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Colorado dance coalition taps into a good thing

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Contributed by: Michele Natarelli on 2/20/2007

Colorado Dance Coalition, a Parker-based dance organization, was only taking baby steps in October of 2006. Artistic Director, Beverly Pinkerton, and Marketing Director, Michele Natarelli, weren't sure about getting their feet wet and so, they tread very softly at first.

After hosting several Master Tap Dance Classes and tap jams, Pinkerton and Natarelli are moving forward in the Colorado dance community.

In its inaugural year, CO Dance Coalition has focused their attention on the art form of tap dance. It's a genre of dance that is starting to return to center stage after many years of resting in the wings. With blockbuster dance films like Happy Feet, kids and adults are starting to appreciate this rhythmic dance form once again. "Makin' music with your feet," is what Natarelli's young son calls it as he puts on his tap shoes. It's a historic form of dance that has its roots in African drumming, and has a versatility not found in other genres. Tap spans from the lights of Broadway to the streets of Los Angeles. Styles vary from shuffles off to Buffalo to stomping as loud as buffalo. Top hat and tails or camo grunge...whatever style you like, you can find it in tap.

Co Dance Coalition has featured classes with tap giant, Robert L. Reed. They have found an extreme desire by tappers in CO to be taught by Master teachers such as Reed.

Reed, founder of The St. Louis Tap Festival, now in its 16th year, has a purity of style that is uniquely his. "To pass it on -- not just the artform -- but the respect of the dance," is Reed's mantra. He was the protege of Maceo Anderson of the Four Step Brothers, a famous dance group which began in the 1920's and lasted 40 years. To have someone with Reed's background and training available to local dancers, is a blessing for the CO dance community. Fortunately, Reed will be coming to CO monthly to offer 2 different levels of Master Classes to the community. Upcoming classes will be this Saturday, Feb. 24 from 9 am-12 pm at Parker Dance Academy, Parker and Saturday, March 3 from 9-12, also at Parker Dance Academy.

Reed is also the founder of a youth tap ensemble, The St. Louis Hoofers Club, and has chapters in 3 different states -- the newest and largest being here in CO! Coordinated by CO Dance Coalition, members of the CO Chapter of the St. Louis Hoofers auditioned from different studios throughout the community and range in age from 8-16. The 2006-7 Hoofers are: Kaleah Allen, Meghan Conley, Karina Eyre, Landan Kellim, Breanna Leinweber, Ariana Marsh, Daniel Mont-Eton, Dario Natarelli, Eliza Ohman, Amanda Sprague, Paige Story, Rachael Szymanski, Bailey Vastine, Sammy Vastine, Cassidy Wagner, and Lauren Waldvogel. They work with him in monthly rehearsals and with his local teacher, Pinkerton, weekly. They will be travelling to St. Louis this July to participate in the St. Louis Tap Festival and meet other tap dancers from around the globe. Many of Reed's students have gone on to join professional tap companies, have made television appearances on local and national shows, have done film work, and have even toured with Savion Glover's show, Bring in da Noise, Bring in da Funk. They have studied the legends of tap and have met and danced with them. So, the promise of an exciting future for these young local hoofers may be very well within their reach with this unique training opportunity.

CO Dance Coalition will also be hosting other tap dancers this coming year. Star Dixon,of Chicago's M.A.D.D. Rhythms, will be coming to teach master classes and participate in a community tap jam on Saturday, April 7th from 6:30-9:30 at Miller's Dance Studio, Aurora. Dixon was featured in this month's Dance Spirit Magazine, as a dancer to watch. Also, Broadway dancer, Gene GeBauer, a local tap master, will be imparting his vast knowledge of Leonard Reed's Shim Sham, (the national anthem of tap dancers,) on local students, through the organization on March 9 from 6:30-9:30 pm at CO School of Dance, Parker. Already having hosted a holiday tap jam with the coalition, Donovan Helma, a local tap celebrity who has toured with the American Tour of Tap Dogs, plans to do even more with the organization in the coming months.

CO Dance Coalition hopes to expand to other genres of dance by 2008 and already has a growing stack of resumes from dancers from all over the US hoping to work with them.

The mission of Colorado Dance Coalition is to cultivate unity within the dance
community of Colorado by creating and promoting experiences that guide dance
students and teachers to a greater appreciation of the art form and its history. The CDC will work collaboratively with dance artists from all over the world, thus providing local dancers opportunities to train and interact with the masters through workshops, classes, intensives, and performance. By opening eyes and hearts, the CDC hopes to perpetuate the spirit and respect of dance for many years to come.

Pinkerton and Natarelli are very proud of the response they have received since starting the organization. They have seen first-hand how dancers, who might not have the means to travel to different dance camps, festivals, etc., can truly benefit from those master teachers being brought to them. One dancer's mom, Beth Kellim, was heard saying, "How can you NOT come to these events? This is like having NYC or LA or Chicago come to Parker, CO!" It's like getting a taste of the Big Apple without leaving your own dinner table!

To find out more about Colorado Dance Coalition, please visit the website at: www.ColoradoDanceCoalition.com. To get on their e-mail list, sign up for classes, or be informed of different dance opportunities in the community, please send an e-mail to info@ColoradoDanceCoalition.com or call 303.482.1846.

Colorado Dance Coalition...bringing dancers together, one step at a time.

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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Michele Natarelli

Parker , CO

Michele Natarelli has posted 38 stories and 2 comments since joining on 6/13/2006. Michele Natarelli 's average story rating is 5.

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