Chloé Arnold Inspired and mentored by Debbie Allen, hopes to also inspire and unite people globally through the Arts. Ms. Arnold graduated with a degree in Film from Columbia University, and has directed a variety of projects, in addition to working alongside high-profile directors and artists. Chloé recently choreographed the opening number of the 2008 Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon, and launched Chloe & Maud Productions, presenting the DC Tap Festival this April 17, 18, 19th, 2009 – www.dctapfestival.com. Over the course of her career, Ms. Arnold has had extensive experience in multiple aspects of the industry, as the co-director of the Los Angeles Tap Festival, the producer of over 20 shows, as well as her continued presence as an internationally recognized performer and choreographer. Performance Credits: Debbie Allen's Alex in Wonderland, Brothers of the Knight, Soul Possessed, and Sammy The Musical (dance captain); Savion Glover's All Star Tap Revue; India Jazz Progressions; Imagine Tap; and Jason Samuels Smith's A.C.G.I. and Charlie's Angels: A Tribute to Charlie Parker. Film/TV Credits: Outkast's Idlewild (Universal Pictures/HBO); Brothers Garcia (Nickelodeon), The Parkers and One on One (UPN), The Opening of the Jerry Lewis/MDA Telethon's Emmy Award Winning Number, Dean Hargrove's Award Winning Short "Tap Heat", AMC's Cool Women, Beyonce's Dance Double in "Upgrade You", and tap dancer in Sean Paul's "Give It Up To Me" (Soundtrack for the movie Step Up). Choreographer/AC Credits: ABC's American Celebration, Debbie Allen's Alex in Wonderland and Pearl; and for her own company Syncopated Ladies. Directing Credits: CUERPASO, a TV pilot and DVD, Music Videos, and commercials; Assistant Director to Melina on Music Videos for Beyonce, Eve, Jennifer Lopez, Neyo, Snoop Dogg, Kylie Minogue and more. Chloe recently launched her "I love Tap" clothing line on sale now - www.chloearnold.com.

Photo by Carl McClarty

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Bernice Brooks (musical director/drums) is without a doubt, one of the foremost female drummers in the United States as well as abroad. Ms. Brooks studied at the Conservatory of Music in Chicago, her birthplace, and has concretized at The Great American Music Hall, San Francisco and Radio City Music Hall, New York, and has played in notable clubs such as New York’s Blue Note, The Ritz and Cotton Clubs, Blues Alley, Washington, D. C. and at the popular Chicago Festival.

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Brenda Bufalino is a mixed genre artist; choreographer and tap dancer, a dancer who sings, tells stories, writes books, works clay into shapes that dance, and paints pictures. She has performed her one person shows Internationally and has appeared as a guest soloist at Town Hall,  Carnegie Hall, and the Kennedy Center among other major venues. In February 2009, she premiered her latest show “Primordial Memories” at the Judson Church in NYC as part of Tony Waag’s “Sound Check Series.” She mentors, lectures and teaches master classes internationally and teaches many workshop series for the American Tap Dance Foundation in New York City throughout the year. As artistic director/ choreographer of The American Tap Dance Orchestra she toured America and Europe with her company, and appeared at The Joyce Theatre, and on PBS “Great Performances…..Tap Dance in America with Gregory Hines.” For many years Ms. Bufalino collaborated and toured extensively with her mentor Charles “Honi” Coles. She has received consecutive grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and is a NYFA fellow. Her critically acclaimed book “Tapping the Source…. tap dance stories, theory and practice” is published by Cod Hill Press. She has created numerous DVD’s and CD’s…. tapping, singing, teaching and telling stories, which are available from her web-site. She is the recipient of the Flobert Award, The Tapestry Award, and The Tap City Hoofers Award, all for outstanding achievement and contributions to the field of tap dance. 

  www.brendabufalino.com

Photo by Lois Greenfield

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Warren Craft is a member of both the Tap City Youth Ensemble and Max Pollak's RumbaTap. Warren has studied ballet for the past five years at both the JKO School at ABT and the School of American Ballet. He has studied tap with gifted teachers Ayodele Casel, Barbara Duffy, and David Rider. Warren has danced in ATDF's “Tap City” and “Tap City on Tour”, Ayodele Casel's “Diary of a Tap Dancer”, Michela Marino Lerman's “AM+bu$h+ED” and in benefits for Broadway's Stephen Schwartz, Jerry Mitchell and Martin Charnin. He has danced with the legendary Brenda

Bufalino in “Primordial Memories” and will have the honor to work with her again in her latest project. As a student at Professional Children's School, Warren has had the opportunity to work with many exceptional classical musicians including Wonki Lee, Tae Hun Kim and Weixiong

Wang. Warren was featured in the Dance Magazine article, "Child Prodigies in Dance". He is a past recipient of the Gregory Hines Youth Scholarship award.

Photo by Matthew Murphy

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Harold Cromer was born in New York City, and began his 50 year career as a tap dancer on roller skates at the Hudson Guild in Hell’s Kitchen. He made his Broadway debut with Bert Lahr, Ethel Merman (later replaced by Gypsy Rose Lee), and Betty Grable in Du Barry Was A Lady. Mr. Cromer later performed around the world as a member of the well-known song and dance comedy team, Stump and Stumpy, with James Cross. They appeared in leading theaters and night clubs with Duke Ellington, Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday and Count Basie. Stump and Stumpy also toured with Nat Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, the Ink Spots, Stan Kenton, and Sophie Tucker, among others. In the late 1950’s, Harold became the Master of Ceremonies to Rock and Roll’s The Biggest Show of Stars, introducing such talents as Buddy Holly, Paul Anka, Bobby Darin, Fats Domino, Chubby Checker, Frankie Avalon, Chuck Berry, Aretha Franklin, and Marvin Gaye. Mr. Cromer returned to Broadway in 1978 in The American Dance Machine as a guest soloist, which later toured many cities in the U.S., Japan, and Europe.

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Michelle Dorrance is one of the most sought after tap dancers of her generation. She currently performs with the Off-Broadway production STOMP and is on faculty at Broadway Dance Center. A North Carolinian by birth and a New Yorker since 1997, Michelle has been tap dancing her whole life. She was formally trained at the Ballet School of Chapel Hill under youth tap trailblazer Gene Medler. Michelle started performing at the age of 8 with Medler's company, the North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble at the early tap festivals of the 1990's and grew with them, receiving international acclaim. An incredibly diverse dancer, Michelle has since established herself as an accomplished solo artist, teaching master classes and performing from Monaco and Moscow to Tokyo and Tel Aviv. She has been honored to work with Heather Cornell's Manhattan Tap, Savion Glover's Ti Dii, Barbara Duffy & Co., Max Pollak's Rumba Tap, Tony Waag’s Tap City on Tour, Ayodele Casel's Diary of a Tap Dancer, Mable Lee's Dancing Ladies, Harold Cromer's Opus One, Derick Grant's Imagine Tap!, Lynn Daly’s Jazz Tap Ensemble and Jason Samuels-Smith's Charlie's Angels: A tribute to Charlie Parker. Michelle's choreography has been performed throughout the country and internationally and has been featured at Jacob's Pillow with Cintia Chameki's Ritmico, at Birdland with members of the Duke Ellington Orchestra, as well as in a commercial for Toyota Taiwan. In 2007, The Brothers Timofeyevich won second place at the World Championships in Germany performing her choreography. She has been known to appear dancing on stage with underground music icons The Squirrel Nut Zippers, Bitch and Animal and Darwin Deez. Michelle holds a Bachelor of Arts from New York University's Gallatin School of Individualized Study, and is on faculty at Broadway Dance Center. She would like to thank all the Masters of the art form whom she's had the opportunity to study with for their indefatigable love and inspiration and genius.

Photo by Debi Field

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Barbara Duffy is “one of the most inventive tappers around…..”, said the late Gregory Hines. Barbara’s performance highlights include “THE GREGORY HINES SHOW”, where she was a featured dancer, actress and choreographer, “GALA FOR THE PRESIDENT”, performing with Gregory Hines before President and Mrs. Bill Clinton and as dance captain and featured dancer in Brenda Bufalino’s AMERICAN TAP DANCE ORCHESTRA. Barbara performs as a featured soloist across the United States and overseas, including London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, where she was hailed as “a riveting performer” by the Independent. Her all women ensemble, Barbara Duffy & Company has performed at the Duke Theatre, NYC, the Joyce Theater, NYC, Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors, NYC, the University of Richmond, the Tanz Haus Theatre in Dusseldorf, Germany and with Tap City On Tour. A highly sought after teacher, Barbara has taught at numerous workshops and festivals in 20 countries. When not on the road, Barbara teaches classes in New York City at Broadway Dance Center and Steps On Broadway. Her greatest inspirations are Brenda Bufalino, the late Leon Collins and the late Gregory Hines.

