My Mom is a typical white-haired older patron of the theater here in Los Angeles. One evening just a few years ago at the Music Center or one of the other venues she attends, she and another older friend were sitting at intermission, having a snack. Gregory Hines walked over and sat down with these two very delighted and ordinary women and chatted about theater, dance and such. It wasn't a fundraising event, just a normal performance of something (that he was watching, not dancing) and he made their evening. He thanked them for supporting live theater. It was an amazingly warm and open thing to do,and reflects what a grounded person he must have been.

and IElonka wrote:
] ] LOS ANGELES - Gregory Hines, the greatest tap dancer of
] ] his generation who also transcended the stage with
] ] successful film and television roles, has died at 57.
]
] I thought that "White Nights" was an incredible movie, both
] for the cutting-edge dancing and the political commentary.
] The movie was a classic, and Hines was a brilliantly gifted
] dancer who could not only execute extremely difficult
] sequences, but also pushed himself even further, pushing his
] own limits, and, as a result, the boundaries of the entire
] artform. He was an inspiring craftsman, and will not be
] forgotten.