Take it to the Stage: American Tap Dance Foundation's 4th Annual Benefit

ATDF's show brought back the beat! The American Tap Dance Foundation's 4th Annual Benefit, held at Judson Memorial Church, combined professional tap ensembles and legendary tap soloists with ATDF's Tap City Youth Ensemble, and presented them with skilled, live jazz musicians and popular music to a cheering audience.

The show opened with tap ensemble, Parallel Exit, performing the number "TIME STEP."   Dressed in formal suits, performers, Ryan Kasprzak, Brent McBeth, and Derek Roland executed their tapping on a raised portion of the stage. Their clean, a cappella tapping was enhanced by the smart lighting design in which three spot lights would follow each performer while they tapped. It got to the point where the lights changed focus for every single tap sound impressively showcasing a "call and response" style that I had never seen lit before. The three men were not only clean tappers, buy they were also poised with their arms and expressive with their faces, which is hard to achieve while creating such a rhythm with only the lower part of your body.  

As usual I brought my notebook with me to take notes after each number, and for this, I wrote "AMAZING!"


The next ensemble to perform was Barbara Duffy & Company.  This all female tap ensemble even had a female drummer which I found very refreshing.  Barbara and her dancers, Maya Jenkins, Chikako Iwahori, Karida Griffith, Carson Murphy and Claudia Rahardjanoto, each performed fabulous tap solos that showed off their individual abilities. These women were full of confidence and presentation!

Then it was time for the youth ensembles to hit the floor.  ATDF's Youth Program/ Beginning 3B Class. Five very young tappers danced to a piece based on the cartoon "Peanuts."   Not only was it adorable, but also very impressive. Their changes in patterns, weaving in and out of each other, formations, cannons in rhythm, and memorization and execution of basic and not so basic tap steps was really fantastic.  When I was their age and started tapping I was NOT that lucky to have such great choreography.  So here's to the young tappers and their teacher/ choreographer, Courtney Runft.


The Tap City Youth Ensemble was even more jaw-dropping.  Tap dancers out there know that you can't fake tapping.  You can't  forget what you're doing in an ensemble and keep going with a smile on your face as if nothing went wrong.  These dancers never skipped a beat!  They were together when the whole group was dancing, they were able to hold their own during cannons and while different rhythms and combinations were being performed by smaller groups of the dancers at the same time, and, they were OUTSTANDING during their improvised tap solos!!!  This was something that I never could master during my 10 years of tap training.  Improv tappers are something out of this world.  They are very comparable to jazz musicians who are known for their ability to improvise at any moment.  These young tappers could transform a few counts of eight into a solo that would showcase their creativity, expertise, and rhythmic understanding.  Some of them were more classical, keeping their weight on the balls of their feet; while others more rhythm-based, pounding the floor and daring never to stand straight up, but instead,  falling into the next step and catching themselves with their next tap step or trick.

By the way, I made a note in my notebook that Warren Craft has amazing clean and classic arms and a very relaxed style.  When I was in the eighth grade I performed a tap solo, but when I watched the video I realized that my left arm was stuck to my side while only my right one flailed around, compensating for my dead left arm. How embarrassing. Warren, I could've used you around to watch and learn from many years ago.

Other performances of note: Kendrick Jones and Melinda Sullivan, performing the a cappella duet, were also multi-talented. They sang while they danced with each other in a classic movie style reminiscent of movie musicals from the Gene Kelly and Ginger Rodgers era.

Program directors Tony Waag and Chloe Arnold talked about how the show was created to raise funds for youth scholarships. Part of this program included performance intensives taught by top choreographers in which, after five hours, an audition was held, challenging young dancers to practice how well they could perform new choreography on the spot in order to "get the job." Those who made it past this phase learned the rest of the choreography for another four hours with their choreographer/s. The October choreographer, Dormeshia Sumbry Edwards, danced a solo in heels as if she were Savion Glover dancing in flats. She was really something to watch!  The December choreographer, Chloe Arnold, choreographed a very jazzy tap dance.   The November choreographer, Jason Samuels Smith, had a dance with a boy in the back with his shirt collar popped who really stood out.  I noted in my book that he had a great look for TV or film.  December choreographer, Derick K. Grant, choreographed the finale to Janet Jackson's "Miss you Much." The dance started with one solo tapper and three hip hop poppers (again, showcasing these young dancers and their multi-talented ways). The dance had a great urban style, and I loved the interaction between the hip hop dancers and the tap soloist. Overall, the group had a great energy, and it was interesting to see tap choreographed to Janet.

Tony Waag provides 75 + scholarships to the youth and is looking to raise more money because he said that it is the easiest thing for him to do to give a scholarship to a young tap dancer who needs it and deserves it. The American Tap Dance Foundation did a great job of bringing together NYC tappers. Tony Waag feels that tap is on it's way back up!  So, it would be wonderful for other communities to follow by Waag's example and get their tap dancers together, and ensure that tap dance does indeed boom again!

"All proceeds from this event support ongoing youth programs. In 2005, the ATDF created The Youth Education Initiative, dedicated to youth and audience development. The initiative consists of the Gregory Hines Youth Scholarship Fund, a merit & need-based scholarship program for low-income, 'at-risk' youth; the Tap City Youth Ensemble, a pre-professional program for aspiring young performers; a Year-Round Training Program for kids and teens; Public Performances introducing the general public to tap dance; and a pilot Internship Program. These growing programs are reaching more kids, providing performance and training opportunities, and giving greater support to young students in need of financial assistance." - ATDF program

Tony Waag With Many Hats:  Photography by Lois Greenfield
Headshot of Tony Waag:  Photography by Lois Greenfield
Barbara Duffy & Company:  Photography by Debi Field
Tap City Youth Ensemble:  Photography by Debi Field

iDANZ Critix Corner
Official Dance Review by Jessica Shahinian
Performance:  American Tap Dance Foundation/Sound Check
Venue:  Judson Church, New York City
Date:  Wednesday, February 18, 7pm
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