Jersey Tap Fest Sets 6th Season

?Jersey Tap Fest, NJ's sole dance festival featuring world-class tap faculty and extravaganza, celebrates its sixth year, August 13-16, 2015 in Roselle Park and Bloomfield, NJ. This year, the 4-day festival will offer two main stage performances: an updated format of audience favorite TAP 'N TIME, and a brand new production, Soul Walk, with all original choreography by festival founder Hillary-Marie. In addition to these performances, the festival will feature more than 30 tap dance classes with master instructors from across the tri-state area. Jersey Tap Fest also provides various opportunities for the public to participate and interact with tap dancing through history lessons, a jam session, student showcase and faculty panel discussion.

"As the festival steadily grows, we continue to increase our focus on arts education and providing top tap artists a platform to present their work," says founder and director, Hillary-Marie. "Honoring Jersey's local community of tap dancers is part of our legacy, and we're expanding our talent to tap masters from the tri-state area to give participants and audiences the opportunity to experience a fresh take on today's tap scene and trends."

The sixth annual Jersey Tap Fest will feature two performances at Bloomfield College's Westminster Arts Center. Hillary-Maries' Soul Walk, Friday August 14, 7:30 p.m., will feature original music and lyrics by distinguished Jazz vocalist Emily Braden (produced/composed by Misha Piatigorsky) from her debut album Soul Walk under musical direction of Andrew Atkinson, accompanied by live trio, featuring dancers Corey Hutchins, Gabe Winns, Leonardo Sandoval, Tyler Knowlin and Hillary-Marie. Quickly becoming a sought after tap event in the Northeast, the yearly TAP 'N TIME showcase, held Saturday August 15, 7:30 p.m., takes on a new format. Featuring 20-minute choreographed segments by Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards, Jason Samuels Smith, and Heather Cornell. The shared evening will also celebrate the next generation of pre-professional tappers, with interim performances by renowned youth ensembles from New Jersey, DC and Boston.

Classes will be taught by a stellar all-star line up of local tri-state teachers, including Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards, Jason Samuels Smith, Anthony Morigerato, Maurice Chestnut, Kyle Wilder, Corey Hutchins, Josie Say (Lindy Hop) and Janille Hill (Step), Hillary-Marie, and Andrew Atkinson (Music for Tap dancers). The stimulating, demanding and rigorous program serves diverse students from around the world.

Additionally, the festivals' scholarship initiative awards deserving participants with full and partial scholarships. This year the scholarships total more than $10,000 providing dancers in need with the opportunity to participate in this special event

More information on the festival can be found at http://www.jerseytapfest.com. Audiences can interact with the festival on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube @jerseytapfest, and with hashtags #jerseytapfest and #JTF2015.

Performances and Venue Information

Tickets go on sale July 1, 2015 at www.jerseytapfest.com/concert or by calling 1- 973-932-0561. Prices for TAP 'N TIME and Soul Walk range from $20 for students and seniors to $25 for general public. The venue is located at Bloomfield College, 449 Franklin Street, Bloomfield, NJ, 07003.

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