Chicago Tap Theatre to Present TIDINGS OF TAP! for the Holidays

Artistic Director Mark Yonally and Chicago Tap Theatre (CTT) bring audiences live music, a touch of magic and boundless energy with the return of their annual Tidings of Tap!, a warm and wondrous celebration of tap dance and the winter holidays Sunday, Dec. 18 at 3 p.m. at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, IL.

There is a press preview Sunday, Dec. 11 at 2 p.m. at the Joel Hall Dance Center, 5965 N. Clark St. Tickets range from $24 - $40 and are available now at 847.673.6300 or ChicagoTapTheatre.com. Group discounts are also available for groups of 10 or more.

Subscriptions for the Chicago Tap Theatre 2016 - 2017 season (Tidings of Tap!, the international sensation Liaison featuring CTT along with Tapage (Toulouse, France) and Tap Ole (Barcelona, Spain), March 25, 2017 at the Athenaeum Theatre and the return of CTT's all-time most popular story show, Changes: A Science Fiction Tap Opera to the music of David Bowie (June 30 - July 16, 2017 at Stage 773) are available for $60 - $90 and include flexibility in choosing performance dates, free ticket transfers, invitations to exclusive rehearsals and more. For more information about subscriptions, visit ChicagoTapTheatre.com or call 773.655.1175.

Chicago Tap Theatre presents a new version of its venerable Holiday offering at a new venue, the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, just in time for Tidings' 10thAnniversary and the 20th Anniversary of co-producer the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts. For the first time CTT is adding a light narrative about a young girl (played by Russian Rhythmic Gymnast Master Dasha Merkulov) as she goes on a journey through the wintry woods. While audiences hear many of their favorite seasonal tunes, they also experience an array of performances including a guest appearance by the stilt concert dancers from Kristina Isabelle Dance Company and an opportunity for local tap performers to join the Holiday production*.. Tidings of Tap! has been described by the Chicago Tribune as "undeniably charming and wholesome fun." Tidings of Tap! is choreographed by Yonally, Kirsten Uttich, Richard Ashworth, Valerie Lussac and Caleb Teicher and is a performance that captures the spirit of the holidays through joyful noise-celebrating Christmas, Chanukah and the winter season.

Now in its fourteenth year, Chicago Tap Theatre prides itself on breaking the mold of traditional tap dance and does the same with holiday entertainment. "Dance has the ability to bridge gaps and bring people together which is especially important at this time of year," said Yonally. "CTT is excited to return with this holiday production, as it has become one of our favorite things seeing familiar faces and families attending year after year celebrating their holidays with us. This year audiences will feel the magic of the Holidays more than ever in Tidings' new home."

*Local Tap Students Perform in Tidings of Tap

Tap Intensive for Students at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts

Saturday, Dec. 3

Intermediate Students: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Advanced Students: 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Student/Dancer: $65

Taught by Artistic Director Mark Yonally, and Rehearsal Director Kirsten Uttich, this is an opportunity for students to study tap technique with Chicago Tap Theatre and learn a dance that they will perform in Tidings of Tap! on Sunday, Dec. 18.

At least two years tap training required. Price includes t-shirt to wear for performance and student admission to Tidings of Tap! Students will also be asked to attend a dress rehearsal on the evening of Friday, Dec. 16.

Registration online: chicagotaptheatre.com/ctt_shows/cttintensive.

For more information, email info@chicagotaptheatre.com or call 773.655.1175.

Founded in 2002, Chicago Tap Theatre is a growing and vibrant Dance Company dedicated to preserving the quintessentially American dance form of tap while taking it to the next level of creativity, innovation and quality. CTT performs exclusively with live music provided by some of Chicago's finest musicians playing everything from Duke Ellington to David Bowie and many artists in between. Under the dynamic direction of master teacher and performer Mark Yonally, CTT has gained a loyal and sizable following in Chicago and continues to tour both nationally and internationally. Having pioneered the "tap opera" format, which tells stories with compelling characters and intriguing plots, CTT has used the language of tap dance, live music and narration to move Chicago audiences for over 10 years.

Photo Credit: Isaac Stauffer

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