Tap dancers young and old from around the country come together for Tap Fest at the Colburn School.
Tap Fest, the annual celebration of the art of tap now in its seventh year, will take place on the Colburn School campus on Sunday, April 9. The schedule for the day includes workshops showcasing special guest artists and Colburn School faculty.
“We get the chance to really celebrate the art form,” said Denise Scheerer, chair of jazz, tap, and musical theater in the Trudl Zipper Dance Institute of the Community School of Performing Arts. “It’s all about having a special tap day, with festivities all in one place. It’s a frenzy, and it’s so much fun.”
Tap Fest brings in top artists from across the country to teach master classes and participate in a finale performance. This year’s event will feature award–winning choreographer Michelle Dorrance, dancer and songwriter Lee Howard, and lauded dancers Sara Reich, Sam Weber, and Aaron Williams. Colburn faculty members Angel Pennington, Blake Colie, Jerry Kalaf and Melinda Sullivan will also participate in the day along with Ms. Scheerer.
“Tap Fest has become tradition for many of the tap dancers,” Ms. Scheerer said. Tap enthusiasts from all over Southern California come to participate in intermediate and advanced workshops during the day-long festival. The event culminates in a concert with a live band, during which guest artists perform and participants all gather on the stage to dance together.
Workshops are for intermediate and advanced tap dancers, open to artists aged nine to adult. The final concert in Zipper Hall offers a fun experience for all dance fans, with some of tap’s biggest names in one place.
“There are so many festivities in one place,” said Ms. Scheerer. “It’s such a crazy and fun day, and I can’t wait.”