Pones Will Bring TAPPED IN to the Cincinnati Fringe Festival
The tap dance production features NYC guest artists who collaborated with Spike Lee and Gregory Hines
Pones, a movement-based arts organization known for activating communities through inclusive performance, will premiere Tapped In at the Cincinnati Fringe Festival June 3-10. The new work explores the cultural roots of tap dance, blending history, rhythm, and live jazz music into a high-energy performance that positions tap as both a living archive and a powerful expression of identity. Performances will run June 3-10.
Driven by innovative choreography and improvisation, Tapped In honors tap's roots while pushing the form forward. The production brings together regional artists and collaborators whose distinct perspectives highlight the cultural convergence, resilience, and storytelling embedded in the art form.
The production features two acclaimed performers: Louisville-based artist Parker Hall, who has shared the stage with renowned tap artist Savion Glover and performed with Riverdance; and Broadway veteran Jason E. Bernard, whose credits include Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk and the Spike Lee film Bamboozled. Together with local artists, they bring a powerful mix of global experience and perspective to the stage.
“Tap is an art form born from layered cultural exchange among communities shaped by oppression, resilience, and proximity,” said the Tapped In collective. “Its rhythms carry memory; honoring them requires resisting erasure and staying connected to the people and stories that made it.”
Founded in 2008, Pones creates accessible, participatory arts experiences that engage audiences across backgrounds and abilities. A longtime participant in the Cincinnati Fringe Festival, Pones has received multiple Critic's Pick and Producer's Pick awards. Tapped In continues that legacy with an all-ages performance that is both educational and entertaining.
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