Wow! It’s been awhile, and my sincerest apologies on that front. My senior year of college seemed to have crept up on me a bit faster than I had expected… but I’m back in the game and ready to talk tap!
Stay tuned…the goal is two to three posts a week…some of which may feature my own students as I return to teach for a dance school from which I was given my love of dance.
CSD Teacher Performance- Summer 2009
In reading an article by examiner.com about the stance of tap dancing in So You Think You Can Dance, a few questions were raised in my brain:
1. If they allow the quickstep in partnering choices (as far as styles chosen), then why can’t they do a tap routine?
2. Since the three tappers were voted off so quickly, what’s to keep the tappers that have been trained in all other dance genres frome coming back (I know I wouldn’t.)?
Tapping is very important within the American history of dance, that why is not showcased more within this show…that specifically searches for a favorite dancer?
Check out Examiner.com‘s article on this pressing issue I found to be very interesting. Let me know your opinion!
According to newstimes.com, two girls will be competing in the world tap dancing championship in Germany.
Reisa, Germany is to hold the world championships which is held through The International Dance Organization, a world federation with a membership of over 90 nations and supports over 250,000 dancers.
These girls are appearing for the second year in a row, last year they took fourth place for their tap dance duet.
Check out the article in its entirety at newstimes.com.
All info courtesy of newstimes.com
More articles on the tap dancing duo:
Photo Courtesy of photobucket.com
An age old Christmas performance by the Rockettes was “revamped” two years ago and has definitely been seen as a hit!
The precision, dedication and talent these dancers have is absolutely stunning!
Check out these articles that give a little more insight into the world of what it’s like to be a Rockette:
Photo Courtesy of CHRP
Chicago’s Harris Theatre will host a 20-year tradition of honoring tap dancing as an art form this weekend.
Chicago Human Rhythm Project (CHRP) is performing this weekend in the twentieth anniversary performance of being able to bring people together through tap dancing.
“Our mission is to use rhythm as a way to bring people together across community lines all different lines,” said Lane Alexander, Chicago Human Rhythm Project, founder/director.
To learn more about this wonderful performance and read the entire article, check out ABC7Chicago.com.
All information courtesy of ABC7Chicago.com.
Photo courtesy of groupphotos.com
Photo courtesy of groupphtos.com
This different take on the traditional Nutcracker ballet offers…of all things… tap dancing Christmas trees. Yes, that’s right, tap dancing Christmas trees. The trees, which were featured in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade in 2001, 2004 and 2007, are a new addition to this twist on a classical ballet.
This Nutcracker “ballet” will feature various acrobatics, ballet, pointe, hip hop, tap, jazz and contemporary styles of dance… talk about mixing up a classic.
Details are still vague on the performance, but it will be performed in California.
Check out the press release at: The San Francisco Chronicle
Below, courtesy of Youtube.com is a video of the tap dancing Christmas trees in 2007 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.
Photo Courtesy of Kelsey McNeal/FOX
Well, those tap eliminations we’re a bit faster than I had hoped for, but what can ya do?
Peter Sabasino and his partner Pauline Mata were voted off in the first audience-voted eliminations this week. Last week, Philip Attmore and Biana Revels left the show… making the tappers on the show down to zero. What a historic season for tap dancers… but I do believe there a lot more potential to be “tapped” for So You Think You Can Dance for those who have excelled in tap.
Check out these articles about this week’s elimination, some I agree with and some I don’t (nothing out of the ordinary)…
Marion Coles, age 91
An influential chorus line tap dancer, Marion Coles, who spent seven decades dancing at the Apollo Theater, died at 94 Friday.
This dedicated tap dancer kept dancing well into her 90s, and late husband Charles Coles tap dancing career took him from Vaudeville to Broadway.
Check out these links for more information on the late Marion Coles:
Gregory Hines-- image courtesy of vilagevoice.com
The tribute show to the late Gregory Hines showcased tap dancing as a true art, and honored him with an all-star tap dancing cast.
The show was created and directed by The American Tap Dance Foundations artistic director, Tony Waag. A sold-out show will be presented this weekend and will thank the late- Hines for all he did for the tap dancing genre.
Waag calls tap “a positive, accessible, forward and inclusive mode of self-expression.”
For more information on this article and this weekend’s performance, check out pennlive.com!
Bianca & Phillip- Photo Courtesy of Joe Viles/FOX
A sad night for tapping fans, as Bianca Revels and Phillip Attmore were eliminated last night. Performances were weak for both tappers, as were their solos for the judges, but to send to tapper homes… one of which has grown in her understanding as well as technique on the show? Not really fair if you ask me… but then again I am partial to the tap dancers, because all three of them have been trained in other areas of dance, but the other contestants on SYTYCD haven’t necessarily been trained in tap.
Anywho, check out some of these articles on Bianca and Phillip explaining reasoning for elimination and what judges really thought about the double tap elimination:
The Wall Street Journal (entertainment blog)
The Baltimore Sun (entertainment blog)
Los Angeles Times (entertainment blog)
