Tap Legacy Foundation, Inc.

Preserving and Advancing the Art of Tap Dance.

Tap Festivals

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)!

[Daily Post] Arthur Duncan

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Dr. Arthur Duncan, A Tap Master and National treasure.Tap dancing to Blue Skies on the Lawrence Welk Show.

As a young man he left college to pursue a career in show business as a tap dancer and singer, he toured with the Jimmy Rodgers Show.

He was discovered by Sam Lutz, Lawrence Welk’s personal manager, invited to appear as a guest on the show, Lawrence Welk made him part of his Musical Family.

Arthur was the first African American performer on the popular Lawrence Welk Show, he danced and sang on the show from 1964 to the show’s finale in 1982.

You can still find Dr. Duncan teaching at Tap Festivals around the country and the world.

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.

June 26-29 – TAP Fest ’14

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DATE: June 26 – June 29, 2014

LOCATION:
TAP – Teach All People at Accent School of Dance
4836 Broadway
Allentown, PA 18104
United States

WEBSITE: http://www.teachallpeople.com

DESCRIPTION:
“Sponsored by TAP – Teach All People, Mark & Nicole Hockenberry, Co-Directors. TAP Fest ’14 faculty includes Dianne “”Lady Di”” Walker (Boston), Martin Tre’ Dumas (Chicago), Jimmy Tate (NY), Lisa Hopkins (LA) & Nicole Hockenberry (PA). Sure to be an annual event… come & join us for our first Tap Fest ’14 in PA!

Featuring Master Classes, Tap Courses & a Saturday Night FEVER Tap Jam… including a meet & greet with faculty & a surprise event by faculty member, Jimmy Tate! For all ages & levels; a true “”tap family”” atmosphere! Easy transportation to & from NYC! LVI Airport within 15 minutes from the TAP Fest ’14 site! Host hotel available!

Online registration is now available!

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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.

August 14-17, 2014 – Jersey Tap Fest

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DATE: August 14 – 17, 2014

LOCATION:
Bloomfield, New Jersey
USA

WEBSITE: http://www.JerseyTapFest.com

DESCRIPTION:
Founded in 2010, Jersey Tap Fest is New Jersey’s sole dance festival featuring world-class tap faculty and extravaganza.
We celebrate the masters of the past and bring light to the current and upcoming masters of today, giving them the opportunity to educate the current and next generation dancers as the future face of the tap dance community. Through master classes and performance opportunities, this stimulating, demanding and rigorous annual program allows for tap dancers all over the world to improve their technical abilities, hone their performance skills, network within the community and increase their overall knowledge of the art form. We are focused on serving tap dance by uniting the tap community, teaching its history, preserving is percussive and improvisational style, expanding the respect for the art and promoting the dance as a cherished American art form.

2014 Faculty: Jason Samuels Smith, Dormesiha Sumbry-Edwards, Jason Janas, Deborah Mitchell, Hillary-Marie, Karen Callaway Williams, Evan Ruggiero, Maurice Chestnut, Sean Fielder, Kyle Wilder, Nicholas Young, Jeff Foote, Andrew Atkinson (Music Theory), Josie Say (Lindy Hop) and Hank Smith (History).

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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.

[Daily Post] Dr. Arthur Duncan

By

Dr. Arthur Duncan, A Tap Master and National treasure.Tap dancing to Blue Skies on the Lawrence Welk Show.

As a young man he left college to pursue a career in show business as a tap dancer and singer, he toured with the Jimmy Rodgers Show.

He was discovered by Sam Lutz, Lawrence Welk’s personal manager, invited to appear as a guest on the show, Lawrence Welk made him part of his Musical Family.

Arthur was the first African American performer on the popular Lawrence Welk Show, he danced and sang on the show from 1964 to the show’s finale in 1982.

You can still find Dr. Duncan teaching at Tap Festivals around the country and the world.