The Vancouver International Tap Dance Festival

2013 Vancouver International Tap Dance Festival
AUGUST 30, 31, SEPT. 1, 2013

August 30 - September 1 , 2013
Master Classes, Social Event, Evening of Ensembles, Participant Showcase -

August 29 - Thursday -- Cruise and Tap Jam
August 30-31, Sept. 1 -- Master classes - Scotiabank Dance Centre
August 30 - Friday -- Super Natural BC Tap (Norman Rothstein)
Aug 31 - Saturday -- Syncopated Ladies and Tap Stars (Norman Rothstein)
Sep. 1 - Sunday -- Hot Feet - Festival Showcase - Faris Theatre - Scotiabank Dance Centre

WELCOME TO THE VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL TAP FESTIVAL.
The hot, wild energy and cool, polished style of tap dance at its very finest can only mean one thing - FUN. That is our theme this year - savouring the explosive, exciting, toe-tapping joy that is tap.

It all begins August 29th - as faculty and out-of-towners begin to gather in this beautiful city. We kick off the festival with an evening cruise on Vancouver's inner harbour, featuring an Italian buffet dinner and a tap jam on the palatial Queen of Diamonds.

Dianne Walker, Chloe Arnold, Jason Janas, Michelle Dorrance, Andrew Nemr, Terry Brock,  Joseph Webb, Jumaane Taylor, Christopher Broughton, and Sarah Reich are just a few of the internationally-renowned tap artists who have thrown huge doses of fun into the mix to create youth and adult master classes that are rich in content, and unique in choice.

Our three festival presentations this year are completely different from anything we've done before.

On Friday night we bring you "Super Natural BC Tap" - which features BC's talented tap community, and provides a sneak preview of Danny Neilson's new show "Love.Be.Best.FREE".

On Saturday we are showcasing the sheer technical talent, physicality and magic of two ensembles that is nothing short of electrifying. Our "Syncopated Ladies" will have you jumping out of your seats and just try to resist the dynamic energy of Rasta Thomas's "Tap Stars".

We wrap up the Festival on Sunday with our "Hot Feet" presentation - highlights of the impressive festival talent and featuring selected work that evolves out of three days of master classes.

Everyone at VTDS looks forward to seeing you at the Festival, and we so appreciate your ongoing support each year. The Festival is for you - our brochure will be posted in a few weeks and you will be notified when registration is open.

Festival 2013 brochure now here.

PRINTABLE Festival 2013 Registration Form now here.

ONLINE Festival 2013 Registration Form will be available soon

See the Adult Classes

See the Youth Classes

See the Instructor Bios

See the Tap Festival Events

A Few Words About The Classes

CONTINUOUS CLASSES

Selected classes have been designated Showcase Classes, and are invited to present at our HOT FEET event, Sunday Sept. 1, 2013. Continuous Classes are classes that are scheduled at the same time, with the same instructor, with the intention of covering continuous work over a 2 or 3-day period. All Single Classes that may repeat an instructor, level or narrative are uniquely different individual classes. None of these classes are continuous or repeated. Double classes are delivered on the same day and are back-to-back as a double class. Two 90-minute sessions for a total of three hours.

ADULT CLASSES

DIANNE WALKER:
Residency; 3-day Continuous Residency 9 hours
SHOWCASE CLASS
Taking it to the stage
Intermediate/Advanced
Over the years Dianne's in-depth residencies have explored the scope of Leon Collin's body of work and immense value its methodology provides for training dancers. Dianne has always emphasized the fact that, once a dancer has learned Leon Collins' work they come to "the beginning" of their next artistic phase, ready to reach for their own artistic voice and stylistic choices with the material.

And so, now we will to take Leon's work to the stage. Through Diannes artistic lens, you will learn a variety of approaches and processes to interpret Leon's work and bring it to a performance level. This work will be one of the three showcase presentations at the Hot Feet event. Dianne is assisted by Jessie Sawyers.

CHLOE ARNOLD:
Pure Chloe; 3-day, Continuous;
Advanced
Technique, Choreography and Improv - this class is a game changer!

