Reginald McLaughlin, better known as "Reggio The Hoofer," began his career dancing the subways of Chicago, where he developed his unique and extraordinary style of fancy free street hoofing, a distinctive raw form of Rhythmic African American Tap. Now he is a Chicago tap icon.

Through Urban Gateways, Reggio's talent was introduced to the school system. He performed in hundreds of schools demonstrating the origin and history of this art form which became an American Folk Dance.

Recognized by Chicago's First Lady, Maggie Daley, as a positive role model for his participation in Gallery 37-- an after school program run by Mrs. Daley to educate high school students in the arts-- Reggio became the first tap dancer to be included in this program.

Reggio is currently the principle teacher of tap dancing at the Old Town School of Folk Music where he started the children's tap classes which are now fully established into their regular children's program. He was also part of the teaching staff of Dancing in the Parks (sponsored by the Chicago Park District etc.) which received a proclamation by Mayor Richard Daley on Nov. 23, 1996.

Being profiled on educational television programs such as "Inside Kentucky Schools," "Art Beat Chicago," and numerous new highlights, he is currently appearing in a new tap documentary called "JUBA."

Some of his performance experiences include space such as colleges, libraries, museums, senior citizen facilities, hospitals, and major dance festivals. As a principle tap dancer, he was seen in two Duke Ellington Musicals: "Jump for Joy" and "Beggars Holiday." In the theatre version of the "Sammy Davis Jr. Story," he played the role of Sammy Davis' father and choreographed the tap numbers. At the Marcus Center of the Performing Arts in Milwaukee, he was the featured tap dancer and choreographer of a Black History month's production called "We are the Drum." For the 150th anniversary for the Chicago Tribune, Reggio was brought in as a specialty act with the Chicago Jazz Ensemble.

Because of Reggio's charisma and expertise, he was invited to foreign countries such as Japan, Spain, France, Canada, etc., where he taught workshops and performed, contributing to the raising of Tap Dancing in the world to a status of recognition and admiration.