Tap Diva Project 2005

Tap Activism Today

Last Tuesday Mica and Jenai lead a discussion at Tap City devoted to Tap Activism. The participants brainstormed a number of simple ways to promote tap dance on a grassroots level and encourage support and participation within their communities.

Here are our ideas - what are yours?

 

• Street performance
• School newsletters
• Flyers (but not too big or flimsy)
• T-shirts
• Word of mouth
• Ride momentum of other projects with tap energy
• Form a blog
• Create a MySpace or Friendster page
• Press releases
• E-mail blast
• Post videos online and tag others
• Collaboration
• Community performance
• Tap Dance Day activities
• Link in your email signature
• Carry your tap shoes on the outside of your bag

 

The New York Times Reviews Tap City

The New York Times wrote an article  reviewing Tap City 2006 on July 17th. It featured many of the performers and went in depth of what events will take place during this year's Tap City. The article also mentioned our own Jenai Cutcher! Congratulations! 

TUESDAY TAP FILMS

They don't call it Twosday for nothing! Please join Mica and Jenai for two separate film events on Tuesday, July 11th, both as part of Tap City 2006.  First is Tap Talks/Tap Films, 12:45-1:45 pm at Chelsea Studios, 151 W 26th St. A lively discussion on Tap Activism will ensue. Expect handouts, activities, performance art, and maybe even sparklers. Then, at 7pm at The Duke on 42nd St, JamJam Productions will premiere a new trailer of their upcoming documentary at an evening of Tap on Film. Jenai and Mica will be on hand to discuss the project and answer questions following the screening. Hope to see you all there!

Lynn Dally receives Hoofer Award

Congratulations to Lynn Dally! Not only is she featured in the most recent issue of the ITA but she will also receive this year's Tap City Hoofer Award, to be presented at the Tap Forward Concert on Saturday July 15th at the Duke on 42nd Street.

Dianne Walker

We are currently shooting for the documentary at the NC Rhythm Tap Festival. The classes, panel discussion, showcase, and jam have all been a lot of fun. Here's what Dianne Walker was teaching in her classes yesterday.
Click here to download movie.

Internships

JamJamProductions is looking for two summer interns for our current tap film project. Both positions would offer great experiences for learning about film production and/or tap dance. They are unpaid, but can be used for school credit. 8-16 hours per week, flexible schedule, on and off site.

1. Blogmaster: Help run our grassroots PR campaign. You will be communicating with tap dancers around the world, updating our blog, expanding the presence of tap in the cyber community, researching and archiving footage and photos, representing the film at related tap events, and more.

2. Production Assistant: Conduct phone and email exchanges, coordinate events and schedules, visit various Manhattan locations, assist on shoots, organize press materials, research various film and dance subjects, etc.

Please send a letter of interest with contact info and preferred position to
tapdancefilm@gmail.com with INTERN in the subject line.

Road Trip

Our first one! Hopefully to be followed by many more. We are on our way to the North Carolina Rhythm Tap Festival where Brenda and Dianne will be teaching. Many thanks to Gene Medler, the Dorrance family, and Zeev for helping to make this trip possible.

What's Your Story?

In honor of National Tap Dance Day, we want to shoot stories about tap shoes. We know you all have shoes and stories about them.  Mica and I will be out and about with our cameras all weekend May 26-28. Please contact us and we can set up a little meeting.  It will only take a few minutes and we'll even give you a special treat when it's done.  Happy Birthday, Bojangles and Happy National Tap Dance Day!

More Women in Tap

Check out Jenai's article in the May issue of Dance magazine and hear what some of the best hoofers around are saying. You can download a PDF of it by clicking HERE!

In case you missed the screening, here is a short video trailer we made!

This is a work-in-progress. If you like it, please help keep it going! Spread the word, make a donation, give us your feedback... Enjoy!

Click below to view the video.

       

Click to download Windows Media (6.7 MB)

Click to download Quicktime (17.7 MB)

SPECIAL OFFER - LIMITED TIME!

Summer is quickly approaching and we have big plans for it!  Mica and Jenai hope to travel to as many tap festivals as possible to shoot footage for the documentary. We  want this footage to look and sound good, so we would like to get a small mic and a better camera. Helping us out in any way is always greatly appreciated, but for a limited time, every $100 donation will get you a special gift for the young tap dancers in your life.
Donate $100 or more and receive an autographed copy of Jenai's book, Gotta Dance! The Rhythms of Tap and Jazz.
Donations can be mailed to us or submitted by credit card right to our Paypal account (just click the button top left). Please email us for more info.
Thank you so much for your support!

THANK YOU!!!

Big ups to all those who attended our fundraiser at Slainte. Thanks for your ideas, support, performances, and more. We had a great time and hope you did, too. Please spread the word and check back often for updates on this project. Tap on!
-Jenai and MIca

SCREENING AND PERFORMANCE

WOMEN IN TAP SHOES
HAPPY HOUR
Film Screening and Live Performances

Featuring Forty Fabulous Flying Feet!
And Astonishing Acrobatic Action Heroes!
And Prizes! And Beer!
                      ----------------------------
Tuesday, April 25th, 6-8pm
@ Slainte, 304 Bowery (btw Houston and Bleecker)
Suggested $10.00 donation
"Your support would make us really, really, really happy" - Jenai and Mica
All proceeds to benefit tap dance documentary.
Sponsored in part by Dance magazine
* contact us at tapdancefilm@gmail.com
  * bring your own propaganda - promote you, your classes, your gigs, your blog...
Let us know if you're coming - we can't wait to see you!

Brenda and Michelle

Cick on the pictures to see more from today's shoot with Brenda Bufalino and Michelle Dorrance.
Can you tell it was fun?
Tomorrow we tackle the footage!

www.flickr.com

Upcoming Performances

Hey-
Tap dancers will be busy in the coming few weeks.  Check out these shows:
Barbara Duffy & Company will be performing in a FREE showcase at Joyce Soho on February 12th.  The show starts at 7pm, it is FREE, it features four different companies, it is FREE, it is on Sunday night, and it is FREE.  So call and make a ressie. 212 334-7479.
Also, the ATDF is hosting a new tap choreography showcase in conjunction with their winter tap intensive.  A Beginner's Guide to Independent Mobilization will be rocking that one.   Sunday, February 19th, 7pm.  Stepping Out Studios, 26th St. btw 5th and 6th Aves.
Add more if ya got 'em...