A conversation with Tony Waag, Executive/Artistic Director of the American Tap Dance Foundation, in anticipation of their upcoming 'Rhythm in Motion' contemporary tap dance showcase in New York City, April 22 through April 26. 'Rhythm in Motion' presents forward thinking, groundbreaking tap dance choreography, 'shaking tap dance to its core.' Last year's 'Rhythm in Motion' included tap dance with video, computers, sound manipulating machines and electronically rigged platforms.
Cartier Williams is a hoofer, choreographer, filmmaker and performer hailing from Washington, D.C. He began his tap dancing career at the age of four and has been active in the tap dance community ever since. Throughout his career, Cartier has had the opportunity to dance with a multitude of tap pioneers and masters, including Gregory Hines, Savion Glover, Peg Leg Bates and the Nicholas Brothers. He has appeared on 'The Oprah Winfrey Show,' 'The Tonight Show,' 'Good Morning America' and CNN. Cartier has performed for President Clinton, co-starring with Bebe Neuwirth in the PBS special 'In Performance at The White House.' He also performed for President George W. Bush at the 2006 Congressional Picnic at the White House. Cartier is currently continuing to develop multiple musical productions and workshops.
Cartier Williams is a hoofer, choreographer, filmmaker and performer hailing from Washington, D.C. He began his tap dancing career at the age of four and has been active in the tap dance community ever since. Cartier is currently working on a project that will bring the joy of tap dance back into the lives of people across the world. He is the co-founder and artistic director of The Williams Davis Foundation for the Performing Arts, a nonprofit organization committed to bringing the joy of performing arts into the lives of people worldwide. Throughout his career, Cartier has had the opportunity to dance with a multitude of tap pioneers and masters, including Gregory Hines, Savion Glover, Peg Leg Bates, and the Nicholas Brothers. He has taught at Broadway Dance Center and American Tap Dance Foundation in NYC along with many other cities across the country and the world!
Darrian Ford brings the music of "The King of Soul" Chicagoan Sam Cooke alive in THE COOKE BOOK - The Music of Sam Cooke at City Winery (1200 W Randolph St.) at 8 p.m. on August 4 and at Lincoln Hall (2424 N Lincoln Ave) at 8 p.m. on August 29 and August 30. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at citywinery.com and lincolnhallchicago.com.
The art of the dance movie poster is celebrated at Jacob's Pillow this summer with GOTTA DANCE!, an extraordinary exhibit of vintage posters from throughout the world. The posters, which feature stars such as Gene Kelly, Rita Hayworth, Cyd Charisse, Eleanor Powell, and Astaire & Rogers, were selected from the personal collection of one of the genre's foremost experts, award-winning campaign designer and producer Mike Kaplan. GOTTA DANCE! includes a special six-poster salute to Marge and Gower Champion on the occasion of Marge Champion's 95th birthday.
If you were looking for an afternoon of pure enjoyment, Eliot Feld's Ballet Tech performance on June 12 was the place to be. As the old Gershwin line goes: 'Who could ask for anything more?'
Cleveland Play House enthusiastically welcomes dance legend Maurice Hines to Cleveland in the toe-tapping extravaganza, Maurice Hines is Tappin' Thru Life. Co-produced with Alliance Theatre and Arena Stage, CPH audiences will be dazzled by this infectious production, which brings the history of American tap to life. Directed by Tony-nominee Jeff Calhoun (Newsies) and featuring contemporary tap icons The Manzari Brothers and music from the all-female big band The Diva Orchestra, Tappin' Thru Life will dance its way onto PlayhouseSquare's Allen Theatre stage for an extended run from today, May 30 - June 29. Special gratitude is given to CPH's generous sponsor, Zinner & Co.
The Pasadena Playhouse has updated the performance schedule for two unusual one-person shows - Amy G in Entershamement and Joe Orrach in In My Corner - to reopen the newly re-designed Carrie Hamilton Theatre. Entershamement has a limited run of five performances, while In My Corner runs for one night only. With these shows, that perform today, May 22 to May 31, The Playhouse is relighting the refurbished Carrie Hamilton Theatre, which has been changed from a proscenium theatre to a black box, and can be configured to accommodate many different kinds of productions.
Cleveland Play House enthusiastically welcomes dance legend Maurice Hines to Cleveland in the toe-tapping extravaganza, Maurice Hines is Tappin' Thru Life. Co-produced with Alliance Theatre and Arena Stage, CPH audiences will be dazzled by this infectious production, which brings the history of American tap to life. Directed by Tony-nominee Jeff Calhoun (Newsies) and featuring contemporary tap icons The Manzari Brothers and music from the all-female big band The Diva Orchestra, Tappin' Thru Life will dance its way onto PlayhouseSquare's Allen Theatre stage for an extended run from May 30 - June 29. Special gratitude is given to CPH's generous sponsor, Zinner & Co.
The Pasadena Playhouse has updated the performance schedule for two unusual one-person shows - Amy G in Entershamement and Joe Orrach in In My Corner - to reopen the newly re-designed Carrie Hamilton Theatre. Entershamement has a limited run of five performances, while In My Corner runs for one night only. With these shows, that perform May 22 to May 31, The Playhouse is relighting the refurbished Carrie Hamilton Theatre, which has been changed from a proscenium theatre to a black box, and can be configured to accommodate many different kinds of productions.
The Wallis Center for the Performing Arts presents Maurice Hines is Tappin' Thru Life for 19 performances only from May 9 - 24, 2014 in the Bram Goldsmith Theater. Maurice Hines, a Tony Award nominee, is a celebrated dancer, choreographer, director, and singer, whose impressive career spans over 40 years. Directed by Tony Award nominee Jeff Calhoun (Broadway's Newsies and Grey Gardens), Maurice Hines is Tappin' Thru Life features D.C.'s dynamic tap-dancing duo, the Manzari Brothers, as well as the all-female, nine-piece big band, The Diva Jazz Orchestra.
Actor Dule Hill visited HuffPost Live to discuss his role in the Broadway musical, After Midnight, opening up about how he landed his first Broadway gig. Plus, Hill revealed the secret handshake that Martin Sheen taught him on the set of The West Wing. Check out the full interview below!
Lifelong performer and Tony Award nominee Maurice Hines (Broadway's Sophisticated Ladies and Eubie!) captivates audiences with stories, songs and smooth choreography for his return to Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater with Maurice Hines is Tappin' Thru Life. Under the direction of Tony Award nominee Jeff Calhoun (Broadway's Newsies and Grey Gardens), Hines, who started performing at five years old, brings the history of American tap to life and pays tribute to his brother Gregory and the singers who inspired him, from Frank Sinatra to Lena Horne. A co-production with ALLIANCE THEATRE at the Woodruff and Cleveland Play House, Maurice Hines is Tappin' Thru Life runs tonight, November 15-December 29, 2013 in the Kreeger Theater.