Brenda Bufalino, a trailblazer in the renaissance of tap dance, performs and teaches throughout the U.S. and the world. She has been one of the guiding forces in the creation of the numerous tap festivals, summits, reunions and workshops presented worldwide. As a master teacher, historian, author, lecturer, and choreographer she is recognized as a resource authority on the evolution and development of tap dance, one of America's few indigenous art forms. She produced and directed the award winning documentary film, "Great Feats of Feet" in 1975, featuring Charles "Honi" Coles and the Copasetics. She has appeared as a soloist at Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, the Apollo Theater, the Smithsonian Institute, the Kennedy Center, and in concert halls around the globe. She has also appeared Off Broadway in "The Courtroom,” directed by Bill Irwin. She collaborated and performed in concert with the late Charles "Honi" Coles, touring America and Europe. They co-choreographed the Morton Gould "Tap Concerto" and performed it with the Brooklyn Philharmonic and the Norwalk Symphony. In 1986 Ms. Bufalino formed the American Tap Dance Orchestra with Tony Waag and in 1993 they founded a sister company, the International Tap Dance Orchestra. The ATDO has performed throughout the world and appeared on the PBS-TV special "Tap Dance in America.” Ms. Bufalino continues to break new ground with her vision of concert tap dance in orchestral form. She has created many instructional video tapes, and her new book "Tapping the Source...tap dance stories, theory and practice"  has been published by Cod Hill press and is available at both www.Amazon.com and www.BrendaBufalino.com.

Photo by Toe Knee

Back to top >

Nicki Denner Pianist/composer/arranger Nicki Denner has been a part of the New York Latin and jazz music scene since 1999United States and Europe.  Nicki is also a devoted teacher, maintaining a private teaching studio, and serving on the piano faculty of the Stanford University Summer Jazz Workshop and the Montclair State University Jazz Prep Summer Program.  Since 2001, she has led her own trio which features Jennifer Vincent on bass, and Willie Martinez on drums. In 2006, the trio released their debut recording, Moliendo Café, which was named one of the "Top Ten Picks of 2006" in Latin Beat Magazine.  Ms. Denner has released two other Latin jazz CD’s as a leader, Don’t Just Stand There and El Médico de Coquí (featuring Julian Llanos, former singer with Latin music legend Arsenio Rodriguez) which spent six months in Latin Beat magazine's Top 20 Hit Parade. You can hear her music at www.nickidenner.com.

Back to top >

Barbara Duffy is “one of the most inventive tappers around today”, said 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 Theater, 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 15 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.

Back to top >

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

Back to top >

DeWitt Fleming Jr. graduated at Marymount Manhattan College with a BA in Acting. His stage credits include: (Off- Bwy) Dutchman, Highlights in Jazz, Tribute to Tap Legends, Richard III, and Finnegan’s Farewell to name a few. He is an acclaimed tap dancer, and has performed throughout the United States. He was most recently seen in the Equity Showcase production of Dance Bojangles Dance, in which he played the lead.  He is the host, and also co-creator of the new Off-Bwy hit Broadway Underground. DeWitt has danced with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, the Princeton Symphony Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, and with artist such as Wynton Marsalis, Wycliffe Gordon, Victor Goings, and Suzanne Douglas. DeWitt is also a Percussionist. He plays the drum set weekly for numerous artists throughout the tri-state area. He is dance captain for The New Jersey Tap Ensemble, a member of The Young Hoofers, and Theater for a New Generation.

Photo by Debi Field

Back to top >

Thelma Goldberg recently celebrated her 20th anniversary as founder and director of The Dance Inn in Lexington, one of New England's largest and most innovative schools, serving 700 students weekly. She is also on the faculty of the Boston Conservatory of Dance, Music, and Theater. 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. Her dance team, the Legacy Dancers, featuring performers aged 10 - 81, performs 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.

Back to top >

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

Back to top >

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.  

Back to top >

Constance Valis Hill is a jazz dancer and choreographer dedicated to writing about and historicizing jazz tap dance. She has studied with Pepsi Bethel, Matt Mattox, Nat Horne, Charles ‘Cookie’ Cook and members of the Copasetics. After creating and performing The Doilie Sisters at La Mama, and directing Sole Sisters for the Changing Times Tap Company, she earned an M.A. in Dance Research and Reconstruction from City College of the University of New York, and a Ph.D. in Performance Studies from NYU. Her articles and reviews have appeared in Dance Magazine, Village Voice, Studies in Dance History, International Tap Association, and Dance Research Journals. Her book, Brotherhood in Rhythm: The Jazz Tap Dancing of the Nicholas Brothers, won the 2001 ASCAP Deems Taylor Award. She is currently an Associate Professor of Dance at Hampshire College in Massachusetts. She was awarded a 2006 John Simon Guggenheim fellowship to write a cultural history of tap dancing in America since 1900.

