A Rhythmic Look at the American Dream on Tap at the WYO Theater

The WYO Theater is pleased to present the only full-time, repertory tap dance company in North America, Tapestry Dance Company in residence April 18 and 19 with a public performance of Saturday, April 20 at Passing it Forward - The American Dream 7:30pm. Tapestry takes a diverse and dynamic look at "The American Dream" presenting a rhythmic journey based on a concept and definition of "taking that first step in changing the world for the better - one step at a time." Through historical traditions and new works of tap dance set to a diversified musical score of spoken-word poetry, hip-hop, jazz and American classics, Tapestry sets a rhythm of communication, hope and healing in our "what's politically correct?" world.

While in residence Tapestry will make stops and connections at The Wyoming Girls School, Elmcroft of Sugarland Ridge and Sheridan VA Medical Center with a short performance at Sheridan High School. Don't miss the chance to experience the excitement, vibration and rhythm of professional tap dance on the WYO stage April 20 at 7:30pm!

Long Center Resident Company in Austin, TX, Tapestry is a professional, non-profit dance organization founded in 1989 for the purpose of developing a foundation in multi-form dance performance and education and is home to the only full-time, repertory tap dance company in North America. TDC is home to seven resident artists from around the globe, one of the oldest annual international tap dance festivals in the world, educational outreach programs as well as a pre-professional and adult training facility sharing the unique training syllabus of founders Acia Gray and Deirdre Strand.

The events and programs of Tapestry Dance Company include seasonal concerts at Austin's Long Center, The Annual Soul to Sole Festival, community outreach programs such as Rhythm, Dance, Music & You!, numerous master classes and workshops as well as touring residencies throughout the world managed by Holden Arts & Associates.

The company's recent production of "In Your Shoes" won best ensemble by The Austin Critic's Table Awards, "Passing It Forward - The American Dream?" is now listed on the TCA Touring Roster and the company's NEA Masterpiece production of The Souls of Our Feet -­ A Celebration of American Tap Dance toured The People's Republic of China for 5 weeks and director Acia Gray has been asked to set a national syllabus for Chinese tap dance curriculum. Tapestry Dance Company is funded and supported in part by the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division and by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts and an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.

ABOUT Artistic Director ACIA GRAY

As soloist, choreographer and master teacher, Ms. Gray has toured extensively across the U.S. and abroad to include England, Ireland, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, China, Spain, Brazil, Canada and Austria and has shared the stage with such tap greats as Gregory Hines, Savion Glover and Donald O'Connor to name a few.

In June/2002, Ms. Gray was inducted as a premiere member of the Austin Arts Hall of Fame and was nominated for a prestigious Alpert Award in the Arts as well as being a choreographer chosen for the NEA National College Choreography Initiative. Her critically acclaimed book and Amazon.com category bestseller The Souls of Your Feet - A Tap Dance Guide for Rhythm Explorers is available at all major bookstores and has been translated in the Czech Republic and China.

Profiled in Dance Teacher Now magazine, Ms. Gray also served on the NEA funded Steering Committee for the National Tap Plan, was recently recognized as a leader in the field in Lynn Dally's UCLA event Women In Tap. Ms. Gray toured her work The Souls of Our Feet - A Celebration of American Tap Dance through the National Endowment for the Arts American Masterpieces: Dance Initiative, was awarded the Third Coast Rhythm Project's "Legacy Award" and honored as the "2008 Texas Tap Legend" by the Dallas Dance Council and is the 2010 recipient of the "Hoofer Award" by Tap City - The New York City Tap Festival. Ms. Gray currently serves as the Director of the International Tap Association.

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