Today I sent off my registration form for the D.C. Tap Festival scheduled for the last weekend of this month!

Here are the highlights I’m looking forward to and why:

1. Class with Jason Samuels-Smith on Friday, March 26th

This will actually be my first time taking a class with Jason Samuels-Smith though we have talked tap a lot, especially when I attended the New York City Tap Festival a few years back. Though always a very-talented dancer, I am blown away by what he has accomplished in terms of his technique and creativity over the last few years. Though I’ll be learning steps, I’m really looking to pick up on “woodshedding” techniques and concepts that could help me grow as a dancer.

2. Teacher’s Class with Baakari Wilder on Friday March 26th

When I finally saw Noise/Funk back in the year 2000 (or thereabouts) Savion Glover was no longer leading the show, instead I saw Jimmy Tate one night and Baakari Wilder the next and they both blew me away with their abilities. Baakari actually inherited a student of mine and has done amazing work with her so I am really looking forward to picking up on some of his teaching techniques and patterns for the benefit of my own students here in Atlanta!

3. Class with Chloe Arnold on Saturday, March 27th

I’ve been wanting to take from Chloe for quite some time and am excited to finally do so in D.C. She’s an incredible talent and I have a feeling that her class will probably be among the most challenging for me. I also hear that she’s a great “teacher” which is actually the most important determining factor for me. Trust me, not all great tap dancers are great tap teachers!

4. Improv Class with Jason Janas with Saturday, March 27th

I was actually on the fence about taking this class as I improvise ALL THE TIME and even have a Tap DVD focused on the topic. Not that I believe that I know everything about the subject, but I have taken tap improv classes before that bored me, even when they were billed as being advanced-level. I decided to sign up after reviewing Mr. Janas impressive bio. His has worked with instructors/performers like Acia Gray & Gene Medler, both of whom have blown me away with their teaching abilities. Also, I have heard through the “tap-vine” that he is a great instructor as well so I guess I’ll find out.

5. Friday Night Performance – Saturday Night Jam Session

In Atlanta I don’t get to see other tap dancers perform very often so both of these are a thrill for me. I also hope to get up there and say a little something of my own on the floor. Did I mention that I live for jam sessions!

6. My Portable Tap Floor

I’ll also be bringing a portable tap floor hoping that attendees at the festival can try out in between classes! If you’re interested in having one or just want to learn more about it, visit www.PortableTapFloor.com and submit your email address so you can receive coupon codes and discounts that will help you pay less for one!

Sunday, as the festival continues, I’ll be driving ten hours back to Atlanta…gotta get back to the fam! I hope to see you there. If you’re going, please connect with me ahead of time on Facebook or Twitter!

Share This

Just wanted to share a couple of videos I have been studying lately. The first features two incredible contemporary tap dancers, Joseph Wiggan & Jumaane Taylor engaged in a Tap Battle/cutting contest at the 2005 L.A. Tap Festival.

The second is the scene from the movie that most inspired me to want to be a tap dancer! It’s called Tap and if you haven’t seen it you can purchase it here: Tap (Widescreen Edition)

I know you’ll enjoy it!

Ernest “Brownie” Brown – Always in our hearts.

Hillary-Marie

Share This

I could not be more ecstatic to share with you and announce the first ever New Jersey tap dance festival! Kicking off in 2010, Jersey Tap Fest will be an annually fantastic New Jersey tap dance event that will educate and serve diverse students with great passion for tap dance.

Founded by Hillary-Marie, Jersey Tap Fest provides repertoire classes to celebrate today’s young, emerging tap dance artists and master classes to celebrate the tap masters and allow them to train the artists who are the future face of the tap dance community. We are committed to tap dance by being dedicated to its advancement for the purposes of promoting and preserving its traditions, history and musicality as an American Art form. Jersey Tap Fest provides non-competitive opportunities of self-advancement and networking for the basic tapper, tap teacher, tap enthusiast, pre-professional and professional artist and tap master. This stimulating, demanding and rigorous program will serve diverse students with great passion for tap dance in the tri-state area, allowing them to improve their technical abilities and increase their overall knowledge of the art form. All participants will be awarded opportunities of performance to give them valuable experience in which they can reflect on. Over all,

Jersey Tap Fest is focused on serving tap dance, teaching its history, preserving its percussive traditions and promoting it for what it is, a cherished American art form.

Please spread the word and visit www.JerseyTapFest.com for a schedule of events, faculty listing and more information on this exciting tap dance event.

Interested in supporting Jersey Tap Fest? Please contact Hillary-Marie regarding contributions that will encourage, inspire and provide scholarships for young, eager tap students while furthering the American art form of tap dance. Your support for the tap dance community is greatly appreciated!

*Hillary-Marie*

Share This

photo credit: hoyasmeg
Visit www.Tapdanceman.com

Performing Arts Company offers ‘An Invitation to Dance’ – The Santa Ynez Valley Performing Arts Company, under the direction of Christine Fossemalle, and the nonprofit umbrella of the Santa Barbara Dance Alliance, will present its 22nd season with its public performance of “ An Invitation to Dance.

Tops in tap: A Philadelphia festival hopes to click with beloved dance form – JAYE ALLISON was in the second grade when she went to a dance recital at the Academy of Music and watched in awe as performers with top hats and canes tapped out a perfect rhythm across the stage.

Michael Jackson’s signature move: Roots of the Moonwalk – KnoxBlabber “ItchyBro” posted this video of tap dancer Bill Bailey circa 1955. At the end of the clip, Bailey exits the stage with the “backslide,” a vintage version of the Moonwalk, Michael Jackson’s most iconic dance move.

Local dancer makes it onto ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ – TV tapper: Erik Moore, of Oviedo, dances at Focus Performing Arts Studio in Sanford. Moore made it to Las Vegas in a TV competition.

Just Dance – Susan Fisher put on her dancing shoes at age 3 and hasn’t been without them much since then.

If you would like to access my online tap lessons, sign up below!