NYC Tap Festival TAP CITY Set for July; Awards, Performances & More Set

Tap City 2016, The American Tap Dance Foundation's (ATDF) week-long tap dance festival, will return for it's 16th year to New York City July 9 to 16 with award presentations, master classes and performances by local and international artists in what has become the premiere meeting place for hundreds of American and International tap dancers to study, teach and perform.

New this year is Tap Treasures, a three-day citywide tour of tap dance landmarks (July 11-13) plus a Tap Treasures contemporary musical review of classic and contemporary dance, curated by tap master Tony Waag, at the Duke on 42nd Street (two performances - July 14). Tap Treasures at "The Duke" will feature today's brightest and boldest tap soloists, including Brenda Bufalino, Christina Carminucci, Felipe Galganni, Richard James, Kwikstep, Ted Levy, Tapman Myers, Max Pollak, Rokafella, Leonardo Sandoval, Lynn Schwab, Samara Seligsohn, Randy Skinner, Tap City Youth Ensemble, Caleb Teicher, Tony Waag & Karen Callaway Williams.

"Tap Treasures performances will be a contemporary "mash up" of tap dance, hip hop, waacking, body percussion, soft-shoe and swing combined with vintage video and photographs remixed to classic songs such as "Fascinating Rhythm" and "I Can't Give You Anything But Love." The Tap Treasures tour will re-investigate and revisit nine historic locations in Manhattan that contributed to the evolution of tap dance. As we celebrate an almost forgotten history of this fascinating art form, let us not forget the people, places and events that have influenced, perpetuated and molded our very own American art-form Tap Dance, born and raised right here in New York City," said Tony Waag, Artistic Director/Producer.

ATDF's Tap Dance Awards, Tap Future all-student performance and Tap it Out, a free outdoor tap dance event in the middle of Foley Square, the Five Points district where the art of tap dance began, round out the Tap City week. Tap City has drawn participants from around the world as a place to share new ideas, collaborate on new productions and celebrate a vibrant and diverse global tap dance community. Program details below.

Tap City Festival 2016 Program:

July 11 - Copasetic Boat Ride - 6:30-9:30pm - Circle Line Marina, Pier 83 - Opening social event and cruise around Manhattan with live band, performances and jam.

July 11, July 12 and July 13 - "Tap Treasures," three new, citywide tours of tap-dance landmarks. From legendary theaters to rehearsal spaces, pivotal moments in tap dance history are explored in three tap dance tours, uptown on July 11, in midtown on July 12 and in lower Manhattan on July 13. The uptown tour will begin at the legendary Apollo Theater, followed by a visit to the "The New 42nd Street" on July 12 with a discussion of the restoration of seven historic theaters where numerous tap dance luminaries started their careers like Fred and Adele Astaire, Bill Robinson, Ray Bolger and Ruby Keeler. The tour will conclude on July 13 with downtown visits to the former Woodpeckers Tap Dance Center and ATDF's current home the American Tap Dance Center.

July 12 - Tap Dance Awards - 9pm - The Duke on 42nd Street - Film presentations and performances will honor recipients of this year's Hoofer and Tap Preservation awards and inductees into the International Tap Dance Hall of Fame.

July 14 - "Tap Treasures" Show - 7pm and 9:30pm - The Duke on 42nd Street - Tap City's latest premiere mash up concert with new work created by a global community of the brightest and boldest soloists, contemporary ensembles, emerging raw talent and leading tap masters. Cast to include Brenda Bufalino, Christina Carminucci,, Felipe Galganni, Richard James, Kwikstep, Ted Levy, Tap Man Meyers, Max Pollak, Rockafella, Leonardo Sandoval, Lynn Schwab, Samara Seligsohn, Randy Skinner, Tap City Youth Ensemble, Caleb Teicher, Tony Waag and Karen Callaway Williams.

July 15 - "Tap it Out" - 6pm and 6:30pm - "The Five Points District" - Foley Square, 111 Worth St. "Tap it Out" is an outdoor event where worldwide students of all ages and levels create a chorus of hundreds of tapping feet. The contemporary percussion and movement "soundscape" promotes tap dance as pure music, while consciously deconstructing the basic elements that propel tap forward. "Five Points" has been recognized as the district of Manhattan where the art of "tap dance" began. Video - "Tap it Out" 2015

July 16 - "Tap Future" - 3 and 5pm - The Duke on 42nd Street - Tap City puts students on stage in an informal performance featuring newly minted work from all of the American Tap Dance Foundation Tap City Residencies from the Youth, Pre-Professional and Adult Training Programs.