Tap Legacy Foundation, Inc.

Preserving and Advancing the Art of Tap Dance.

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A Global Circuit of Tap Dance Festivals

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Many of you might have already seen the recently released TED Talk by Tap Legacy™ co-founder Andrew Nemr. In his talk, Andrew points to evidence of the flourishing global tap dance scene today. This included seeing tap dance featured in popular music concerts, major theatrical shows on Broadway, the awarding of a tap dancer with a MacArthur Genius Award, and the global circuit of tap dance festivals. While members of the live studio audience were witness to a slide that included a sampling of the many festivals currently running, the edited video didn’t give the slide much screen time.

We want to be sure that everyone can see how many organizations are currently doing the work of sharing the art of tap dance through practical education, performance, and community engagement. Above, you will see the slide that was included in the original talk, and below is a list, with links to each organization.

We want to thank each organizer who gave us the permission to use their logo in this talk. While this is still only a sampling (yes, there are even more festivals than what is listed below), we can clearly see the reach and breadth of the global tap festival phenomenon.

From Right to Left, top to bottom:

Notable exclusions from the slide (we didn’t receive permission in time to use their logos in the talk) include the Chicago Human Rhythm Project’s Rhythm World, the Los Angeles Tap Festival, the Tokyo International Tap Festival, and the Vancouver International Tap Festival.

As mentioned above, so many festivals are part of the current tap dance scene. Do you know of a festival that used to be produced or is currently running that isn’t listed here? Put the name of the festival in the comments for everyone to see, and be sure to include the organizer(s)!

Bunny Briggs Las Vegas Services

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Bunny Briggs was often soft spoken, that is until you began to talk about tap dancing. How it should be done; who was better; talking about the music. All these topics would fuel the conversation with emotion from the experiences of almost 80 years of dancing alongside some of the most famous musicians of his time. Bunny started dancing as a child, and would go on to become known as “Duke’s Dancer”performing often with the Ellington Orchestra, among his many other musical collaborators.

In light of Bunny’s passing on November 15th, there has been an outpouring of love and support on social media as well as remembrances on various websites, including the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal For those in the Las Vegas area, you are invited to celebrate his life in person at a memorial service this Friday.

Bunny Briggs Memorial Service on Friday December 12th, 2014

Visitation from 11:00 a.m.- 12:00 noon.
Funeral Mass Service from 12:00 noon. -1:30 p.m. approximately

Service to be held at:

Saint Francis of Assisi
Roman Catholic Church
2300 Sunridge Heights Parkway
Henderson, NV 89052
(702) 914-2175

Burial immediately following services:

Palm Eastern Mortuary (Dignity Memorial)
7600 S Eastern Avenue
Las Vegas, Nevada 89123
(702) 464-8500

Celebration/Reception following the burial.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the Bunny Briggs Memorial Fund, c/o Tap Legacy Foundation, 138 W 25th Street, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10001. (Make checks payable to Tap Legacy Foundation – be sure to write Bunny Briggs Memorial Fund in the memo).

It is our honor to establish and coordinate the Bunny Briggs Memorial Fund, on behalf of the family, to help ensure that Bunny is laid to rest and his life celebrated with dignity and in line with his last wishes.

Bunny Briggs has left us, but he has left much for us.

Photo Credit: Karen Zebulon

July 30, 31, Aug 2 – Juba! Masters of Tap and Percussive Dance

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DATE: July 30, 31 and August 2, 2014

LOCATION:
Museum of Contemporary Art
220 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611

WEBSITE: http://www.chicagotap.org/

DESCRIPTION:
Chicago Human Rhythm Project’s 24th annual RHYTHM WORLD festival will culminate with JUBA! Masters of Tap and Percussive Dance. Performances will run July 30, 31 and August 2 at Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art.

The acclaimed Greg Spero Trio collaborates with different headliners each night of the rousing JUBA! performances, showcasing the work of these extraordinary foot drummers and percussive arts masters from both side of the Atlantic. Lineups range from full-length solos, to dazzling duos and trios, to full throttle ensemble work.

Don’t wait! Concerts sell out every year.

Purchase your tickets today!