Light the Fire
Intermediate
Sharpen your skills and spark your own personal style with fiery music, hot rhythms and smokin' exercises.

It's Your Time
Advanced Beginner
Refine your technique and tighten up your timing and phrasing to cultivate your own unique style.

MICHELLE DORRANCE:
Blistery Rhythms; 3-day, Continuous;
SHOWCASE CLASS
Intermediate/Advanced
"Dorrance is a marvel...danced in total darkness, one could hear the music in her feet, complicated rhythms at blistering speed infused with a remarkable range of tonal color, from delicate fill to thundering smack downs. She's the whole package" - Jennifer Dunnings, Boston Globe ...Need we say more?

And now for something completely different
Intermediate
Quirky, off-balance, innovative, whimsical, funny, risky...you'll see once the class gets going.

Essential Combos
Advanced Beginner
One of the necessary and basic tools to have in your tap kit.

TERRY BROCK:
Tap Variations
Part 1- Terry Brock
Part 2 - Danny Nielsen (see below)
Part 3 - Jessie Sawyers (see below)
Intermediate/Advanced
During a professional development opportunity in May, Danny Nielsen, Jessie Sawyers and Terry Brock took one piece of music and collaborated with dancers to create three distinctly different choreographies. Experience how one piece of music can be morphed to highlight the unique choreographic choices made by each of these dynamic artists.

A Little Motown
Advanced Beginner
Inspired by the new Broadway sensation "Motown: The Musical", we are including this music in our festival. We also fondly remember tap's legendary Cholly Atkins, who shaped the choreography for so many Motown artists. Motown was an iconic time in music and dance... Terry will take you there.

JASON JANAS:
Repertoire; 3-day, Continuous;
Advanced
From Jason... "Learning a rep piece will challenge and inspire advanced dancers. I put my heart and soul into all my choreography classes. You will be pushed, but safe from judgment. I PUSH you and expect you to be on your toes and ready for more, more, more..."

Technique can't be imitated
Intermediate (Double session)
From Jason... "It's always about technique... and then style, which can't be improvised. Heart can't be bought." Jason explores the three key ingredients of tap - technique, style and heartand shows you how to bring this to your craft.

ANDREW NEMR:
How well do you know your Feet?
Advanced
Explore highly syncopated rhythms and patterns that will challenge your mind and your body. Andrew will explore various choices that can lead down a multitude of creative paths. Now you are ready to choose your own adventure.

Know your feet
Intermediate
Get up close and personal with your feet. You will stretch your understanding of basic tap dance patterns and learn new ways of relating to your feet. Andrew will begin with patterns you already know, then help you deconstruct and then reconstruct in new and curious ways.

Fun with your feet
Advanced Beginner
As you review some of the basics, you'll explore ways to play with patterns even as you learn them. You'll build upon previous knowledge and experience, and have a whole lot of fun while you're doing it.

DANNY NIELSEN:
Tap Variations
Part 1- Terry Brock (see above)
Part 2 - Danny Nielsen
Part 3 - Jessie Sawyers (see below)
Intermediate/Advanced
During a professional development opportunity in May, Danny Nielsen, Jessie Sawyers and Terry Brock took one piece of music and collaborated with dancers to create three distinctly different choreographies. Experience how one piece of music can be morphed to highlight the unique choreographic choices made by each of these dynamic artists.

SARAH REICH:
Tap Music Intermediate – 2-day continuous;
Intermediate
Get in touch with your musical side by dancing to a cappella.

Latin Rhythms
Advanced Beginner
Watch what happens when you mix tap with Latin dance music. "Watching tapper Sarah Reich dance is a lesson in exuberance... she has an uncanny ability to balance the hard- hitting syncopation of today's rhythm tappers with a touch of a confidence of the tap legends..." Dance Magazine.

JESSIE SAWYERS:
Tap Variations
Part 1- Terry Brock (see above)
Part 2 - Danny Nielsen (see above)
Part 3 - Jessie Sawyers
Intermediate/Advanced
During a professional development opportunity in May, Danny Nielsen, Jessie Sawyers and Terry Brock took one piece of music and collaborated with dancers to create three distinctly different choreographies. Experience how one piece of music can be morphed to highlight the unique choreographic choices made by each of these dynamic artists.