Photo by Lois Greenfield

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Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards has been apart of almost every major Tap movie or show that has appeared in the history of tap dance since the 80's. She was most recently nominated for best actress and currently stars in the award-winning Independant film "The Rise and Fall of Miss Thang" which continues to tour film festivals. In addition to opening the Harlem Tap Studio in NYC, Mrs. Sumbry-Edwards continues to appear as a special guest for shows and festivals around the world. She was also elected to the Advisory Board as the Tap Advisor for Dance Magazine and the official Tap Spokesperson for Capezio along with her family, as well as being featured in their international advertising campaign.  Mrs. Sumbry-Edwards career includes acclaimed runs on Broadway and off-Broadway in shows such as Black and Blue, the Tony Award Winning Bring In Da'Noise, Bring In Da'Funk, International Tour of Bring in Da'Noise, Bring in Da'Funk (dance captain/principal dancer/understudy to the lead role), and Imagine Tap! (featured soloist). Other performances include the national tour of Wild Woman Blues and Debbie Allen's SAMMY (the life and times of Sammy Davis Jr.). Film credits include "TAP" with Gregory Hines, Spike Lee's "Bamboozled" (Assistant Choreographer), and "The Rodgers and Hart Story: Thou Swell, Thou Witty". Mrs. Sumbry-Edwards' choreography has been featured in TAAP:The Art & Appreciation of Percussion and was also utilized in Michael Jackson's music video "Rock Your World". She was also spotlighted in a commercial for Tops and is currently filming for MTV's hit television series MADE.

Photo by Eduardo Patino

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Mercedes Ellington Juilliard graduate; choreographed ten companies of Play On!, from San Diego's Old Globe Theater to Broadway, and PBS's Great Performances; Choreographed Ambassador Satch, starring André De Shields, Prince Theater, Philadelphia, Helen Hayes Theater, Nyack, New York and The Performing Arts Center, White Plains; choreographer of segments of CTFD Galas 2004 and 2002, at City Center. Directed/staged/produced, Society of Singers-East, Louis Armstrong Award to Bobby Short at The Pierre; directed and staged 2001 Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Tribute to the Spirit of Harlem; directed: Four Women and Cotton Club Rhapsody at Club La Mama; choreographed/directed Mood Ellington featuring André De Shields; appeared in several segments of Ken Burns' TV documentary, Jazz ; profiled by Dr. Billy Taylor on CBS Sunday Morning; choreographed sixteen productions at the St. Louis MUNY; artistic director, BalleTap,USA, aka DancEllington, Inc.(1982-1992); directed/choreographed Cotton Club Rhapsody at Club La MaMa; hostess of the Swedish Jazz Festival, Carnegie Hall and Sweden; workshop program: Home To Harlem, for Radio City Music Hall Rockettes; choreographer/performer: Lincoln Center's Reel To Real Series: Story T'Ellington; choreographer: Yankee Doodle Boys; Carnegie Hall debut: 1999; Metropolitan Opera House debut: 2002; New York City Opera debut: 1977; choreographer: George M, for Gay Pride Series; choreographer: Queen Esther Morrow's Walk Tall Gospel Show- European Tour 2002-2003; Harlem Gospel Singers European Tour 2003-2004; director/choreographer for In Mahalia's Light, Passage Theater, Trenton, NJ; director/musical staging, In A Miller/ Basie Mood, at the Lucille Lortel Theater, NYC; choreographer: Talk of The Town, Bank Street Theater, NYC; choreographer: Crowns, St. Louis Rep and Cincinnati Playhouse In The Park; Crowns, for Arizona Theater Company etc.;serves on the Boards of Career Transition For Dancers, The American Tap Dance Foundation, The New Jersey Tap Ensemble, Board of Governors Friars Club. April 2003, awarded an honorary citizenship of Paris. Currently serving on the TONY nominating committee.

Photo by Sean Kahlil

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DeWitt Fleming Jr. graduated at Marymount Manhattan College with a BA in Acting. He is an acclaimed tap dancer, and has performed and taught throughout the United States and abroad. DeWitt has danced with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, the Princeton Symphony Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra,  The George Gee Swing Orchestra, and with artist such as Wynton Marsalis, Oliver Lake, Wycliffe Gordon, and Eric Reed. Some of his Off- Bwy stage credits include: Sleigh Bells Swing(soloist), Dance Bojangles Dance(Bojangles), Highlights in Jazz, Tribute to Tap Legends, and Finnegan’s Farewell(Tyrone). Regional: Alliance Theater’s Sophisticated Ladies(Lead). He is the co- host, and also co-creator of the Off-Bwy hit Broadway Underground. In NYC he has taught at Broadway Dance Center, Steps on Broadway, Harlem School of the Arts, Queens College, and various festivals/workshops including the NYC Tap Festival. DeWitt is also a Percussionist and has played in such venues as the legendary Blue Note, Sounds of Brazil (SOBs), and The Village Underground. He is dance captain for The New Jersey Tap Ensemble and Co-Chair/Director for the New York Tap Extravaganza.

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Joe Fonda (bass) is a composer, bassist, recording artist, performer and producer.  He has performed as leader of his own ensembles throughout the United States and Europe and as sideman with Anthony Braxton, Archie Shepp, Bill and Kenny Barron, Ken McIntyre/Charlie Persip, Lou Donaldson, Leo Smith, Mark Whitecage, Curtis Fuller and others. As a composer he has been the recipient of numerous grants and commissions and has released many recordings.  He was bassist with the American Tap Dance Orchestra in New York City from 1995 - 1997.  An independent producer since 1978, Fonda is Founding Director of Kaleidoscope Arts and Musical Director of the interdisciplinary Kaleidoscope Performance Ensemble. 

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Acia Gray  Soloist, choreographer and master teacher, has toured extensively across the U.S. and abroad. She is co-founder of the Tapestry Dance Company with Deirdre Strand and currently serves as Executive/Artistic Director as well as the Artistic Director of The Soul to Sole Tap Festival in Austin Tx.  She has danced, choreographed and taught for numerous dance and academic organizations, and she has shared the stage with many of the greatest tap artists of the world. Ms. Gray was chosen to work with the late tap legends Charles ‘Honi’ Coles, and Jimmy Slyde and has been a featured dancer in several tap dance documentaries. Ms. Gray was inducted as a premiere member of the Austin Arts Hall of Fame and was nominated for a prestigious Alpert Award in the Arts as well as being a choreographer chosen for the NEA National College Choreography Initiative. Currently touring The Souls of Our Feet – A Celebration of American Tap Dance through the National Endowment for the Arts American Masterpieces: Dance Initiative and was recently awarded the Third Coast Rhythm Project’s “Legacy Award” and honored as the “2008 Texas Tap Legend” by the Dallas Dance Council. Ms. Gray recently performed in Lynn Dally’s UCLA event Women In Tap, currently serves as the President of the International Tap Association, and is the author of the critically acclaimed book, The Souls of Your Feet – A Tap Dance Guide for Rhythm Explorers.

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Thelma Goldberg recently celebrated her 27th anniversary as founder and director of The Dance Inn in Lexington, MA, one of New England's largest and most innovative schools, serving 600 students weekly.  Combining her love of dance with her experience as a special education teacher in Boston, Thelma created a dance education curriculum that emphasizes musicality, fun, and excellence. She directs the Legacy Dance Company, featuring performers aged 13 – 18 and an adult company, the About Time Tappers.  Both ensembles perform an extensive tap and jazz repertoire at regional festivals and charitable events.  Thelma is also Executive Director of Dance Inn Productions, a non-profit organization that produces both an annual youth ballroom program as well as New England's National Tap Dance Day celebration. She continues to actively study and pursue new opportunities for herself and her students by participating in festivals and sponsoring workshops with master teachers.

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Derick K. Grant A native of Boston, has been tapping for 28 years. He was an original company member and Dance Captain for Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk at both The Joseph Papp Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival and on Broadway. Derick recreated Savion Glover's choreography and starred in the role of 'da beat for the first National Tour.  Derick began his training at the age of two at The Roxbury Center for the Performing Arts, and by the time he was eight years old, he has learned the "hoofin" style of tap from the master tap dancer Diane Walker. Derick furthered his training in Los Angeles at Universal Dance Design Studio under the tutelage of Paul Kennedy. Derick spent three years with the Jazz Tap Ensemble touring the world. He is the recipient of the Princess Grace Award for Upcoming Young Artists as well as The Helen Hayes Award (Washington D.C.) for Outstanding featured Actor for his role in Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk. Derick was featured at The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts African Odyssey program, part of the Expresiones Latinas Festival. He collaborated on a piece that incorporated tap and capoeira with renowned Brazilian artist Nego Gato, which opened the festivities for singer Daniella Mercury. He also choreographed and performed in a piece on the history of tap that launched the Black History Month 2001 celebration at Aaron Davis Hall. Recent compositions were featured in The Queens Symphony Opera's Duke Ellington Concert in Ann Arbor's Arts Festival.

Most recently Derick's own creation A Night Out: Tap! toured the country for three months. Of his latest choreography and performance with Jazz Tap Ensemble at the Joyce Theater in NYC the New York Times said "Mr. Grant let gusts of rhythm propel him with remarkable velocity!"

