I was saddened to hear the news of the passing of Dorothy Toy (1917-2019), one of the most famous Asian-American dancers during the 1930s and 1940s. Often billed as the “Asian Ginger Rogers,” Dorothy combined show stopping ballet, jazz, and tap.

Dorothy’s long time dance partner was Paul Wing, together billed as the duo Toy & Wing. Paul was a tap dancer, and their styles complemented each other well. They got their start as a vaudeville act performing in Chinese restaurants and nightclubs as part of all-Asian reviews for white audiences. At the time, it was known as the “Chop Suey Circuit.”