Tapping Musicians' Solos
Intermediate
One of the best things you can do to expand your ear for musicality as a tap dancer is to listen to jazz-based recordings and learn the improvisational solos throughout. In this class, Jessie will teach you a combination that matches a musician's solo note-for-note. You will dance out sophisticated melodic phrasing with the flow and creative access of a great musician.

JUMAANE TAYLOR:
Breaking it Down; 2-day, Continuous;
Advanced
This class will illuminate the spirit of the Chicago Hoofers Club with a focus on improvisation. As Jumaane says, "That's how you find yourself in the art".

Playing with Jazz
Advanced
Jumaane has been on the jazz scene in Chicago for years. Jazz is the foundation of tap, and Jumaane is its compass. He will guide you through the creative process by taking the mystery out of "finding the groove" and teaching you to adopt jazz to suit your own style - a progression of the two elements music and dance.

Listen
Advanced Beginner
A focus on technique and building with an African-based sound using Afro-beat, jazz and hip hop. This develops an understanding of the musical role and how to use the floor. Time to slow it down. Listen to what you are saying and how you are saying it. Learn how to connect your feet and your ear..

CHRISTOPHER BROUGHTON:
Push it
Intermediate
Let's explore different music styles-while exceeding the speed limit!

Vibrant Funk
Intermediate
Christopher's style is FUN and upbeat, with a little Hip Hop thrown into the mix. He plans to challenge you with weight shifting exercises that focus on footwork.

Joy of Movement
Advanced Beginner
Experience the joy of movement, while learning different steps and combos. This could very well be your new exercise and warm-up regime.

JOSEPH WEBB:
Tapping with Prince!; 2-day, Continuous;
Intermediate/Advanced
Joseph loves "everything Prince!" He will move you through choreography to Prince's hit "I Wanna Be Your Lover". You will have a lot of fun with this theme – learn how to stay in character, while "hittin'."

 

 

 

YOUTH CLASSES
Note all Youth Classes are at the Inermediate Level

MAUD ARNOLD:
Gregory
3-day, Continuous;
SHOWCASE CLASS
Don't miss this tribute to an American legend who consistently brought joy to our hearts, a smile to our faces, and that uncontrollable beat to our feet!

SARAH REICH:
Cardio Tap
Get ready to sweat with Wings, Pullbacks, Slides etc...to today's top hits.

ANISSA LEE:
Inspiration
2-day, Continuous;
Do you lack motivation, want to build your confidence level, or need that extra inspiration to get your dancing to the next level? Anissa has achieved so much in such a short time and knows that hard work, staying focused and having FUN is what makes someone passionate about tap. She will inspire you in each of these classes!

KYLE WILDER:
Putting Tap Tricks in Context
Top tap artists make flashy footwork and trick steps look easy, but it all starts with learning the basics first and keeping things in context. Kyle brings the focus back on musicality, shading, phrasing and expression.

JOSEPH WEBB:
Poetic Shuffles
2-day, Continuous;
SHOWCASE CLASS
Tap is a rhythmic conversation and when you explore the possibilities of weaving the spoken word into your repertoire, the presentation takes on an added dimension and new shape. This class has proven to be a hit on the festival circuit and is selected to showcase at the HOT FEET event Sunday evening.

JASON JANAS:
Past and Present
You will begin this class feeling inspired by the past and leave feeling excited about your tap future. From Jason..."I am a student, as we all are in life and class. Join me in this class that merges past and present."

TERRY BROCK:
Say what you mean and mean what you say
This is the foundation for advancing your performance and technique skills. Terry has paved the way to the bright lights of Broadway for hundreds of students who have learned to "say what they mean".

DANNY NIELSEN:
Rhythmic complexity
Danny will put you through your paces with some challenging up-tempo combinations. Bring water!

CONNOR KELLY:
Combos
Bring your A-game as Connor takes you through innovative combinations with slides and complex rhythms.