Shuffle off to Bloomfield: Tap Fest Comes to Town

Flap. Heel. Ball Change.

Put on your dancing shoes and practice your routines. Tap dancing is taking over Bloomfield this weekend.

Jersey Tap Fest, the state’s largest tap dancing festival, takes place from Thursday to Sunday at Bloomfield College.

The four-day festival offers more than 30 tap dance classes and a main stage event Tap ‘N Time. Taking place at  Bloomfield Corllege’s Westminster Arts Center, Tap ‘N Time showcase ensembles and emerging tap dance artists under the direction of performer and producer Hillary-Marie Michael. 

The TAP ‘N TIME program will feature a live band under the direction of Andrew Atkinson with 16 pieces by top tap dance performers, including Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards (2012 Bessie Award, The Hoofer Award from The American Tap Dance Foundation), Karen Callaway Williams (NJTAP, Riverdance), Jason Janas (“Tap Stars by Bad Boys of Dance”), Evan Ruggiero (Peg-Leg Bates), as well as Kyle Wilder, Jeff Foote, Hank Smith, Sean Fielder, Josie Say, Sean C. Fielder and the Boston Tap Company, Hands Down Tap Project, and more.

“Tap ‘n Time is guaranteed to be the best tap dance show that New Jersey will see this summer,” founder and director Hillary-Marie Michael said in an email.

Michael said Tap Fest is a family dance festival and an opportunity for tap enthusiasts to come and learn technique and history.

“We offer an opportunity to find a home for exploration and to leave with a renewed relationship to the tap community,” Michael said. 

Michael, recognized in Dance Studio Life Magazine as one of the youngest successful directors and producers on the tap scene, joined New Jersey Tap Ensemble in 2006 and is featured in the documentary I Can Still Do That. She has been featured at the Apolloa Theater, Mayo Arts Center, NJ State Theatre, NJPAC, SOPAC, The Copacabana, The Duke Theatre, F.I.T., Peter Norton Symphony Space and elsewhere. In addition, she’s shared her views at conferences such as TedXTalks.

Top local talent will lead and teach classes, including Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards, Hillary-Marie Michael, Hank Smith, Kyle Wilder as well as Deborah Mitchell, Jason Janas, Josie Say (teaching a Lindy Hop master class), Karen Callaway Williams, Jeff Foote, and Nicki Denner. The program serves students with passion for tap dance in the tri-state area, and provides participants with opportunities to perform giving them valuable experience.

Video of on-stage ending jam session at the 2012 Tap ‘n Time performance can be viewed here. Additional information on the festival can be found athttp://www.jerseytapfest.com. Audiences can interact with the festival at Facebook.com/jerseytapfest and Twitter.com/hillarymariem.

TAP ‘N TIME Ticket and Venue Information

Tickets are available at www.jerseytapfest.brownpapertickets.com or 1-800-838-3006. Prices for TAP ‘N TIME performance range from $18 (students and seniors) - $22 (general). Tickets will also be available for purchase prior to show at the Westminister Arts Center box office at Bloomfield College, 449 Franklin Street, Bloomfield, NJ, 07003.

2013 Jersey Tap Fest Schedule

Jersey Tap Fest | Thursday, August 22 – Sunday, August 25

Location: Broadway Performing Arts dance Studio, 357 Broad Street, Bloomfield. Registration and schedule: http://www.jerseytapfest.com/registration.htm

• Jam Session: August 22, 7:30 p.m., $10
• Shim-Sham Class: August 23, 2:30 p.m., FREE
• Student Showcase: August 23, 7:30 p.m., $10
• Faculty Brunch: August 25, 11:30 a.m., $1