Photo by Lois Greenfield

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Karida Griffith (karidagriffith.com) recently made her debut as a producer and as a choreographer in her production Creations! Performance credits include: Radio City Rockettes, Black and Blue (European Tour), The Today Show, The Tony Awards with Hugh Jackman, and Sinatra: His Voice, His World, His Way. Karida is a member of Jared Grimes’ company TADAH, and a member of Barbara Duffy & Company. She has been privileged to work with Casey Nicholaw, Henry LeTang, Dianne Walker, Des McAnuff, Jerry Mitchell and Mable Lee. Karida enjoys working with young people, and is a member of the Board of Directors for the Children’s Theatre Company. Karida is incredibly grateful to her parents, family, friends and mentors who have supported her throughout her career. Karida dedicates all of her efforts to the memory of Mrs. Rebequa Getahoun Murphy.

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Jared Grimes is a young and vibrant additive in the world of the arts where he is heavily making his mark in Tap and Hip-Hop/Street Jazz. His most recent projects include performing alongside with Wynton Marsalis, producing and starring in “Broadway Underground”, performing in the cast of Derick K. Grant’s “Imagine Tap”, as well as the 2006 Latin Grammy’s, 2006 MTV Video Music Awards with Busta Rhymes, and the 2005 VH-1 Hip Hop Honors. On numerous occasions, he has danced alongside legends such as Gregory Hines, Fayard Nicholas, Author Duncan and performed for timeless icons such as Ben Vereen, Debbie Allen, and Jerry Lewis. He is a member of "Rhapsody The Company", and has performed across the United States and abroad with the North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble, directed by Gene Medlar. Grimes has also toured with Musical legend, Mariah Carey, under the choreography of Marty Kudelka, and danced for artists such as Common, Salt N Peppa, Envogue, and the Roots under choreographer, Fatima. Jared's live stage credits include "Babes in Arms" at the Goodspeed Opera House, "Sammy," directed by Debbie Allen, the North Carolina GTC production of "Sophisticated Ladies", and "Vaudeville" directed by Chris D'Amboise. Grimes has appeared in commercials for Coca-Cola and television shows such as CBS' "Star Search," "Showtime at the Apollo," ABC Family's "Dance Fever" and The Jerry Lewis Telethon. His feature film credits include New Line Cinemas "Little Manhattan" and Elevation Filmworks' "First Born," starring Elizabeth Shue.  

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Rita Hamilton teaches tap and rules the roost at Hamilton Dance Studios in Brooklyn and Queens, going into its 22nd year of business.  A second generation tapper, she’s studied with Brenda Bufalino, her mentor and friend, for nearly 10.  Thank you Brenda.

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Nicole Harris is a founding member of MONKEYHOUSE (http://www.MonkeyhouseLovesMe.com), a dance theater company based out of Boston that is dedicated to demystifying the art of choreography.  Since 2000 Nicole performed across the country including Philadelphia, PA; Winnipeg, MB; Chicago, IL; New York, NY; San Francisco, CA; Minneapolis, MN; Edmonton, AB; Boston, MA as well as extensively in the greater Boston area and throughout New England.  In 2002 Nicole created TAProject, a youth tap ensemble based out of Impulse Dance Center in Natick, MA where she was on the faculty for ten years.  She now teaches and choreographs for a number of studios as well as being the resident choreographer for the Natick High School Drama Department.  Since moving to New York Nicole is focusing on strengthening her own dancing and creating new work.

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Susan Hebach considers herself a graduate of “Woodpeckers Tap Dance Center” where she was fortunate to study with a diverse group of master tap artists such as her mentor, Brenda Bufalino, and other inspirational teachers such as Barbara Duffy, Robin Tribble, Margaret Morrison, Josh Hilberman, Lynn Dally, and Diane Walker to name a few. As a choreographer, she enjoys developing new works and collaborating with fellow dancers of “The Tap Collective”, a tap company she founded in 1996. Her choreography has been featured in events such as “VII Nit de Claque” in Barcelona, Spain, to the offbeat “Vaudeville 2000” at LaMama ETC Theater and “The Elegance of Comedy of Tap”, hosted by Bill Irwin at NYC Town Hall. Susan directs her own children’s tap program, “Tap Dance for Young People” in NYC. She has also served on the dance faculty for Oklahoma City University and Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri as visiting guest artist. Susan is honored to have been part of Tap City since 2001.

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Ray Hesselink is a Director/Choreographer living and working in New York City.  Ray specializes in creating character driven choreography and excels at comedic storytelling through dance.  Ray loves to make people laugh!  As a dancer, Ray created the role of Mr. Happy in Derick Grant's "Imagine Tap!"  Ray also dubbed the tap sounds to the Dancing Elephant in the G.E. Singin' in the Rain commercial. As a dance instructor, Ray has had the privilege to help train the children currently performing in Broadway's BILLY ELLIOT: THE MUSICAL and is featured in the documentary FINDING BILLY.  Ray is on Faculty at the Broadway Dance Center and STEPS on Broadway in NYC.  For more on Ray, check out his website at www.rayhesselink.com.

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Constance Valis Hill is a jazz tap dancer, choreographer, and scholar of performance studies whose writings have appeared in Dance Magazine, Village Voice, Dance Research Journal, Studies in Dance History, and Discourses in Dance; and in Dancing Many Drums: Excavations in African-American Dance (2001), Taken By Surprise: Dance Improvisation Reader (2003), Kaiso! Writings by and about Katherine Dunham (2005), and Ballroom, Boogie, Shimmy, Sham, Shake: A Social and Popular Dance Reader (2008). She studied tap dance with Charles “Cookie” Cook and various members of the Copasetics; performed as one member of the tap-dancing Doilie Sisters; and directed Sole Sisters for the Changing Times Tap Company. Her book, Brotherhood in Rhythm: the Jazz Tap Dancing of the Nicholas Brothers (2000), received the Deems Taylor ASCAP Award. Her forthcoming book, Tap Dancing America, A Cultural History (Oxford University Press) has been supported by grants from the Rockefeller and John Simon Guggenheim Foundations. She holds a Ph.D. in Performance Studies from New York University and is a Five College Professor of Dance at Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts.

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Heather J Holohan is honored to be a part of The "New" American Tap Dance Orchestra under her mentor Ms. Brenda Bufalino.  Recently, Heather has appeared in Soundcheck (Brenda Bufalino's "Woods Walking") as well as in pieces choreographed by Chloe Arnold and Jason Samuels Smith. Regional Theatre:   Amneris in AIDA, Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes, Ziegfeld's Fave in The Will Rogers' Follies and Cassie in A Chorus Line.  Additionally, Heather owns and operates The Studio: School for Dance and Theatre Arts  and is the director and choreographer of Kinetic Chaos Dance Company.  Heather will appear in the national tour of Thank You, Gregory!  in the Fall of 2009. 

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Keitaro Hosokawa, a native of Osaka, Japan, received his early acting, singing, dancing, and playing the piano training. He has been tap dancing since 1999. During his stay in New York from 1999 to 2001, he had learned tap dancing with Savion Glover, Barbara Duffy, Ted Levy, Jason Samuels Smith, Ayodele Casel, Derick K. Grant, Omar Edwards, Dormeshia Sumbry - Edwards, Max Pollak, Lynn Schwab, and so on. Besides he had worked for a tap dance company ”[beis]crew” in Osaka JAPAN (2001-2006) and performed in various events with them. And he also had worked for “BASEMENT STUDIO” as a tap instructor (2003-2006).  As a solo artist he successfully presented his own shows with Jazz musicians, TAIKO players (Japanese drums), and SAMISEN players (Japanese guitar). He moved to New York in 2008 again and continues to perform.

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George 'Geo' Hubela Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, GEO began dancing in the streets since the age of 11 during the break dance craze. He has worked and toured with Disney World Florida and Tokyo, for the US troops at the MTV USO concert in Germany, with JLo, and he has danced with some of the biggest stars in the music industry including: Michael Jackson, Will Smith, PINK, Britney Spears, 'NSYNC, Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Lopez, Lindsay Lohan, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Master P, and French Pop Stars Lorie and Nadiya. TV credits include; That 70's Show, Chicago Hope, The Young and the Restless, Fame LA, The Nikki Cox Show, The Miss America Pageant, The Goodwill Games, The NAACP Image Awards and the 69th Annual Academy Awards. Film credits include; "The Wedding Singer" and "Boys and Girls". GEO has danced in the hit film “Step Up”, and as a choreographer he has worked with: Malik, produced by Wyclef Jean, and Cris Judd choreographing Jordan Eubanks (MTV’s “The Hills”) “Reality Check” promo tour, Hollywood Records artist Jeannie Ortega and her hit single “Crowded.”, NJ Nets Dancers, and National Commercials for and Best Buy, Slim Fast, and for Campbell’s Soup commercial campaign starring Jonathan Lithgow. He has appeared as a recurring choreographer on the hit MTV show "BeComing," including the episodes "BeComing JLo," "BeComing Dream," and "BeComing 'NSYNC."  Before GEO stepped into choreography he assisted MTV award winning choreographer Darrin Henson with the Spice Girls, and industrial shows for Tommy Hilfiger and American Express. He is currently on faculty of national touring workshops for “AMERICAN DANCE AWARDS” and “Showstopper,” an instructor at Broadway Dance Center in NYC, and co-owner and director of the Icon Dance Complex in New Jersey.

