Modern rhythmic dancers sparking tap revival

Source: Standard-Examiner, Ogden, UtahAug.迷你倉 30--Groups like Rhythmic Circus, appearing at Layton's amphitheater next week, have helped spur a revival in tap dancing throughout the country.No one is certain exactly where or how tap began, but it is a uniquely American art form. What is known about the style is that it started sometime in the 1800s in America, and has its roots in the African-American culture."We think maybe bottle caps were first put on shoes to accent the soft-shoe style, but no one really knows for certain," said Erik Stern, a professor of dance at Weber State University, who teaches a technique class in rhythmic tap.Two major styles of tap exist today, commonly referred to as rhythmic tap and Broadway style. Rhythmic tap is much freer in form, and came first.Though its early years are mostly lost in the mists of time, one thing is certain about rhythmic tap, said Stern. The dance style and another American-born art form, jazz, grew up together. The tap shoe itself was used as a percussive instrument."In the earliest history of jazz, those first 30 or 40 years, tap dancers and drummers worked together," Stern said. "They were all working together to challenge each other rhythmically. Tap was an integral part of a major musical form."Of course, they separated eventually, but there was a time they were very closely connected, and one influenced the other. Regardless of whether the tap dancer was interested in pushing the jazz drummer, or they were worrying about their presentation -- if they were good at tapping, they contributed to the whole musical idea."Utah tapSalt Lake City tapper Debby Robertson lives and breathes tap. The proprietor of SLC Tap!, Robertson holds a bachelor's degree in modern dance from the University of Utah, as well as a masters in dance education from Columbia University in New York.Tapping since 1979, Robertson has appeared in numerous shows, including dancing experimental works for choreographer Anita Feldman, and helping found and dance in the companies The American Tap Dance Orchestra and NYC Tapworks. She moved back to Utah several years ago, where she has continued to teach and preach the art of tap.It is sometimes challenging in Utah, Robertson said, to get people to think beyond the big stars of tap -- and to understand that every shoe that makes a noise when it hits the stage is not tapping."People tend to just know the major names here, I think," Robertson said. "Then there are the people who think things like 'Riverdance' is tap, but it is not. Really, the tap renaissance has been going on since about 1980, long before groups like Tap Dogs came along. But it has been a gradual thing in many places, I think."Rhythmic or Broadway?The two major styles of tap sometimes overlap, but are most easily defined this way: Broadway tap is tightly choreographed and mostly a visual experience. Rhythmic tap focuses more on the musicality.Said Stern: "There have been Broadway tappers that are great tappers. But in general, Broadway tap is more associated with chorus line -- 自存倉 lot of people doing it together, very controlled movement. Rhythmic tap, or jazz tap, as it is also called, has to do with the auditory nature of it, and the musical nature."For instance, Gregory Hines was pure rhythm tap. You will not see him in a chorus, or doing position-oriented movement. The greatest purveyor of rhythmic tap today is probably Savion Glover."Robertson, a rhythmic tapper by nature and training, said most people don't differentiate -- tap is tap to them."I don't think there is enough of a sophisticated audience to distinguish whether you are seeing show tap -- which is relatively easy -- or really complex, syncopated rhythm tap like you see in Rhythmic Circus," she said.Robertson has had the opportunity to work with Rhythmic Circus dancers. The troupe's Nick Bowman has also presented master classes for her students."He brings inspiration," she said of Bowman. "He is very encouraging, and is able to get the message across to young people. He tells them anyone can do this, but it takes a lot of work and discipline. He is also an incredible dancer, and very handsome, too, and really friendly -- a sweetheart, and a great teacher."And he tells them of all the sacrifices Rhythmic Circus made to get to where they are. The Rhythmic Circus dancers are tops in their field. They dance circles around most people. Really inspiring."Tap is coolThough many dance studios now don't, or only occasionally, offer tap classes, the demand seems to be growing.Elizabeth Shively, of Dance Arts Movement Center in Ogden, said she does not offer a straight tap class at this time."We incorporate a bit of tap in our Broadway dance class -- just the basics. We are still mostly ballet and modern dance," said Shively. "But I am seeing a trend of tap becoming more popular with high-school-age dancers. I think groups like Rhythmic Circus and Tap Dogs make tap more approachable to older students. And I do have more phone calls looking for tap classes than I did just a few years ago."Said Stern: "Because of Savion and other acts like that, people have become more aware of tap as a musical form; it is more on their radar. And I love teaching tap class, because I get both dancers and theater students, with interest in both styles. What I teach the good tappers, regardless of style, is technique. A good tapper, in either style really, has to confront fundamental things that are very difficult, and that a lot of students haven't been able to address in other classes. So that is what I focus on, regardless."Robertson is hopeful that her passion is becoming that of many other dancers, too."People are starting to thing tap dance is cool," Robertson said. "I think there are more people doing it now, and that is heartening for me. And I am getting more students. I am starting a new beginning tap class, and people are finding me, even though I haven't really advertised."Copyright: ___ (c)2013 the Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah) Visit the Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah) at .standard.net Distributed by MCT Information Services迷你倉新蒲崗