Frank Hatchett III

SPRINGFIELD - Frank Hatchett III, affectionately known throughout the world as “Papa Frank”, of Chicopee, MA was born on December 7, 1935 in Danville, VA. He was the son of late parents, Frank Hatchett and Mary (Brandon) Hatchett. He transitioned from this life on Monday, December 23, 2013. Frank was raised by his beloved grandparents, James Brandon and Mamie (Kirby) Brandon. He was the brother of Viola Mae (Sisso) Hatchett Lucas and James Weldon (Brother) Hatchett. He leaves a wealth of family and friends who will forever miss him dearly. Frank grew up in East Hartford, CT and Springfield, MA. Mr. Hatchett was always artistically inclined and on a dare from his friends, decided to pursue dance in high school. He started dance and choreography at East Hartford High School, becoming their first male cheerleader. Mr. Hatchett studied dance under the guidance of such teachers as Marge Fielding-Hayles (a former Ziegfeld Follies dancer), June Taylor, Alvin Ailey, Henry LeTang, and most of all, Syvilla Fort of The Katherine Dunham School of Dance in New York.In the 60s and 70s, Frank began a 10-year professional career which included appearances in major nightclubs in New York, Las Vegas, and Miami as well as television appearances with Sammy Davis Jr., Eartha Kitt, Harry Belafonte, and Jackie Gleason. After many years as a performer in theater, movies, music videos, television and concerts, Mr. Hatchett was still very much in demand as a Master Teacher / Choreographer for most all major dance organizations and dance studios around the country.Frank moved back to Springfield and realized that in his community, there was a lack of dance schools to develop the potential that he saw in neighborhood youth. In 1967, he established The Hatchett School of Dance on Eastern Avenue with over one hundred children attending. With the help of Robert Jennings and Peggy Clinton, Frank moved his dance school to The Dunbar Community Center. Many of his first students were on “scholarships” and didn’t pay for classes. It was here where Frank’s VOP® technique began. From the beginning, Frank’s first students considered him more than a dance teacher. Anyone who visited the Dunbar could see youth taking dance lessons in ballet, tap, modern, African, modeling, charm and even percussion. You would see others practicing routines, helping with costumes or even doing homework. Frank always checked his student’s report cards to make sure that they were keeping up with their school work; he was known for suspending a student from classes for not keeping up with their classwork. Over the years Frank’s enrollment rose from 100 to over 500 students per dance year. Aside from his dance school in Springfield, in the late 60’s and early 70’s, Frank also had a dance school in Hartford, CT. Mr. Hatchett choreographed many events throughout Western Mass, including: The Black Arts Festival, The Harambee Festival, Our Crowd’s Annual Cotillion, The Sophisticates Annual Cotillion and The Tech Tantrums Variety Show (which featured students from Technical High School). Frank and his students performed at local colleges and high schools, various country clubs, and shopping malls throughout Western Mass and the surrounding area. The Hatchett Dancers also had the opportunity to perform in New York City, Hartford, for various events presented by The City of Springfield, and for students and officers of The United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. Under his guidance, Mr. Hatchett’s students participated in Dance Olympics, Dance Olympus, Hal Jackson’s Talented Teens International Scholarship Program, Star Search and numerous Broadway plays and musicals.Since the dance schools inception, Mr. Hatchett always presented an Annual Recital at the end of every dance school year. Perhaps his most memorable recital was in 1979 when he presented “The Wiz is a Wow.” Although it was adapted from the Broadway musical, “The Wiz is a Wow” was a rambunctious reflection of Frank’s sense of obligation to his childhood community and his love of dance. This dance recital featured a full live orchestra with musicians from New York City, professional lighting design, and his students performing songs and acting – some for the very first time. Anyone who has ever seen a Hatchett School of the Performing Arts show in Springfield knows how much of Frank’s professional experience had been passed on to his students. After presenting “The Wiz is a Wow”, Frank went on to present other dance recitals with a Broadway theme: “Brown Sugar on Broadway” and “From Broadway to Hollywood.”Frank’s final dance recital held in Springfield, took place in 1984, when he closed The Frank Hatchett Center for the Performing Arts to focus his attention full time to the Hines-Hatchett Studio in New York City, which he co-owned with Maurice Hines (The Hines-Hatchett Studio would later be re-named Broadway Dance Center).No one taught jazz dance quite like Frank Hatchett. His mixed-influence technique, branded as VOP®, was successful because it was built off of Frank’s character – vibrant, earnest and genuine. That, combined with his dedication to performance quality, allowed him to pull the best from his students. VOP® is not an acronym, but a sound that Frank used to pull energy from his students bodies. “VOP® was something that came out of me, like five, six, seven, eight, VOP®! It’s something that’s left in the room after the applause dies down, when the audience is still patting their feet or shaking their heads.” – (Frank Hatchett)Entertainers, students and dance teachers from all over the world have studied under Frank Hatchett at Broadway Dance Studio in New York City. In addition, he was a featured Master Teacher at such events as “The Annual Jazz Dance World Congress.” Aside from teaching, Mr. Hatchett has choreographed for all aspects of the entertainment industry. ABC’s “Good Morning America” dubbed him “The Doctor of Jazz” and CNBC’s television documentary, “Real Stories” featured a series on Frank, which later won an Emmy Award. Mr. Hatchett has also been featured on MTV’s “The Real World”, and VH1’s “Driven”. In 2000, Frank Hatchett and former student Nancy Myers-Gitlin co-authored the popular book entitled “Frank Hatchett’s Jazz Dance”. In 2002, Mr. Hatchett was honored as one of the recipients of the Fred Astaire awards. Mr. Hatchett was twice honored by receiving The Key to The City of Springfield. Most recently, Mr. Hatchett received The 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award from Dance Teacher Magazine. Dancer, Choreographer, Teacher, Mentor, Author, Humanitarian, Father-Figure, Friend, Cousin, Nephew, Uncle, Brother and Son ~ Frank Hatchett wore many hats and had an enormous heart and passion for dance. Mr. Hatchett’s tireless efforts have earned him worldwide recognition, and students who have benefited from the heart and soul of a phenomenal choreographer. Mr. Hatchett was the tree trunk for many of his students, his fathering, mentoring and life coaching has branched over many generations. Mr. Hatchett earned his worldwide following through hard-work, dedication, perseverance, and the commitment that he made in 1967, which was to develop and nurture the potential that he saw in students throughout the world, in the art of dance.A memorial service will be held on January 3, 2014 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Progressive Community Baptist Church. New England Funeral & Cremation Center, LLC, 25 Mill Street, Springfield, MA has been entrusted with the arrangements. Visit www.nefcc.net

Frank Hatchett III

December 7, 1935 - December 23, 2013