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Chikako Iwahori Originally from Tokyo, Japan, Ms. Iwahori moved to New York 1995 to study Rhythm Tap and West African dance and drum. Since1996 she has been working as dancer, teacher, choreographer, singer and drummer for Feraba-African Rhythm Tap, Manhattan Tap, Guinean master griot Keba Cissoko's band Tamalalou, Max Pollak’s RumbaTap, RhythMutation with Stephanie Larriere, Cyro Baptista's Beat the Donkey touring USA and Europe.

Kendrick Jones has been performing and touring with Tap City since 2003. Some stage credits include "Bubbling Brown Sugar" as Young Checkers at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, principle soloist in "Looking for Josephine" a world premiere directed by Jerome Savary at the Opera Comique in Paris, and Encores: "Stairway to Paradise" at City Center (Broadway debut). Kendrick appeared with Gregory Hines in Ebony Magazine, and Dance Spirit Magazine named him one of the top upcoming hoofers of his generation. A seasonal sensation of Scott Seigel's "Broadway by the Year" series and "All Singing, All Dancing" at Town Hall, Kendrick is one of DANCE Magazine's top "25 to Watch." He also starred in "Barack on Broadway" a campaign fundraiser at the New Amsterdam Theatre for the now-President Barack Obama. Kendrick is currently attending NYU Tisch School of the Arts, studying drama in their Experimental Theatre Wing.

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Jess Jurkovic A native of the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, Jess Jurkovic started his musical life as a drummer and percussionist, but at age fourteen, began to compose and teach himself jazz piano. Today he is an exciting and
eclectic voice as a pianist and composer. He has written over 100 pieces and arranged dozens of standards and not-so-standards for his groups. In addition, he has arranged and composed music for jazz big band, jazz vocal ensemble, string orchestra, and even classical chamber ensembles—as well as worked in and composed for pop, rock, and funk genres. Jess attended the University of Minnesota, receiving his Bachelor of
Music degree in 1996. That year he moved to New York City to study at Manhattan School of Music, where he received his Master's degree in Jazz and Commercial Music in 1998. In addition to his jazz work, Jess has served as musical director to several New York cabaret artists. He is on the piano faculty at Larchmont Music Academy, teaching private piano lessons to all ages. He has also worked with Cherry Lane Music Co. as a freelance writer and editor; his book Keyboard Warm-up Techniques was published in 2006. Jess’s first recording was The Art Department (2000), a jazz quartet he formed with percussionist Greg Beyer. He quickly followed that with Blue and Violet (2001), a duo recording with Pedro Giraudo. In addition to his own recordings, Jess is an integral member of the Pedro Giraudo Jazz Orchestra (found on CDs Mr. Vivo and Desconsuelo), and Justin Hines and the Headphones's debut CD, ...As Advertised.Jess's newest recording is a solo piano effort, Two Hands, Vol. 1.

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Kelly Kaleta grew up and trained in western Massachusetts, beginning her dance career at the age of 6. Heading east to attend Boston University, she received her BA in Environmental Policy in 2003. While attending Boston University, she began teaching in the Boston area and throughout Massachusetts. Kelly now teaches up and down the east coast and Canada doing master classes, conventions, and workshops. She performs whenever possible. Her students have won many regional and national awards. She is also a choreographer for the youth tap company, the Legacy Dancers, from Lexington, MA. who have been seen at numerous festivals, including the New York City Tap Festival, and the Chicago Human Rhythm Project, as well as dozens of local performances.

Monifa Kincaid is a rhythm tap dancer, choreographer and dance educator.  Monifa performs Monday nights at the Cotton Club with the tap act “Sophisticated Ladies”; featuring choreography by Dormeisha Sumbry-Edwards.  Monifa is also an apprentice for the rhythm tap company, Barbara Duffy & Company.  She is also the director for Upstate Dances; a production highlighting local choreographers of the Hudson, Orange, Dutchess and Putnam county (N.Y.) regions. Additional performance credits include works created by; C3 Tap Co-operative, Andrea Del Conte and Barbara Duffy, Camara Dance Unlimited, Ground Provision Movement, Mary Seidman Dance Group, Guido Tuveri/Sanza Nemo Collective, and Nia Love/Blacksmith’s Daughter Dance.  Monifa’s choreography has been presented at: Fordham University for the fall 2008 benefit for Lend-A-Hand India, Symphony Space for the American Tap Dance Foundation’s production of Tap and Song, Rebound Dance Festival CT, Rhythms Festival/eyeBLINK, Brooklyn Children’s Museum, White Wave/D.U.M.B.O. dance festival, Joyce Soho for Dancenow/NYC. She holds an M.S. in early childhood education from Lehman University, an M.A. in dance studies from the Laban Center, U.K., and a B.F.A. from the University of the Arts, P.A.

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Kazu Kumagai was born in Sendai City, Japan. He started studying tap dancing when he was 15 with Masaru Satou. He went to New York at 19 to study with master teachers, including Charles Goddertz and Barbara Duffy. In June 1997, he studied with Ted Levy and graduated from the New York Institute of Tap's "Funk University", where he learned tap style created by Savion Glover. Early 1998, he toured Japan with British Royal Ballet principal, Tetsuya Kumakawa, and later, returned to the United States to perform in the tap celebration, Tap Extravaganza, where he shared the stage with Gregory Hines and Savion Glover. Currently Kazu appears in hip-hop, jazz, and funk clubs in New York and Japan, and has earned a solid reputation for his sensational tap.

Photo by Debi Field

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Lisa La Touche Originally from Canada, now residing in New York, Lisa’s platforms have ranged from the Beijing International Dance Festival as a dancer, choreographer and American media spokesperson, to performing on CBS with r&b/pop star Mya and Emmy Award winning choreographer Jason Samuels Smith, to the Muscial Theater genre recently performing in Sophisticated Ladies.   She has taught and performed at the Brazilian International Tap Festival, L.A. Tap Festival, The Chicago Human Rhythm Project Rhythm World, The St. Louis Tap Festival, The Vancouver Tap Festival, Munich On Tap, and the Eastern Canadian Tap Conference to name a few.  While residing in Chicago for over two years, she worked as Artistic Associate with Lane Alexander and the Chicago Human Rhythm Project and their performing ensemble BAM!, and also alongside Tre Dumas and his company, JusLisTeN. She was Assistant Director and Choreographer for multiple years working with Bril Barrett's M.A.D.D. Rhythms, and founded their International extension, M.A.D.D. Rhythms Canada in her hometown of Calgary, Canada.   She also has the honor of working with other highly reputable artists such as Chloe Arnold, Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards, Ted Levy, Roxane Butterfly, Max Polack, Barbara Duffy and currently works alongside Cecelia Leal Calloway honoring her father Cab Calloway and his musical Legacy. Lisa La Touche was recently featured in the May 2oo8 issue of Dancer Magazine as an emerging artist and is continuously pursuing new heights in her talents while establishing herself as a versatile artist here in New York City.  For more info please visit www.lisalatouche.com.

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Hjördis Linn (company/festival manager) is the Director of Operations of American Tap Dance Foundation. She has worked as a mask maker, stage manager, performer and puppeteer.  She is a proud graduate of City College New York, Summa Cum Laude, member Phi Beta Kappa, who is fortunate to work with an enormous number of talented dancers, teachers, administrators, designers, board members and volunteers who bring rhythm to life and life to rhythm!

Photo by Toe Knee

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Michela Marino-Lerman, first appeared on Sesame Street at the age of 5.  In 2002 she was showcased on the cover of the February issue of Dance Teacher Magazine with Gregory Hines and in 2005 was featured in Dance Spirit magazine as one of the 20 hottest tap dancers under 20.  Throughout the years Michela has appeared in both the Tap Extravaganza and Tap City numerous times.  In 2002 and 2003 she competed and won first prize in the Harlem Jazz Dance Festival’s, “Hoofer’s Challenge.” In 2002 she performed with Jennifer Holliday on Broadway in Nothing Like A Dame.   In 2003 she was inducted to the famed Copasetics as their first and only female lifetime honorary member.  Since 2004, Michela has been touring around Spain and Tokyo with Rafael Amargo’s Enramblao.  In the fall of 2005, she choreographed the tap section of the opening number for the Bermuda Music Festival with UDP, starring Al Green, Angie Stone, and Patti LaBelle. In 2006, she was commissioned by Dixon Place to create and direct her own production which she entitled “AM+bu$h+ED.” Michela recently toured Europe for 3 months as a lead dancer in the hit show “Magic of the Dance.” Also she has just debuted in the show hit “Wonderland,” an all tap show set to Stevie Wonder’s music. She also recently appeared on CBS’s “Secret Talents of the Stars” with Grammy award singer Mya, performing the choreography of Emmy award winner Jason Samuels Smith. Gratefully mentored and guided by Buster Brown, Gregory Hines, and Leroy Myers.  She has also studied with Jason Samuels Smith, Henry LeTang, Baakari Wilder, Ayodele Casel,  Derek Grant, Dianne Walker, amongst many other gifted teachers. Michela is a performer, teacher, director and choreographer dedicated to spreading the art of tap around the world.

