Time Square, NYC, all ready for last year’s Tap It Out (photo by Debi Field/ATDF) Like most New Yorkers, I have a love-hate relationship with Times Square. On one hand, it’s the iconic NYC scape—the place many young dancers picture when they dream of moving to the Big Apple. On the other hand, it’s noisy, […]
We don’t pass up any opportunity to live vicariously through the fabulous Rockettes. We’ve taken you behind-the-scenes at their auditions, and have even gone backstage at Radio City Music Hall. Yep—we’ll take any chance we can get to obsess over these amazing dancers. Our favorite leggy ladies have FINALLY started their own YouTube channel to […]
Here at DS, we like to ask young dancers questions like: Who inspires you? Who’s your favorite dancer? Who would you drop everything to go see? It’s always interesting to hear the variety of names that pop up. But when it comes to aspiring tappers, one man almost always makes the list: Savion Glover. For […]
If America didn’t already know that the Syncopated Ladies are EVERYTHING, it sure does now. By competing in the first “So You Think You Can Dance” crew battle (and winning, of course), Chloé Arnold and her ladies have reminded everyone that it’s girls who run the world. #SYTYCDLadiesFTW But we’ve been mega-fans of these tantalizing […]
Ahh Memorial Day Weekend is just three weeks away. We can almost smell the budding flowers, the fresh-cut grass, the charcoal grill…It’s the first real taste of summer freedom. But what could make this three-day weekend even better? Um, National Tap Dance Day, of course! Bill “Bojangles” Robinson teaches Shirley Temple the stair dance in […]
We’ve all been captivated by dances that skillfully blend beautiful technique with an engaging storyline: classic ballets, rousing Broadway numbers, touching contemporary pieces, even lyrical hip-hop routines. But what about tap? Sure, it’s got intricate melodies and flashy footwork, but can you use it to develop a character? Absolutely! Many people don’t realize it, but […]
Ten years ago, the city of Shreveport, Louisiana, declared April 23 “Jason Samuels Smith Day.” (It’s also the 10th anniversary of Dance Spirit‘s May/June 2004 cover with none other than the hoofer himself.) To get the celebrations started, here are a few videos of the tap master working his magic. We’ll begin with a clip […]
Here at DS, we’re huge fans of Chloé Arnold’s Syncopated Ladies. We’ve been in love with them ever since they gave Rihanna’s “Where Have You Been” a tap-tastic makeover back in 2012. I mean, talk about girl power: Arnold and her ladies (including her sister Maud and Melinda Sullivan—both former DS cover models) bring the […]