NYT's Tribute to Earl "Snake Hips" Tucker

The New York Times has a series called “Overlooked” that examines the lives of incredible people who’s passing went unnoticed at the time. On December 18, they focus on an iconic vintage jazz dancer — Earl “Snake Hips” Tucker.”

Lots of interesting details about Tucker’s life, and lots we still don’t know about. Certainly one of the most famous of the “eccentric” dancers of that era, whose influence still lives on today. His dancing still looks more like a special effect than something an actual human could do.

Check out how Brian Siebert describes his dancing:

About 30 seconds in, Tucker rolls his hips to one side. He rolls them so far that his torso tilts in counterbalance, his ankles sickle over, and his whole body bends into an S-curve of improbable depth. He reverses the shape — first churning slowly, then at twice and four times the speed, the smaller, quicker undulations making him slither sideways on one foot. His trailing leg embroiders the glide with lariat-like curlicues, but what draws a viewer’s eye, hypnotically, is the motor: the spiraling, snaking motion of those hips.

Here’s Snake Hips in action!

I wish there was more footage of his dancing available! Anyone know of more clips of Snake Hips?