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Margaret Morrison– ATDF Education Director -- is on a temporary leave of absence from Tap City for summer 2009 while she pursues an MFA in Dance through the American Dance Festival in Durham, NC.  As a rhythm tap soloist, choreographer and researcher Margaret is working on new tap performance and writing projects that explore gender, race, authenticity, social meaning, and history in tap dance.  Her current projects include writing and directing “In Search of the Whitman Sisters” a text and tap exploration of the famed Vaudeville tap act performed in May 2009; presenting her paper “Clothes Make the Woman: Women Tap Dancers and the Iconography of the Suit’ at the November 2008 Congress on Research in Dance; a two week residency in Moscow in May 2008 hosted by the US Embassy, teaching and performing in celebration of International Tap Dance Day.  Margaret performs with Tap City on Tour, travelling to cities around the US, Armenia and Romania.  Since 1986 she has performed, taught, and choreographed across the US, Brazil and Europe and has been hailed by critics as a "consummate artist who breaks the mold”.  She is a founding member of the American Tap Dance Orchestra, directed by Brenda Bufalino. As Education Director, Margaret over-sees all of the ATDF’s training programs. She is a graduate of Barnard College, where she is currently on the faculty of the Dance Department, directing the Tap Ensemble, teaching tap technique and a history course "Tap as an American Art Form."   Visit www.MargaretMorrison.com

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Carson Murphy has been performing for most of her life. A prominent tap dancer throughout the northwest United States, she has been heavily influenced by Mable Lee, Ted Levy, Dianne Walker, Steve and Carol Zee, Jeannie Hill, and Linda Murphy. She has performed in concert with Ted Levy, Los Angeles' Tongue Contemporary Dance Company, Miller and Ben's "Tap Giants", was a part of Harold Cromer's Original "Opus One", joined the first National Tour of Broadway's "42nd Street", and recently was a part of Tony Waag's Tap City on Tour. She has performed in Tap City at the Joyce Theater, the Duke on 42nd Street theatre and Symphony Space with Michelle Dorrance, "Mable Lee's Dancing Ladies", "The Tap Collective", Barbara Duffy & Company, Rumba Tap and others. She has also performed in "Tappy Holidays" at Symphony Space alongside Ayodele Casel, Sarah Savelli and Derick Grant. She most recently performed with 5 amazing tap companies in the "Sound Check" concert series at Judson Memorial Church. Carson is a certified and heavily sought after Pilates and Gyrotonic instructor, and just opened her own Pilates/Gyrotonic studio, Sound Movement, in Larchmont, NY. She holds a Bachelors of Arts in both Dance and Philosophy from Loyola Marymount University.

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Pete Nugent: The ATDF is honored to offer Pete Nugent’s exquisite Soft Shoe choreography in one of our Adult Residencies this year. The project to preserve the works of great tap dancers from the past sent three ATDF staff members, Thelma Goldberg, Susan Hebach and Margaret Morrison, to Massachusetts to study with Nugent’s protégé and student, Nancy Howell, who remembers the material taught her over 50 years ago.  Nugent was a beloved member of the Copasetic Club and performed at the famed Newport Jazz Festivals in the 1960s. In the 1930s he formed the team of Pete Peaches and Duke, which was unsurpassed as a classic class act.  Nugent’s insistence on perfection made the teamwork outstanding.  Nugent prided himself on being more than a hoofer.  Although he insisted on clean, clear taps—“Good dancers lay those rhythms right in your lap”—Nugent was primarily concerned with making full use of the stage.  “I’m a tap dancer, of course, first, last, and always, but if you have to make a choice, I prefer all body motion . . . . Any hoofer can execute all the steps, but the way a man handles his body and travels is what gives it class.”

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Daisuke Omiya started his dancing when he was 16 years old. He learned hip hop dancing and jazz dancing before he started tap dancing. In 2006, he came to New York City. He had learned tap dancing with Derick K.Grant, Barbara Duffy, Kazunori Kumagai, Jason Samuels smith, Omar Edwards, Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards. Currently he is a member of “ZEN”, a Japanese tap dance company. Also he is active in various field of dancing. He has performed in Tap City 2007 and 2008 “Tap Internationals”, “Tap Forward” and at the  Taiwan Tap Dance Festival “Tap Together 2008”, and various other events.

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Max Pollak, a native Austrian, received his most important training in the conservatories, clubs, and streets of New York City and Havana. He is an experienced musician who performs, teaches, and choreographs worldwide. Mr. Pollak is the first artist ever to merge authentic Afro-Cuban dance and music with tap and have it recorded on CD. He has established the first ever tap venture in Havana, Cuba called “RumbaTap”, and has worked with Ray Brown, Danilo Perez, Muñequitos de Matanzas, Chucho Valdez, Gregory Hines, and Jimmy Slyde, among others. He has appeared on Broadway in Tamango’s Urban Tap, and toured the globe with Manhattan Tap, Feet 2 The Beat, Cool Heat-Urban Beat, Tap City on Tour and Beat The Donkey.

Photo by Lois Greenfield

Claudia Rahardjanato Born and raised in Berlin/Germany, Claudia was trained in ballet, jazz and later in tap. She fell in love with tap dancing immediately and has extensively studied tap with Sam Weber, Andreas Dänel, Sven Göttlicher and Pascal Hulin. She has danced in numerous tap dance-shows in Europe (Germany, Austria, Sweden, Belgium, Holland) and has been on tour with several touring productions around Europe as well as the United States ("Magic Of The Dance", "Dancing Feet", "Dancing On Common Ground"). After moving to NYC in 2003 to continue her education and pursue a career in dance in the US, Claudia has since appeared on the 'Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon' with Andrew Nemr's CPD Plus, appeared on MTV's 'TRL' as part of a 'Happy Feet'-segment with Robin Williams and Elijah Wood and has been a featured dancer in an evening called ‘Dianne Walker and Friends’. Claudia has been extremely blessed and fortunate to have met and spend valuable time (on or off stage) with masters like Dr.Jimmy Slyde, Dr.Bunny Briggs, Dr.Henry LeTang, Dr.Buster Brown, Harold Cromer, Mable Lee, Dianne Walker, Ted Levy, and Savion Glover and others. She is very grateful to have been able to dance with Dianne 'Lady Di' Walker, Michelle Dorrance, Roxanne Butterfly’s WORLDBEATS, Andrew J. Nemr's CPD Plus, Susan Hebach’s TAP COLLECTIVE, Barbara Duffy and Company, Jared Grimes' T.A.D.A.H., Max Pollak’s RUMBATAP, Michael Minery's Tapaholics and alongside the fabulous Miss Mable Lee as one of her Dancing Ladies. Claudia is currently on faculty at Steps On Broadway and Broadway Dance Center.

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Sarah Reich is exploding onto the scene as a young professional, having spent the past four years assisting tap legend Harold Cromer at numerous festivals, including Tap City, St. Louis Tap Festival, Chicago Human Rhythm Project, Los Angeles Tap Festival, and Tap Into A Cure. Sarah is now becoming a tap festival teacher on her own, her first teaching job was in Limoges, France. She has studied with, among others, Alfred Desio, Cyd Glover and Paul & Arlene Kennedy, has been a member of the Jazz Tap Ensemble’s Caravan Project, is a current member of Jason Samuel Smith’s “Anybody Can Get It” company, Chloe Arnold’s Syncopated Ladies, and serves as the Dance Captain for the LA Ironworks Youth Company as well as contributing choreography for the group. Sarah has performed at many venues around Los Angeles including the Getty Museum, the Ford Amphitheatre, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the Kodak Theatre, the Madrid Theatre, the Temple Bar, the African Market Place and was asked to dance for promotional events for the movie Happy Feet. She is featured on two instructional tap DVD’s with Mike Wittmers. Sarah was featured in an article titled “20 Hot Tappers Under 20” in Dance Spirit Magazine and received an award for Performing Artist of The Year at the 2005 OMNI Awards. She has also been featured in numerous television shows including So You Think You Can Dance, the Jerry Lewis Telethon, Secret Talents of the Stars, and Sabado Gigante. Sarah is currently teaching around Los Angeles at Everybody Dance, the Colburn School, the Debbie Allen Dance Academy and the EDGE Performing Arts Center.