TAP FESTIVAL PERFORMANCES

July 30: All the World’s a Drum
European and South American artists bring tap back to America, infused with their own cultural and rhythmic perspectives. This international opening night features Guillem Alonso from Barcelona, Daniel Borak from Zurich, Victor Cuno from Paris, and Charles Renato from Brazil, among others.

July 31: . . . a different drummer . . .
Austin’s Jason Janas-representing the pinnacle of American tap’s cutting edge-performs his one-man one-act, Pieces of a Man. Boston native and CHRP resident ensemble BAM! member Derick K. Grant (of Broadway’s Bring in ‘Da Noise, Bring in ‘Da Funk) shares the evening, along with additional guests.

August 2: “1, 2, 3, 25”
The final night of JUBA! caps the 24th annual Rhythm World festival and stars Cartier Williams in his new one-act work Rhythm Refix alongside the Midwest’s most accomplished foot drummers, including Jay Fagan, Sarah Savelli, Jumaane Taylor, and others.

*Programming subject to change.

Do you have a tap related event that you would like posted on the Tap Legacy Community Blog? Use this link to submit your event.

Happy National Tap Dance Day!!!

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This year marks the 25th Anniversary of National Tap Dance Day, a legislation passed by the United States Congress in 1989. We are happy to celebrate this special occasion with two special announcements.

Leading up to Tap Dance Day, Tap Legacy launched a Thunderclap Campaign in an attempt to get #tapdance to trend. We did it! We reached our campaign goal of more than 500 supporters and with them will have sent #tapdance to more than 1.6 million connections. This is the first social media celebration to celebrate Tap Dance Day and we’re so thankful for everyone who joined to make it a great success!

Today we are also very pleased to launch a site dedicated to Tap Dance Day, now a global phenomenon. The site includes the full text of the original legislation that established National Tap Dance Day as law, as well as a recounting of how the legislation came to be.

We’re always glad to have a reason to celebrate this art form that we all love. Happy 25th National #TapDance Day!!!

May 23-25, 2014 – Tap For Joy!

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PHOTO CREDIT: Wayne Rutledge PICTURED 1st row: L to R Karen Ludwig, Pat Prentice, Diane Kirkwood, Tim Hickey, Teanna Kordel; 2nd row: Libbie Green, John Bell, Jill Chambray, Jeff Page, Shelly Long.

DATE: May 23–25, 2014

LOCATION:
The Fred Meitzer Theater/Redmond Municipal Campus
8703 160th AVE NE
REDMOND, WA 98052
KING COUNTY/USA

WEBSITE: http://www.redmond.gov/tap

DESCRIPTION:
Join Emcee Tim Hickey and Tim Hickey Productions for Tap forJoy!
National Tap Dance Day Celebration
Master classes (Beg/Int – Adv) and performances by Dianne Walker, Terry Brock, Rusty Frank also performing Anthony Peters, Jessie Sawyers, Jerry Tassin, Funmi and Eri Sofola, Eric Verlinde Quartet with Alex Dugdale on sax and taps. A special treat to kick the weekend off will be TapChat! with the masters. Join this panel discussion Friday May 23 at 7pm (no charge for participants taking classes)  Q&A.

Do you have a tap related event that you would like posted on the Tap Legacy Community Blog? Use this link to submit your event.

May 25, 2014 – NATIONAL TAP DANCE DAY IN BARCELONA

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DATE: May 25, 2014 – 11:00AM

LOCATION:
Pegaso Park
Sagrera Street number 179
Barcelona 8009
Spain

WEBSITE: http://www.tapbcn.com

DESCRIPTION:

2 EVENTS!!!!

TAP DANCE ON STREET – 11:00AM
Activity to celebrate the National Tap Dance Day  which has become the yearly performance opportunity for all tap students in local dance schools.
At 11:00h, on stage, students from different schools will share with the audience their achievements throughout the year 2013-2014.
At the same place, special stands and points related to all tap dance activities will provide information of local and international tap schools, festivals, performances, magazines, books & more.
Location: Pegaso Park, Sagrera Street number 179, Barcelona 8009

TAP JAM – 6:00PM
Location: NAU IVANOW (c/Hondures nº 28/30 -Metro Sagrera, L5 i L1- Barcelona)

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Do you have a tap related event that you would like posted on the Tap Legacy Community Blog? Use this link to submit your event.