospital. Services will be at 1 p.m. today at the Holy Trinity AME Church, 700 Lola Ave. in North Las Vegas.

The legendary hoofer choreographed "The Cotton Club" for Francis Ford Coppola; the movie "Tap," co-starring Sammy Davis Jr. and Gregory Hines; and Broadway shows "Black and Blue," "Eubie!" and "Sophisticated Ladies."

A native of New York, LeTang took his first dancing lesson at age 7 and was so accomplished by 17 that he opened his own dance studio. His students included Betty Hutton, Debbie Allen of the TV show "Fame," Joey Heatherton, Bette Midler, Harry Belafonte, Milton Berle and Lee Marvin.

A beloved figure in the entertainment world, LeTang operated dance studios in Las Vegas for top professionals and local entertainers.

When LeTang was in the hospital last year with a cold, one of his biggest admirers showed up unannounced to wish him well. "Ben Vereen visited him and performed a tap dance for him. The nurses went gaga," said Arlene LeTang, his daughter-in-law.

Vereen, a Broadway icon, indicated to the LeTang family that he will be attending the services today.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:

Tap Legacy Foundation Inc.

Attn: Henry LeTang Fund

292 Fifth Avenue

Fourth Floor

New York, NY 10001

NEXT CHAPTER

We said farewell to another talented colleague over the weekend, with the traditional send-off at The Tap House, 5589 W. Charleston Blvd.

Glenn Puit, after 11 years of reporting for the Review-Journal, has taken a job with the Michigan Land Use Institute. He'll be supervising a one-man office on the shoreline of Lake Michigan, with responsibilities that include preservation of the Great Lakes and rural farmlands.

The move allows him to pursue his passion: "I'm trying to become the best true-crime author in America."

He caught the bug while writing "Witch: The True Story of Las Vegas' Most Notorious Female Killer" and "Fire in the Desert: The True Story of the Craig Titus-Kelly Ryan Murder Mystery."

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Auditions for "Beacher's Madhouse" kick off from 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday in The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel. Producer Jeff Beacher is looking for go-go dancers, variety acts, little people, stilt walkers, karaoke singers, air guitar contestants and a 1980s house band. The "Madhouse" returns May 26 at The Joint, followed by the grand opening show on June 30.

SIGHTINGS

Larry Graham, original bass player for Sly and the Family Stone, pulled on stage during Prince's final show at the Rio for an impromptu medley of Sly and the Family Stone songs. At the after-party, which raged until 5:30 a.m. in the former 3121 Jazz Cuisine space, former Prince percussionist Sheila E. joined a primo front table that included Greg Grunberg and Jack Coleman of NBC's hit show "Heroes," attorney Dayvid Figler and local reporter Emily Richmond. Prince thanked his fans, his band and support team throughout the night. ... Tennis star Andy Roddick, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, rapper Nas and his wife, Kelis, dining Saturday at Tao Bistro (The Venetian). ... Jack Osbourne, son of rock legend Ozzy Osbourne, back at Pure nightclub (Caesars Palace) on Saturday for the second night in a row. Also at Pure, Justin Guarini, the runner-up on season one of "American Idol," Tracy Bingham, Coleman and Grunberg. Actress Michelle Pfeiffer and husband David Kelley, in the VIP section at Ivan Kane's Forty Deuce (Mandalay Bay) on Saturday. ... Nicole Richie, lounging poolside Saturday at Venus Pool Club at Caesars Palace. ... At the Stirling Club (Turnberry) on Saturday, singing with Kelly Clinton: Eddie Levert of The O'Jays, Frankie Scinta, Clint Holmes and Bill Fayne. ... Bucky Covington, an "American Idol" finalist last year, jamming with Boulder Station's house band Yellow Brick Road on Friday night.

THE PUNCH LINE

"Astronomers now say they have discovered the existence of an 'earthlike' planet, with an atmosphere that could sustain life, nearly 120 trillion miles away from us out in deep space. Here's the amazing part: It already has three Starbucks." -- Jay Leno

Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.