David began his career in the field of dance at age four and earned a teaching position in Pittston, PA at the age of 11. Five years later, David organized his own band, The David Blight Orchestra, where he served as the drummer and performed two nights a week on the radio.
After graduation, David performed on "Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour," National Talent Show, where he won and later performed in about 10 shows along the East Coast. David would have so enjoyed American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance. Time repeats itself!
David briefly performed in Philadelphia before moving to New York, where he was booked at the Village Barn, in Greenwich Village. He performed as a comedy/dance entertainer for eight months, the longest Village Barn ever held one performer, and also entertained in a series of nationally televised shows for Village Barn.
After he was spotted by an agent, David auditioned for movies for 20th Century Fox and Universal International and later starred in a children's fantasy movie, where he played the villainous Mr. Fig, a devil type character that always danced the jig.
David appeared on a few network programs, including the Robert Q. Lewis show, "The Show Goes On," where he danced to the 30 piece orchestra that performed on the Ed Sullivan and Jackie Gleason Shows. David also performed on the Lawrence Welk Show and in the Roosevelt Hotel's "Blue Room" in New Orleans.
In 1951, David was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War, where he served as a high speed radio operator in the Signal Corps for two years and suffered a back injury. His injury resulted in chronic back problems, which ended his performing career but was only the beginning of his teaching career.
David went on to choreograph numerous original tap, jazz and ballet routines. His many tap combinations and routines earned him the title of the "Father of Tap" in NE Pa. He was awarded a number of choreography and entertainment awards from Nationally Recognized Competitions.
David also began "The David Blight Show", a variety TV Show which aired weekly in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area from 1955 to 1968, a record number of years for a locally broadcast show!
David and his wife, the former Mary Alice Reddington founded and organized a bi-annual dance competition, The Talent Olympics, which began in 1979 and still continues with the heirs of The Blight Family. It is one of the oldest competitions in the area and attracts performers from the Mid-Atlantic and some New England states.
David will be remembered fondly by his students, friends, and family for his charm and sense of humor, but more importantly as an inspiration, a role model, and a legacy. Upon his encouragement, many of his former students have gone on to pursue dancing careers and open their own studios, which will help to carry on the legacy of a tap dancing legend!