Brenda Bufalino (teacher and guest choreographer), 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.

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Harold Cromer (guest choreographer) 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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Barbara Duffy (guest choreographer) According to Gregory Hines, “Barbara Duffy is one of the most inventive tappers around today.”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.  A highly sought after teacher, Barbara has taught at numerous workshops and festivals in 14 countries around the world. When not on the road, Barbara holds classes in New York City at Broadway Dance Center. Her greatest inspirations are BRENDA BUFALINO, the late LEON COLLINS and the late GREGORY HINES.

 
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Jared Grimes (guest choreographer) 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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Susan Hebach (Director of Year-round Youth Programs & Tap City Youth Ensemble Director) 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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Molutsi Mogami (guest choreographer)– South African Gum Boot Dance -- was born in South Africa in the North West province in the small city called Matlosane and started dancing as a child.  In high school he began teaching and formed a community performing group.  He is a dynamic performer who specializes in singing, dancing, drumming and playing ancient instruments.   He has performed across the world in China, Hong Kong, Australia, Belgium, and throughout Africa, and is currently featured in a hit Off-Broadway show featuring the music, dance and drumming of South Africa.  Molutsi will be teaching South African Gum Boot Dance, an exciting form of percussive dance created by South African miners involving stomping foot percussion and slapping and clapping complex poly-rhythms against knee-high rubber boots. 

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Margaret Morrison (Education Director and guest choreographer) 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.

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Tony Waag (Artistic/Executive Director and guest choreographer) 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.

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