American Tap Dance Foundation Hosts TAP IT OUT Today, 7/13

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.

TAP IT OUT today, July 13, at 12 noon, 1 & 2pm is a free, public outdoor event performed downtown at the World Financial Center Marina, as part of the acclaimed River to River Festival. Tap City participants will join local professionals in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the American Tap Dance Foundation.

COME AND MEET those tapping feet: Yes – a glorious diverse chorus of 300 tapping feet (7-70 = young and old and in between, from Harlem to Staten Island, east side to west, and numerous nationalities) performing an a cappella choreography. This extraordinary presentation weaves together several tap dance styles and vernacular movement. Tap City participants join local professionals in this celebration to create this explosion of tones and rhythms. Tap It Out is created and staged by Tony Waag and assisted by dancer Lynn Schwab.

Those registered in the Adult, Pre-Professional or Youth Program, have the opportunity to participate in this historic event. Each dancer will dance on their own platform, which is being supplied by Tap City. Opportunities to learn their part of the presentation in advance is being provided through YouTube. Group rehearsals will take place Monday, July 9th - Wednesday, July 11th and Friday, July 13th. Additional information at atdf.org.

Tony Waag stated "As a producer and director, I am always trying to find new ways of creating and building audiences, inspiring the next generation of hoofers and educating the general public about this wonderful yet very complex American art form we call Tap Dance. Tap City, the annual New York City Tap Festival is not only an opportunity to celebrate the form, but to also expand and change what still seems to be a limited perception that tap dance is either old fashioned or only for the exceptionally talented."

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 at http://atdf.org/

Some of the programs beside Tap City, the annual New York City Tap Festival; include: • the Tap City Youth Ensemble; • Concert Performances & National Tours; • the Gregory Hines Youth Scholarship Fund; • the International Tap Dance Hall of Fame; • Annual Hoofer & Tap Preservation Awards, and • the Gregory Hines Collection of American Tap Dance archives 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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