Tap Dance Series at Children's Museum of Manhattan Kicks Off Today

A series of live performances - including tap dancing - will take place throughout the summer in conjunction with the exhibit, JAZZED! The Changing Beat of 125th Street at the Children's Museum of Manhattan (CMOM), located at 212 West 83rd Street between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue. The exhibit itself, in partnership with the National Jazz Museum in Harlem, allows visitors to sing along with Ella Fitzgerald in the "jazz club," dance up the stairs with Bill "Bojangles" Robinson's, and meet Duke Ellington and his famous jazz orchestra in the "ballroom." Visit www.cmom.org for a full schedule of events.

Summer Tap Dance performances include:

Tap Specialist - Michela Marino Lerman Wednesday, July 16, 2014 |11:00-3:00 pm
Michela Marino Lerman is a star within the tap dancing community. Michela runs a weekly tap jam in New York City at the great Smalls Jazz Club and monthly sessions at Fat Cat.

Tap Specialist - Omar Edwards Wednesday, July 23, 2014 |11:00-3:00 pm
Born in Brooklyn, Omar Edwards is a gifted dancer, entertainer and musician. He won 13 times - including the grand prize - on the famed T.V. show Star Search. He starred as the Sandman on the legendary T.V. show, Showtime at the Apollo for seven years, featured in the musical movie Camp and was also a featured guest on the Ellen DeGeneres Show. He also performed with Savion Glover live at the White House

Tap Specialist - Alex Macdonald Wednesday, July 30, 2014 |11:00-3:00 pm
Alex MacDonald began tap dancing at the age of 3! He has performed at such prominent theaters as Webster Hall and Symphony Space. In September of 2010, he made his national television debut, when the company traveled to Las Vegas to perform on the 45th annual Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon.

Tap Specialist - Joseph Wiggan Wednesday, August 6, 2014 |11:00-3:00 pm
Saturday, October 4, 2014 |3:00-3:30 pm & 4:00-4:30 pm | Ticketed
Joseph Wiggan was recently seen in Cirque du Soleil's Banana Shpeel, and is currently performing in Cirque du Soleil's Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour. He has appeared as a performer and teacher in tap and jazz dance festivals around the world-everywhere from St. Petersburg, to Tokyo.

Tap Specialist - Cartier Williams Wednesday, August 13, 2014 |11:00-3:00 pm
Cartier Williams is a hoofer, choreographer, filmmaker, and performer. At 10-years-old, he co-starred in the International tour of FOOTNOTES. He also toured the U.S. and Japan in the Tony Award Winning Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk, co-starring with Savion Glover.

Tap Specialist - Andrew Nemr Wednesday, August 20, 2014 |11:00-3:00 pm
Leading his quartet in a unique and virtuosic display of "olde tyme jazz" with tap dance percussion, Andrew has also played with Nat Adderley Jr., directing CPD PLUS, or co-founding the Tap Legacy Foundation, Inc., 2012 TED Global Fellow.

Tap Specialist - Jason Samuel Smith Wednesday, August 27, 2014 |11:00-3:00 pm
Native New Yorker, Jason Samuels Smith is a tap dance performer, choreographer, and director. He's had multiple appearances on Sesame Street and at the age of 15 landed a position as an understudy to the leading role in Tony Award Winning Broadway show Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk!