William Henry Lane

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Try and keep up with William Henry Lane’s footwork

William Henry Lane (1825-52), stage name Master Juba, began his career as a performer in the saloons and dance halls of Manhattan.

Lane had a range of talents including playing banjo and tambourine. However, he is best known for his dancing, credited as the father of modern tap dancing.

At a time when ethnic minorities were not permitted to perform, Lane got the top billing at an otherwise all-white minstrel company. In 1848, he performed at the Pleasure Gardens to great acclaim, before performing for Queen Victoria at Buckingham Palace. Lane’s talent was recognised by many, including Charles Dickens who described him as “the greatest dancer known”. Whilst Lane performed many times in London and toured the country, it was his debut at Vauxhall that brought him fame.

Try and keep up with William Henry Lane’s footwork, as an animated AR version of the famous tap dancer performs before you!

How to use the filter

Find the QR code located in Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens using the map below
Scan the QR code using the camera function on your smartphone
Ensure your volume is turned up to hear atmospheric sounds, music, and stories
Click ‘Open Instagram Filter’ to launch the AR experience on Instagram
Tag @beinvauxhall if you share your photos on Instagram

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