Log In
John Bubbles revolutionized tap dance as the first tapper to drop his heels. By using his entire foot (heel and toe), he created rhythmically complex and syncopated footwork while maintaining a relaxed upper body. Today, we call this style rhythm tap. Born John William Sublett in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1902, Bubbles started performing at age […]
This fall, one of Aaron Tolson’s lifelong dreams will come true—but he’s been reluctant to share the news. “It’s such an honor, and it’s so humbling, that it’s hard for me to say,” he says. “There was a part of my life when I wanted everyone to know my name, and now there’s a program […]
Although Dre Torres always knew she had rhythm inside of her, the possibility of a career in dance seemed unlikely at first. “Coming from a small town, it was kind of ridiculous to think that you could just be a tap dancer,” says the McAllen, Texas, native. “That was hard for people to believe when I would say it.”
Moving tap classes to a virtual format wasn’t easy when the pandemic began: Not everyone had access to a floor that was appropriate for tap shoes, and students had to mute themselves on Zoom to avoid creating a cacophony of footwork. Thankfully, Anthony Morigerato had plenty of experience teaching dance through a screen. In 2014, […]
Fayard and Harold Nicholas, aka the Nicholas Brothers, were known for their one-of-a-kind “flash act” performances, characterized by full-bodied animation, rhythmic perfection and fearless stunts. They were among the first African-American entertainers to break through the segregation of pre-Civil-Rights-era America and be featured in integrated films. Growing up in Philadelphia, Fayard learned to dance by […]
Like most educators, I have been teaching online since early March. My undergraduate Dance and Culture course was relatively easy to deliver remotely (as long as I could pre-record lectures while my son was taking a nap), but my tap classes? Not so much. This is because tap is a percussive dance form. Sound matters. […]
Looking for your next audition shoe? Shot at and in collaboration with Broadway Dance Center, Só Dança has launched a new collection of shoes working with some pretty famous faces of the musical theater world! Offered in two different styles and either 2.5″ or 3″ heels, top industry professionals are loving how versatile and supportive […]
Tomorrow night, L.A.’s fiercest lady hoofers are lighting up the stage at the Ford Amphitheater in Hollywood. Chloé’s Arnold’s Syncopated Ladies present Syncopated Ladies: Live Concert—a one-night-only tap-dance extravaganza. Want more Syncopated Ladies? The ensemble’s Los Angeles Boot Camp begins tomorrow at Universal Dance Design in L.A. and goes through Sunday, July 30. Participants will […]
Tomorrow night at 7 pm, the American Tap Dance Foundation will host a special performance at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Appel Room in honor of legendary jazz pianist and composer Duke Ellington. The program, aptly titled “Tap Ellington,” will feature the Duke Ellington Center’s Big Band and tap stars like Tony Waag, Brenda Bufalino, Sam […]
This month, Steps on Broadway tap teacher Claudia Rahardjanoto teaches a crossover step—a traditional rhythm tap step first performed by the great Bill “Bojangles” Robinson. The step is usually done three times with a break at the end, and is a great way to practice weigh shifts. Here, some of tap history’s greatest hoofers perform […]