Back to top >

Kendrick Jones began his dancing career at the age of five out of Flint, MI.  There, he began his training with tap dance artists Alde Lewis, Jr., and Alfred Bruce Bradley of Creative Expressions. In his years of study he has shared the stage with some of the finest of tap dancers including Fayard Nicholas, Dianne Walker, Van Porter, Gregory Hines, and many more. Kendrick has performed at the Chicago Human Rhythm Tap Project, the St. Louis Tap Festival as a scholarship student, and Showtime at the Apollo where he won and was named “King of The Hill” as the “Apollo Kids Grand Champion” for its 1999-00 season. He also danced alongside the great Gregory Hines at the Whiting Auditorium, Flint, during Hines’s National Tour in 2000, and later appeared in Ebony Magazine with him. Since 2001, he has performed at Tap City, in New York City and on tour, danced at the National Black Sports & Entertainment Hall of Fame Awards ceremony live on NBC, he also work-shopped in Lisbon, Portugal where he also danced before the Ambassador to the country. He recently appeared in the revival production of Bubblin’ Brown Sugar starring Diahann Carroll.

.Photo by Debi Field

Back to top >

Parris Mann was part of the European cast of the Broadway Dance Musical Black and Blue. Prior to his European tour, Parris was seen in numerous performances throughout the United States. He has performed as a principal dancer with the New Jersey Tap Ensemble and was awarded the State of New Jersey Governor's Award for Dance Excellence. Parris was a member of the cast of the hit show Riverdance. He performed weekly at NYC's prestigious Supper Club from 1996 to 2001.

Back to top >

Margaret Morrison is a rhythm tap soloist, choreographer and producer who has taught and performed at tap dance festivals across the United States, Brazil and Germany.  She was hailed as a "consummate artist who breaks the mold" in her tap show "Body of Rhythm".  She is a founding member, since 1986, of the American Tap Dance Orchestra, directed by Brenda Bufalino. She toured internationally with the ATDO for 15 years and appeared on the acclaimed PBS Special, Tap Dance in America with Gregory Hines. Margaret also tapped in a national commercial for Seagrams and is a co-creator of Pulsation and Wombapusi, all-women ensembles of tap, percussion, and poetry that performed at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, NYC’s PS 122 and the Nuyorican Poets Café. Jennifer Dunning of the New York Times called Margaret an "exciting virtuoso dancer," and her choreography "a tour de force" and "the witty highlight of the evening." Margaret’s choreography is performed by ensembles around the US and was featured at Avery Fisher Hall in 2000.  As the Education Director of the ATDF, Margaret coordinates all of the training programs and workshops and co-directs the Tap City Youth Ensemble. She is a graduate of Barnard College, where she is currently on the faculty of the Dance Department, teaching tap technique and a history course "Tap as an American Art Form", and directing the Tap Ensemble.

Photo by Brad Fowler

Back to top >

Tony Waag founded the American Tap Dance Foundation (formerly known as the American Tap Dance Orchestra) with Brenda Bufalino and the late Charles "Honi" Coles in 1986. As the executive/artistic director for the ATDF, he has managed the company for 20 years, in charge of administration, booking, promotion, marketing and fundraising. As a featured artist with the company, he also performed in hundreds of ATDO concert productions including premiere performances at the Apollo Theater, the Joyce Theater, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Dance Theater Workshop, the legendary Cotton Club, Avery Fisher Hall, the Walter Reade Theater, LaMama E.T.C., Town Hall, the Sylvia and Danny Kaye Theater, Symphony Space, the United Nations, the Atlanta Arts Festival, the Utah Arts Festival, the Colorado Dance Festival the Lincoln Center "Out-of-Doors" Festival, and in various national film and television specials. International appearances include USIA tours of Turkey , Poland , Cyprus , Latvia and Estonia , the Bermuda Arts Festival, tours of Germany and Italy with Brenda Bufalino, the International Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland , Encontro 99 in Rio de Janiero, the 9th Annual Nit de Claque Festival in Spain , and solo appearances in Paris , Singapore , and Moscow . From 1989-1995, he co-created and operated, with Ms. Bufalino, Woodpeckers Tap Dance Center which became a model for numerous tap organizations and tap studios worldwide creating, producing, and presenting various educational programs for adults and children year-round, as well as annual winter tap intensives with master classes, courses and workshops taught by leading International artists and master tap dancers. Mr. Waag has received numerous grants towards the presentation and preservation of tap dance as a unique American art form, and in 2002, he created the first International Tap Dance Hall of Fame honoring the contributions of legendary tap dancers by preserving their legacies for future generations to enjoy.

Photo by Lois Greenfield

Back to top >