American Tap Dance Foundation Presents TAP CITY Festival Throughout July
By: Kelsey Denette Jul. 03, 2012
The American Tap Dance Foundation (ATDF) presents Tap City, the preeminent annual tap dance festival of the world. This is the quintessential celebration of our collective American heritage – virtues that are certainly evident in tap's hometown, New York City. Tap City 2012 offers hundreds of master classes and courses with internationally renowned teachers, expansive adult, pre-professional, teen and youth training programs, awards and numerous diverse premiere performances and city-wide events.
FREE BEGINNER TAP CLASSES THIS - Saturday, July 7, Noon-3pm in Harlem at the Marcus Garvey Park - East 122nd & Madison Avenue - Multi Use Plaza. Come and try a FREE public introduction to tap dance taught by Tony Waag and guest artist Christiane Matallo from Brazil! (shoes are supplied) For information call (646) 230-9564.
COPASETIC BOAT RIDE This Coming - Monday, July 9, 7pm Circle Line Marina, pier 83 West 42nd St. @ Hudson River There's something for everyone: live music, entertainment, food & drink and dancing, dancing, dancing. Come and catch the rhythm- join in the fun! A sandwich with chips, cookies and a choice of soda or water is included in the ticket price. A cash bar offers drinks and other snacks. Soak in the sunset & the beautiful skyline, meet the Tap City staff, faculty and students! Everyone is welcome – the public is invited. 7pm Boarding, 7:30pm Boat sails, 10:30pm Boat docks Tickets are only $35 To purchase Call (646) 230-9564.
TAP TALKS/TAP FILMS/TAP AWARDS Next Wednesday, July 11, 7-9pm New York Public Library for the Performing Arts: Bruno Walter Auditorium (111 Amsterdam Ave. & 65th St.) Hosted by Director Tony Waag, there will be film presentations and performances by Chloe Arnold, Michelle Dorrance, Dormeshia Sumbry Edwards, Constance Valis Hill, Michela Marino Lerman, Margaret Morrison, & Rumba Tap. They will be honoring this year's awardees for the annual Hoofer and Tap Preservation Awards and the Tap legends that will be inducted into the INTERNATIONAL TAP DANCE HALL OF FAME. The respective awards are: 2011 Hoofer Award - Max Pollak; 2012 Hoofer Award - Jason Samuels Smith; 2011 Tap Dance Hall of Fame Award - the late Cholly Atkins; 2012 Tap Dance Hall of Fame Award - Alice Whitman and the Whitman Sisters Legacy; 2011 Tap Preservation Award - Jacqui Malone; and 2012 Tap Preservation Award - Cobi Narita. Tickets are $10 and they MUST be purchased in advance: call ATDF at: 646-230-9564. It is General seating, first come first serve, and the theatre will open at 6:45pm.
TAP FUTURE (ALL STUDENT SHOWCASE) Next Thursday - Thursday, July 7pm Peter Jay Sharp Theatre @ Symphony Space (2537 Broadway & 95th St.) Tap City puts ALL of their students on stage in a fun show of youth, teen and adult students. They will perform for each other-on Broadway!--in an informal performance featuring the newly minted work from all of the Tap City Residencies (Youth, Pre-Professional and Adult Programs). This is a chance to see and be seen, with all performers sitting in the audience to watch the works of fellow students, amateurs and professionals from around the U.S. and the world. Hosted by the entire Education Program Faculty and ATDF Artistic Director Tony Waag. Tickets = General $22, Day of Show: $25, Children 17 & under/Symph. Member/College Student/Senior: $12. Box Office: 212.864.5400 Or visit:www.symphonyspace.org.
TAP IT OUT Next week on Friday, July 13, 12 noon, 1pm & 2pm A free, public and outdoor event that will be performed downtown at the World Financial Center Marina, as part of the acclaimed River to River Festival. Scores of Tap City participants will join local professionals in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the American Tap Dance Foundation.
The American Tap Dance Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to establishing and legitimizing Tap Dance as a vital component of American Dance through creation, presentation, education and preservation. American Tap Dance Foundation, Inc. was formerly the American Tap Dance Orchestra. It was founded in 1986 by master tap dancers Brenda Bufalino, Tony Waag, and the late Charles 'Honi' Coles. From 1986-1999, the Orchestra performed in hundreds of concert, stage, and film projects and thrilled audiences around the world. From 1989 to 1995, the company also operated Woodpeckers Tap Dance Center in NYC, and presented year-round programming of performances, workshops, daily classes for adults and children, tap jams, lectures, and film presentations. In 2002, with a new generation of tap dancers and enthusiasts, the organization was renamed, and under the direction of Tony Waag, renewed its vision of establishing the first-ever Center for Tap, -- an international home for dancers, based in NYC. They are located at 154 Christopher Street #2B NYC, NY 10014. For information contact: 646-230-9564 and Fax 646-230-7777; Email: info@atdf.org or visit the website athttp://atdf.org/.
Some of the programs beside Tap City include: • the Tap City Youth Ensemble; • Concert Performances & National Tours; • the Gregory Hines Youth Scholarship Fund; • and • the Gregory Hines Collection of American Tap Dancearchives at the Lincoln Center Library. The American Tap Dance Center opened in 2010 as the home to the American Tap Dance Foundation, and offers year-round educational programs including: • Tap Dance Conservatory; • Ongoing Classes for Youth, Teens & Adults; • Tap Choreography Intensives & Showcases; • Master Workshops for Professionals; • Artists In Residence Program; • Reconstruction & Choreography Commission Projects; • Rental Space for rehearsals and• Tap Talks, Jams & Film Presentations.
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