Article Contributed on: 10/16/2006 8:57:27 PM
A flood of happy smiles followed the thundering steps of tapping feet this past weekend at Parker Dance Academy. Dancers, aged seven to seventy-two, filled the studio with enthusiasm and excitement. Mr.
Robert L. Reed was in town, and the town had never seen such great energy in a dance class. There were dancers of every ability -- from beginners taking their first taste of a tap jam all the way to Colorado Master teacher, and former Broadway dancer,
Gene GeBauer.
Robert Reed, master tap dancer and founder of
The St. Louis Tap Festival (now in its 15th year,) paid a visit to Parker and tap dancers from around the state were fortunate enough to dance with him during a weekend Community Tap Jam and Master Class Event, hosted by Colorado Dance Coalition, (
www.ColoradoDanceCoalition.com.)
Mr. Reed, a figure to be reckoned with, dressed in head to toe orange (including his tap shoes), started Oct. 13's jam by posing a question to the tappers that were circled around him. "What's this?" he asked. His feet sang: tap-tap-tap...tap-tap-tap...tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap...taptaptap...tap...tap...tap...
tap-tap-tap-tap-tap...tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap.
The looks around the room were that of confusion and conviction.
"I know!" said one young girl. "It's Rhythm tap."
Ah...yes, but all tap is rhythm. "But what
is it?" he asked again.
Another dancer named some steps, "Shuffle steps???"
He smiled. He said, "Everyone, close your eyes. And now, listen...." He repeated it and the class slowly recognized the nursery song as
This Old Man. Mr. Reed explained how everything has rhythm and there is rhythm in everything. This was the start of an exciting dance weekend for the community. Following the jam on Friday night, Mr. Reed held two Master Classes on Saturday for different levels.
They learned history. They learned technique. They learned to use their ears and heart as much as their feet. They learned how to love tap dance. The dance community was pleasantly surprised by the quality of material Mr. Reed presented to them.
Parents who were observing both Oct. 13's jam and Oct. 14's classes were thrilled with the awakened sense of excitement their children possessed after the classes. "My child made us watch her for over an hour as she danced everything she learned for our family!" said one parent.
Others asked about the next time. "Will he be back?" "Can we sign up now?" Yes and yes. Very impressed by the new and old faces, Mr. Reed hopes to be back for more next month and share even more with the dancers in Colorado.
In St. Louis, he founded a youth group of aspiring and serious tap dancers called, The St. Louis Hoofers Club. The SLHC is a great way for kids under 18 to share their passion for the art of tap, while learning from a master. Its mission is to teach the dance to the next generation, so that it may be passed on and continued. Mr. Reed brings the history of the dance, which was passed to him by his mentor,
Maceo Anderson, to his teaching and will instill the importance of perpetuating the tradition of tap to the young hoofers.
At this time, he is considering holding auditions for the Colorado Chapter of the Hoofers Club in November. He believes that once the children respect the dance by learning about its roots and studying technique intensively, they will love it and it will be in their soles as well as in their souls.
For more information about auditions or next month's master classes, please visit
www.ColoradoDanceCoalition.com and use the comment form to request information.
Colorado Dance Coalition was founded 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 in many different genres of dance. By opening eyes and hearts, the CDC hopes to perpetuate the spirit and respect of dance for many years to come.
Colorado Dance Coalition is proud to host Mr. Reed as he returns monthly to work with dancers in Colorado. By the time he's done with them, they won't just be playing knick-knack on their thumbs.
Michele Natarelli is the marketing director for Colorado Dance Coalition.