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Hi Terrence,
Great to hear from a tap dancer. My first love was dance, which I did many years ago in the areas of ballet and modern, primarily. I love tap. You're right; with all the dance-oriented shows on TV, you'd think there'd be something more on the scene with tap. Tap lends itself to an all-age audience, and fits right in with young audiences who are into hip hop and other contemporary, popular dance forms. In the 80's, Gregory Hines was the biggest in the national scene and we, thankfully, have him immortalized in many films. In the 90's, Savion Glover really broke through and showed how amazing and electric tap is regardless of how long the art form has been around. I'm surprised not to see more of him onscreen; he's a perfect example of a tap dancer who can link the old form along with a new, unique style.
So, I'm with you. I'd love to see more tap in the mainstream.
By the way, you're probably already familiar with this photo, but in case not, I have to share it. It's one of my all-time favorite dance photos. I saw it at Jacob's Pillow (that great, pioneering dance theater home in Massachusetts, where I'm originally from) and found it to epitomize the pure joy and ecstasy of dance. Here's Gregory Hines:
Thanks for your comment and for sharing that photo. It's one of my favorites too!
I don't know what it will take for things to change. It's like we need another Gregory Hines, since the one we had was taken away so soon!Write a comment:
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Tap Dance Movie Long Overdue...
Posted by Terrence Taps !.
The recent release of “How She Move” has again started me to thinking that it’s high time for a new tap dance movie!
Don’t get me wrong “Happy Feet
” was great, but I am talking about a “real world” tap dance film that showcases the beauty of our art form - a film where tap dancing is used to tell a story in a very moving way.
With all of the movies that have come out in recent years featuring dance battles/love stories, I am very surprised that tap dancing has yet to be featured. After all, in it’s infancy tap developed as dancers used the art form to “battle” one another.
On the other hand, a part of me is glad that we haven’t been subjected to “Save The Last Tap Dance.” After all, how many times can they make that movie?? (Apparently, at least once a year)
Still, people really need to know how alive and vibrant tap continues to be.
Young people need to see that tap is not just something that was great back in the day, or something that cartoon penguins do in a fictional world. Instead, it’s something that real people are still doing in today’s real world!
…and might I add are doing it very well!
A well executed film could contextualize tap dancing in a way that would help others to see that it’s not a relic from a bygone era (which seems to be the widespread perception), but a contemporary movement that is preserving its past and creating its future simultaneously!