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Michele Ribble ( Director of Youth Programs for the NYC Tap Festival) A ward winning choreographer, Master instructor, producer, dancer, and coach, has spent a lifetime working in classical ballet, tap dance, musical theater, and jazz. She has choreographed for both stage and screen including work for Jacob's Pillow, HBO, Miramax, Circuit Productions, Hanna-Barbera, MTV, several Off-Broadway shows, and was assistant choreographer for the film "Beetlejuice". Michele has danced as a member of the NYC Company, Ronn Forella and the Second Century Dancers , and at the Metropolitan Opera House with the Kirov Leningrad Ballet.  She is a featured soloist at Tap City, the New York City Tap Festival, and is known as tap dance partner to Charles Goddertz and Harold Cromer. Michele has shared the stage with many a talented individual too numerous to mention, and  her choreography has been enjoyed by many  theater societies as well as by audiences at the Rainbow Room , the Joyce and the Duke on 42nd St. Theaters in NYC,  Harrah's and MGM Grand Casino's in Vegas and Atlantic Cities, as well as in Europe. She is a Master Instructor for the Omega Institute, Kaatsbaan International,  the National Association of Dancers and Affiliated Arts, the NYC Tap Festival, an adjudicator and adjunct professor of dance at S.U.N.Y. New Paltz, and is a judge for Starbound and Olympic Miss National Dance Competitions. Michele is a faculty member of the American Tap Dance Foundation, a guest instructor at Steps on Broadway, Director of the Metro-Gnomes and KaBoom… KaTap! youth tap ensembles, owner of the Rhinebeck Dance Centre in Red Hook, NY and Showbiz Dance Studios in Kingston NY, and fonder of the Roya Curie Dance scholarship Foundation. Her training is from a faculty of the most distinguished dance masters of the world, too numerous to mention.

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David Rider began his dancing career at the age of three and is the director of David Rider's World of Tap in Hyde Park , NY, which he founded when he was fifteen.  He was trained primarily by Michele Ribble, Brenda Bufalino, Gil Stroming, Charles Goddertz, Bob Audy, and Derick Grant.  David has performed in Randy Skinner's 42nd Street (Japan and the U.S.), Dancing on Common Ground (nat'l tour), Tony Waag’s Tap City on Tour, Lincoln Center's Reel to Real series tribute to Donald O'Connor, and several Tap Extravaganzas. He has been featured in both YM Magazine and Dance Spirit. He has taught regularly at various dancing schools, is a regular guest instructor at the Omega Institute, and has been on the faculty of Tap City: the New York City Tap Festival since 2003. His students have performed in various productions such as Tap Your Feat at Beat Street, the United Nations, Tappy Holidays, and Scrooge the Musical.   

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RONxII (ronron/ Hisao Ogatsu) is a tap dancer as a representative of Japan and has been tapping for 20 years. Focusing on LIVE activity, he works broadly with movies, radio and commercials. Currently he is a member of "SCORE Rayin'" as a tap soloist, (an original tune "ORIENTAL FOREST" by SCORE Rayin' won a Monthly Champion in FM YOKOHAMA "YOKOHAMA MUSIC AWARD" in 2006), "NAKED SOUP" as a pianist and his own creation "THE BREAKMAN SHOW" (Director, Choreographer and Featuring). He is also an artist of various abilities in dance, acting, singing, piano, choreography and stage direction. Moreover RONxII appeared on the samurai movie that Japanese director/actor Kitano Takeshi fins himself back at the forefront of both domestic and international film worlds with his film "ZATOICHI". Through the momentum it is international premiere of the 60th Venice Film Festival in 2003 where it garnered the Silver Lion Award for Best Director, and the Toronto Film Festival, where it took the People's Choice Award. At the tap dance scene he performed and the spotlight is captured suddenly. He is also starring in Kitano Takeshi's newest movie "TAKESHI'S" which is in the 62nd Venice Film Festival competition section formal exhibition work. RONxII has performed by Broadway Musical "Noise & Funk" opening act of the Savion Glover choreography and starring (Tony award nine section nomination and four section winners) He most recently has performed on the tap festival "CHICAGO HUMAN RHYTHM PROJECT 2005". which was held in Chicago as a representative of Asia.

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Olivia Rosenkrantz was born in France where she performed as a singer/actress from age 5. In New York City, she trained in modern dance with Murray Louis and Alvin Nikolais. Olivia was dancer and vocalist for the American Tap Dance Orchestra, under the artistic direction of mentor Brenda Bufalino. She choreographed and danced for Ka-Tap (North Indian music and dance crossing with tap and Jazz), toured with Heather Cornell’s Manhattan tap and with Mad Theatricals. With partner Mari Fujibayashi, Olivia is artistic director, choreographer/dancer of the duo Tapage, performing internationally with classical orchestras, jazz trios and world music ensembles. Tapage currently collaborates with the Mexican string quartet “Cuarteto Latinoamericano” creating work to Latin American compositions. Olivia has toured north and south America, Europe and Japan, appeared at the Joyce Theater and the New York City Center Fall for Dance Festival. She is a guest teacher internationally and a published author.

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Courtney Runft, a native of Wichita, Kansas, received her early ballet, tap, and jazz training under the tutelage of Sharon Rogers at Rogers’ Ballet, Inc. During her tenure, she was a founding member of RBI’s performing company, “PointeCounterpointe.” While working toward her BFA in Ballet at Friends University, Courtney had the honor of working with such artists as Stan K. Rogers, Francisco Martinez, Melonie Buchanan, Shawn Stevens, and Dominic Walsh. Since moving to New York City in 2005, she has been influenced by and has the privilege of studying with Brenda Bufalino, Michelle Dorrance, Barbara Duffy, Derick K. Grant, and Lynn Schwab. She has most recently performed in Tap City 2007, various showcases in and around the tri-state area, and is currently dancing with C3 – Tap Cooperative. Courtney is the Education Assistant and Registrar for the American Tap Dance Foundation, as well as a teacher in the Youth Program. In addition to her duties at the ATDF, Courtney is an instructor at Progressive Dance Studio in New Jersey and Dancewave in Brooklyn.

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Tamii Sakurai moved to New York at the age of sixteen, leaving her hometown of Tokyo, Japan to continue her education. In New York, she has studied intensely with Barbara Duffy, Derick Grant, and Michelle Dorrance. She is an original member and the Dance Captain of the Tap City Youth Ensemble, a project of American Tap Dance Foundation directed by Susan Hebach. With the Tap City Youth Ensemble, she has danced in various ATDF events including Tap City, the New York City Tap Festival (2005-2008), among other tap shows such as Tappy Holidays at Symphony Space, Tap Extravaganza, and Boston Tap Festival. She recently joined “Mable Lee’s Dancing Ladies,” and performed at the Apollo Theater. In Soundcheck, a Tap Dance Concert Series, she performed works from “Take It to the Stage,” choreographed by Dormeshia Sumbry Edwards, Jason Samuels Smith, and Derick Grant. She was recently seen in Michelle Dorrance’s choreographies in the Creations: Choreographic Introductions, presented by Nuri Productions. Tamii is extremely thankful to her grandfather for introducing her to tap dance. She wishes to pursue dancing as her grandfather did until he passed away in his early eighties.

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Germaine Salsberg began her career as a child actress, appearing on radio and television in her native Canada. After 10 years as a modern dancer with the Toronto Dance Theatre touring throughout Canada, the U.S. and Europe, she discovered tap dancing. She has been on the faculty of Broadway Dance Center for over 20 years, as well as Steps on Broadway, Germaine teaches anyone from Broadway professionals to people who "just love to tap. She has taught at NYU’s Steinhardt School of Ed as well as Cap 21 and Pace University as well as throughout the US and internationally. She has gained a reputation for teaching a strong foundation of technique through rhythm elements that will carry into any area of tap dance.  She assisted Tony Award Winner Danny Daniels for Broadway and National tours of "Tap Dance Kid" and has privately coached many actors including Liza Minnelli for the movie "Steppin Out." Germaine has choreographed such regional musical theater productions as 42nd Street, Anything Goes, George M!, Crazy For You, and Dames at Sea. She has performed tap in Edmonton's Fringe Festival, with the Jazz Tap Center on tour, as well as at Tap City in New York, and the Boston Tap Festival. Germaine serves on the Board of Tradition In Tap. After years of helping others to find technique and self expression through tap dance, she has entered her own journey of self discovery through choreography with her company, Les Femmes.

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Lynn Schwab- a member of Barbara Duffy and Company, RumbaTap, and The Tap Collective, has performed at such notable New York venues as The Duke on 42nd Street, Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors, Town Hall, Off Broadway’s La MAMA, World Festival 2000, The International Street Performers Festival, The River to River Festival, Central Park’s SummerStage, Joe’s Pub, Studio 54, The Joyce and The Joyce SoHo Theatres. She has performed at Jacob’s Pillow and as a guest artist with Billy Siegenfeld and Jeannie Hill’s Jump Rhythm Jazz Project. With members of The Tap Collective, she choreographed and performed the Morton Gould Tap Dance Concerto with the Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra. She has performed with The Chamber Orchestra Kremlin, and at festivals in the U.S., Germany, Spain, France, Holland, and Estonia. She continues to tour the U.S. with Tap City on Tour and in addition to her regular classes at Steps on Broadway in New York City, teaches and performs at festivals and workshops in the U.S., Europe and Japan.

