Vancouver International Tap Festival Returns This August

Think about it: one of life's greatest joys is tapping our feet and clapping hands to the rhythm of music. It's exciting, instinctive, timeless and the totally unique focus of the 2018 Vancouver International Tap Dance Festival (VITF) being held from August 20-26.

The 2018 VITF includes a gala, premier performance, #Tap Dance performed on Sat., August 25, at 8pm at the Orpheum Annex, 823 Seymour St., two improvisational Social Tap Jazz Jams on Thurs. Aug. 23rd and Sun. Aug. 26th at Frankie's Jazz Club, at 765 Beatty St. and five-day Tap Dance Musicianship Residency. Some of the world's finest dancers and musicians have been asked to join forces in an artistic celebration and we're inviting you to see - experience and enjoy - what happens as a result.

Co-producer and Artistic Director of the 2018 VITDF is the celebrated, visionary Canadian tap dancer, Travis Knights. "The programs of this forward-thinking festival have helped shape a whole new generation of artists," he reports. "This year is the 19th Vancouver International Tap Dance Festival, and we're going to ignite Vancouver with more rhythm than ever before with a full-scale show featuring today's hottest dancers, which will have the audience irresistibly clapping on the 2 and 4, and wondering how we make all that sound. Tap Dance and Jazz artists are kindred spirits with a pure connection."

#Tap Dance and the social Tap Jazz Jams of the 2018 VITF are integral to an unprecedented 40-hour Tap Dance Musicianship Residency that will flow into 20 master classes.

Featured on-stage, in-class, and improvised jams, will be some most in-demand tap dancers in the world today: Sarah Reich, who tours internationally with the incredibly popular Postmodern Jukebox, and is creating The Tap Music Project, specifically for the dance form; Heather Cornell, who has been dubbed 'the Oscar Peterson of hoofing' (Globe and Mail); Juno award-winning musical director, Nick Fraser, along with an outstanding hand-picked roster of musicians and dancers, including acclaimed veterans and rising stars, such as Canada's explosive Matthew Shields.

Tickets and more information available at vantapdance.com. Aug. 25 - #TapDance at 8pm at Orpheum Annex, 823 Seymour St. - $30 Adults/$25 Sen/Youth. Aug. 23 & 26 - Tap Jazz Jams at 8pm at Frankie's Jazz Club, 765 Beatty St. - $16