Photo by Lois Greenfield

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Randy Skinner is an award-winning director, choreographer, and performer whose work has encompassed Broadway, off-Broadway, regional, and Los Angeles productions. Shows include: 42ND STREET (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics, Astaire nominations), STATE FAIR (Outer Critics nomination), AIN'T BROADWAY GRAND (Tony, Outer Critics nominations), AFTER THE NIGHT AND THE MUSIC (MTC/Biltmore), Irving Berlin's WHITE CHRISTMAS (Broadway and numerous cities), DO RE MI, OF THEE I SING, FACE THE MUSIC and NO NO NANETTE (the last four for City Center Encores), LONE STAR LOVE (Lucille Lortel nomination), HAPPY DAYS, STORMY WEATHER (with Leslie Uggams/Pasadena Playhouse), AN AMERICAN IN PARIS (Alley Theatre), HELLO DOLLY (with Nell Carter), PAL JOEY (with Dixie Carter and Elaine Stritch), STRIKE UP THE BAND (with Tom Bosley), ON THE FIFTH (The Takarazuka Company, Japan), PUTTIN' ON THE RITZ (The Kennedy Center), LUCKY IN THE RAIN, GEORGE M, BABES IN ARMS (all three at Goodspeed Opera), 2001 TONY AWARD Telecast (Opening Production Number). Mr. Skinner's "taps" can be heard on the recordings of SONDHEIM AT THE MOVIES, 110 IN THE SHADE, STRIKE UP THE BAND, and LUCKY IN THE RAIN. He has received the LA Drama Critics, LA Dramalogue, Bay Area Critics, Connecticut Critics, and Cleveland Times Theatre Awards.

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Alicia Smith, an award-winning choreographer, master instructor, and performer, is a member of the New Jersey Tap Dance Ensemble under the direction of Deborah Mitchell and the Artistic Director of the Artistry In Motion Dancers based in Michigan. She is a licensed ballet teacher through the Cecchetti Council of America and a national tap examining member of Dance Masters of America also certified in Ballet and Jazz.  Alicia has been a member of the Tap City on-site staff since 2006 and was the 2005 recipient of the Tap City Tap Teacher Award for her contribution to training the next generation of tap dancers.  She was featured in the March 2006 issue of Dance Teacher Magazine as a selected member of the Honors List recognizing Dance Educators. Many of her students have received numerous awards, scholarships and recognition locally, nationally and internationally for excellence. Alicia studied as a protégé of Robert L. Reed, who was a protégé of the late Maceo Anderson, an original member of the Four Step Brothers. Through the Detroit Tap Festival, founded and produced by her mother, Gwendolyn B. Smith, she had the opportunity to be personally influenced and inspired by tap greats such as Dianne “Lady Di” Walker, Dr. Jimmy Slyde, Van “the man” Porter, Savion Glover, Debbie Dee, the late doctors of tap Cholly Atkins, Henry LeTang & Leonard Reed and the uniquely memorable Peg Leg Bates.   Her mission is to share her passion for dance while making a positive impact.

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Jason Samuels-Smith (performer, choreographer, director) has emerged as a multi-talented leader in the Art form of Tap. He won both an Emmy and American Choreography Award for "Outstanding Choreography" for the Opening number of the 2003 Jerry Lewis/MDA Telethon in a tribute to the late Gregory Hines. Mr. Samuels-Smith most recently received the Gregory Hines Humanitarian in addition to past honors including a Certificate of Appreciation by the City of Los Angeles for creating the First Annual Los Angeles Tap Festival in 2003; a Proclamation declaring April 23rd "Jason Samuels Day" from the City of Shreveport, Louisiana; the "Ivy of Education" from Brainerd Institute; the "President Kenny Award" from Stony Brook; an Alpert/McDowell Residency Award; and an Arts International Grant among others.  Mr. Samuels Smith most recently appeared as a special guest on Fox's hit series "So You Think You Can Dance" and is currently working as a choreographer for a new reality show scheduled to debut this coming season. Films include co-starring in Dean Hargrove's "Tap Heat", a dynamic award-winning short film touring film festivals worldwide (available on DVD); Outkast's feature film "Idlewild"; and Debbie Allen's AMC television series "Cool Women" to name a few. Performances include Sammy (a tribute to the life of Sammy Davis jr.), and in a leading role of the star-studded production of Soul Possessed; the Tony Award winning Broadway cast of Bring in Da'Noise, Bring in Da'Funk in principal and lead roles; starring in the critically acclaimed production of Imagine Tap!. Mr. Samuels Smith continues to tour the US and beyond with India Jazz Suites, a dynamic collaboration with Kathak Master Pandit Chitresh Das, his own tap company A.C.G.I (Anybody Can Get It), JaJa Productions Band featuring jazz-influenced hip hop music, and Charlie's Angels: A Tribute to Charlie Parker which features some of the best women performers today. 

Photo by Michael Higgins

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Daniel Starer-Stor began his tap training at the age of seven, when his parents decided that they could no longer bear to hear him bang his feet while claiming to be a tap dancer. At the age of fourteen, Daniel became one of the original members of the Tap City Youth Ensemble, directed by the American Tap Dance Foundation. With TCYE, he has performed the choreography of Harold Cromer, Michelle Dorrance and Brenda Bufalino, among many others. Since 2008 he has been a member of Andrew Nemr’s company, Cats Paying Dues Plus, and with this company he is currently working on the NEA grant awarded Echoes In Time. In his free time, Daniel enjoys acting in both musical and dramatic works. Daniel is honored to have been asked to perform with Brenda Bufalino on several occasions and to have been selected as one of the dancers recreating her masterworks.

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Tap City Youth Ensemble is a project of the American Tap Dance Foundation. TCYE gives intermediate and advanced tap dancers ages 10-18 the opportunity to work with master tap artists & choreographers to learn and perform classic and contemporary tap choreography. The company is under the direction of Susan Hebach, with mentorship from Brenda Bufalino, Margaret Morrison and Tony Waag. The TCYE meets on Sundays from late September through  mid-June on Sundays for rehearsals in NYC. The repertory currently includes works by Guillem Alonso, Buster Brown, Brenda Bufalino, The Copasetics, Barbara Duffy, Michelle Dorrance, Jared Grimes, and Josh Hilberman, among others. The Tap City Youth Ensemble performs in a wide range of New York venues including formal concerts, school shows, hospital performances, and "Tap City" - The New York City Tap Festival each July.

Performance highlights include: Tap City at the Duke on 42nd St, the Joyce Theater, & Symphony Space, the Apollo Theatre, the National Tap Extravaganza, Tappy Holidays, Dancewave's "Kid's Café" Festival, Manhattan Restoration Project, Macy's Charity Day, School and Hospital Shows in NYC & NJ, From 5-Points to Harlem in Foley Square, Manhattan Nickelodeon's METV, Beat Street , Brooklyn Children's Museum, Long Island Children's Museum, Sound Check, A Tap Dance Concert Series & More! 

Photo by Debi Field

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The ATDF’s Youth Program dancers are in their second year of tap training with Courtney Runft. They are excited to perform at Symphony Space once again! The Boston Tap Junior Company is excited to be here for their debut performance. Under the direction of Sean Fielder, their home site is Riverside Theater Works in Hyde Park, Massachusetts. David Rider’s World of Tap Youth Ensemble comes to us from Hyde Park, NY. With special permission from the choreographer himself, they will be performing Randy Skinner’s, “Go into Your Dance” from the famed Broadway tap show “42nd Street”. Gnomies Too! is brought to us by Youth Tap Company choreographer, Ariella Jaffe. With dancers ranging in age from 6-9 years old, this is their 2nd year at Tap City. Hamilton Dance comes to us from Brooklyn, NY. Under the direction of Rita Hamilton, they are excited to return to Tap City for their 5th visit. KaBoom… Ka Tap! is a teen tap company from upstate NY. Housed in Red Hook NY, at the Rhinebeck Dance Centre, this is their 9th year participating at Tap City and they Love Tony Waag! The Legacy Dancers are enjoying their 9th year here at Tap City. They study all forms of dance at The Dance Inn in Lexington, MA under the direction of Thelma Goldberg. The Metro-Gnomes are one of Upstate NY’s premiere youth tap companies. Under the Direction of Michele Ribble, they have performed at the Joyce Theater, River to River Festival, Symphony Space, and the Dutchess County Fair just to mention a few. This is the Metro-Gnomes 8th year at Tap City! Mini Festival Students ages 6-8 are performers and dancers that are enrolled in the Mini Program studying here at Tap City with Alicia Smith and Mini Program dancers ages 9-14 studying with Kelly Kaleta. The New England Tap Ensemble, under the direction of Aaron Tolson is very excited for their first year at the festival. Aaron is a Professor of Dance at Plymouth State University and the Boston Conservatory and also the assistant choreographer, co-creator and assistant producer of Imagine Tap! Pre-Professional Program Students ages 12-19 are performers and dancers that are enrolled in the PPP studying here at Tap City with either Acia Gray or Chloe Arnold. Richmond Academy of Dance, headed by Amy Burns, has been tapping together for 11 years. They are thrilled and excited to be a part of this amazing festival. The Studio Bleu from North Virginia has performed at Wolf Trap, Lincoln Center and Newark Symphony Hall. This is their debut performance at the NYC Tap Festival. The Tap City Youth Ensemble is a project of the American Tap Dance Foundation. The company is under the direction of Susan Hebach, with mentorship from Brenda Bufalino, Margaret Morrison and Tony Waag. The Tap-Tastic Trio, from the Elite Dance Academy of Southington, CT. share their love of tap with director Patricia West and choreographer Melissa Chasse. They have won numerous awards and trophies. This is their debut performance at the NYC Tap Festival. Youth Program Students ages 9-14 are performers and dancers that are enrolled in the Youth Program studying here at Tap City with either Ray Hesselink or Jimmy Tate.

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Jimmy Tate  tap dancing since the age of 13 first studied with Tony award winner Danny Daniels, and muti-tony winner Henry LeTang. Broadway credits include playing the title role in "The Tap Dance Kid, "Big River", "Jelly's Last Jam", Bring in 'da Noise Bring in 'da Funk", and "Riverdance" where he has shared the stage with artists such as: Gregory Hines, Savion Glover, Ben Vereen, Phylicia Rashad, Ann Reinking, and three time Tony winner Hinton Battle. Jimmy replaced Tony award winner Savion Glover in his tony-award winning lead role in Bring in 'da Noise Bring in 'da Funk. He has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, the Rosie O'Donnel show and Late Night with David Letterman. Jimmy has also appeared on the Tony awards, Grammy awards, Drama desk awards, Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, Kennedy Center Honors, and at the 1997 Presidential Inauguration for former President Bill Clinton. Jimmy created and produced the original show "Thunder" which received great reviews at the 2007 NYC Fringe Festival, where he won the outstanding choreography award. Jimmy has also co-choreographed the smash-hit show TAP FIRE, featuring the world dance champion James Divine where it made its Broadway debut at the New Victory Theater in NYC, with rave reviews for choreography by The New York Times. Beginning his teaching career at Broadway Dance Center, he has been teaching for over12 years, now running his own studio for six years. He has taught at workshops, master classes, and choreography for dozens of studios across the country. Jimmy is an accomplished singer/songwriter and guitarist who has written and produced his own solo album "Play Me"

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Charlie Tokarz plays saxophone, flute, and clarinet. Through an association with David Grover, he has played at the White House, the Today Show, and recorded Grover’s music for HBO. He has recorded soundtracks for 2 documentary films for John Pritchard and VyzMusic. Recent work includes performing for modern dance at the Cambridge Dance Center, Skidmore College, and Earth Dance. He has done tap accompaniment for A Jazz Tap Odyssey and Brenda Bufalino. As a member of the pit band, he has worked at Arena Stage, Barrington Stage, and various schools. As part of the Sister City cultural exchange program, he has played in Ireland and Italy and done school clinics there and in the U.S. In addition to playing jazz with the Fran Curley Quartet, he has done experimental music with drummer Bob Weiner, kora master John Hughes, and Ed Mann from Frank Zappa’s band. He currently teaches at Hotchkiss School, Steiner School, and privately.

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Tony Waag - Producer/Director of Tap City, the New York City Tap Festival. In 1986, he founded the American Tap Dance Foundation (formerly the American Tap Dance Orchestra) with Brenda Bufalino and the late Charles ‘Honi’ Coles. As Executive Director and a featured dancer, he toured with the ATDO extensively throughout the United States and around the world. From 1989-1995, he co-created and operated, with Brenda Bufalino, Woodpeckers Tap Dance Center. As a soloist, he has performed internationally, making guest appearances at the International Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Rio de Janeiro’s Tap Encontro 99, The Moscow International Tap Festival, several National Tap Dance Day Extravaganzas in NYC, and numerous other concert events throughout the country. In 2000 and 2001, he performed as Master of Ceremonies to sold-out audiences across the country in Hoagy Carmichael's Centennial Celebration Tour! He has also performed on PBS's Great Performances – Tap Dance In America, WNEW's P.M. Magazine, Good Day New York, and The Regis & Kathie Lee Show, and has been featured in national television commercials for both Seagram's and Renault. Tony teaches master classes internationally, and is currently working on a musical film project entitled “Footage” based on his 25 odd years in the field.

Photo by Lois Greenfield

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Danny Wallace is originally from Northern California, now living in NYC. At 18, he performed with the Vegas company of "Tap Dogs" and later toured with the show throughout Germany, Paris, and Asia. He has been featured in the film "America's Sweethearts" (with Julia Roberts), numerous industrials (Coca Cola, Audi, and Compaq), as well as an opening act for Leann Rimes. He has been on faculty at both Broadway Dance Center and Steps in NYC. Danny has choreographed shows for companies such as Little Tykes, Footlocker, and Discover Card, as well as an equity production of "Funny Girl" in NC. He co-wrote/choreographed/directed an original dance musical entitled, "At the Diner", featured at the International Dance Festival in NYC. His latest project is entitled "TAP the MAP", where he and two friends drive around the country, hosting "in studio" tap workshops with the hope of keeping the art tap dance alive and thriving.

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Joseph Monroe Webb is an award winning actor, dancer, and poet, and has showcased his talents in a number of performances throughout the years.  These performances include the Tony Award winning Broadway production, Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk with notable tap dancer, Savion Glover.  Following his Broadway success, Webb ventured into acting and appeared in the Martin Scorsese film Bringing Out The Dead. He has appeared in numerous print and television advertisements. He has also performed on talk shows including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and Live with Regis and Kathy Lee. Most recently, he was featured as a solo dancer at the Gala des Étoiles (International Dance Festival) in Montreal, Canada. A true artist, Webb also pursues other artistic interests with his own band. Their music is a blend of hip-hop, jazz, soul, tap dance and spoken word.  Connecting live instrumentation with an incredible rhythm and horn section, Webb creates an engaging and interactive atmosphere denoting sheer inspiration.  Their latest album, Beautiful Fire, was released in May 2008, and is available for purchase on both Itunes and www.cdbaby.com. Joseph Webb is a Maryland Distinguished Scholar, a Level 1 awardee of the National Foundation For Advancement in the Arts, and a Presidential Scholar. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in the Theater Arts from Marymount Manhattan College. Webb is a Full Time Lecturer at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, NY, a teaching artist for Young Audiences in the New York School System, and is on the teaching staff of the Harlem School of the Arts. He recently was a master tap instructor at the First Annual D.C. Tap Fest in April 2009. Understanding that his talents and achievements are attributed to more than his commitment and contribution to the journey, Webb thanks The Most High for all of his Blessings.

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Xander Weinman  In January of 2009 Xander was seen on the Today in New York Show as a guest tap dancer; the segment was also played throughout taxis in NYC. In the following month Xander performed in Sound Check, a series of shows produced by Tony Waag and ATDF (American Tap Dance Foundation). As a part of this series he performed with the legendary, and brilliant, Brenda Bufalino in her show, Primordial Memories. He was also dance captain of Jason Samuels Smith’s ensemble for Take it to the Stage. In May he performed at the 20th annual Tap Extravaganza with Harold Cromer, and he made a guest appearance tap dancing on Sesame Street. In addition, he is currently forming his own tap company. In New York City he has performed at the B.B. King’s Blues Club on 42nd Street, at the Apollo Theater, in Battery Park, at the Judson Memorial Church in the Village, and at Café Loup with Barbara Duffy.

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Karen Callaway Williams recently completed a three year run with Riverdance, as the only female tap dancer and dance captain in Riverdance – On Broadway. Other Broadway credits include Duke Ellington’s Play On. Karen was also featured in Essence, interviewed on Showtime’s Bojangles, The Legacy. As well, she has been a special guest on Sesame Street. A graduate of Spelman College in Atlanta, she is also an alumna of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center Certificate Program in NYC. Upon arriving in NYC, Karen became a member of DancEllington Dance Company, and worked with the Duke Ellington Orchestra. She was also the lone female tap artist at Lincoln Center’s The Majesty of Tap, with tap legends Bunny Briggs, Jimmy Slyde, Chuck Green, and Lon Chaney. Dance Magazine heralded her as “a graceful dream with taps as happy as a song.” In addition to performing, Ms. Williams has established herself as a prominent tap instructor in schools such as The Alvin Ailey American Dance Center and the Professional Performing Arts.

Photo by Debi Field

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Richard Riaz Yoder is overjoyed to be working with Brenda Bufalino and the American Tap Dance Foundation. This St. Louis born tap dancer currently living in New York City received his bachelors of performing arts from Oklahoma City University under the tutelage of Jo Rowan, Mr. Robert L. Reed and many others. He has worked regionally at North Shore Music Theatre, Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma City and the Municipal Theatre of St. Louis in many different productions ranging from “42nd Street” to “Hairspray”. Richard has also performed international on the Asian Tour of “42nd Street” playing the role of Mac and dancing in the ensemble. When not performing Richard enjoys concentrating on the artistic freedom of choreography and the thrill of teaching. He has taught and choreographed in St. Louis, Missouri; Chicago, Illinois; Beverly, Massachusetts and Williamsburg, Virginia. Thanks to his family and friends for love and support!

Photo by Billy Bustamante

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