Tucson is celebrating National TAP Dance Day

Tucson's first celebration of this very special day is bringing together some of the same cultural and musical energies that mixed and created "tap" dance in the early 1900s in the United States for a weekend of performances, master tap dance classes, and a TAP JAM at three different venues the weekend of May 23-25, 2009. Besides celebrating, one of our goals is to promote tap, its history and its current status as the leading dance art form in demand around the world. Everyone is doing the Shim Sham and honoring a dance form "made in the U.S.A." on May 25 -- the birthday of Bill "Bojangles" Robinson. It's about time Tucson caught up and, as you will able to see from the bios page, many are excited to be a part of this premiere event and contribute their talent. We have expectations to present this platform for talent, learning and celebration every year and we hope the Tucson community will embrace and support us! We can't do it without you. So please take a moment to scroll down and read the many opportunities for participation. Here are some ways you could support Tucson's first celebration of National TAP Dance Day.

• PURCHASE A TICKET to Saturday night's Sounds of the Soles of the Southwest performance - 7:30 pm - featuring Tucson's top TAP talent and guests from Phoenix Jenefer Miller, Veronica Johnson & Mary Lanham. The following dancers will perform on Saturday only: Melissa Alejandra Aguirre, Colleen Kelly Beaman, Tanya Fisher, Krystyna Parafinczuk, Kris Shaw, Barbara "La Flamencista," Angela Swanson, Austin Twaits, Katrina Wyckoff with Jacob & Rebecca Madsen, Rebekka Collette with Hilary Tobin (PCC) & Alexandra Manriquez, Lindsay Teitelbaum and Katherine Promer (Tap Cats).
      Support for this performance is significant as the revenue generated will support the FREE community performance on Sunday at 3 pm. Your participation in our auction, raffles and master tap classes are an additional source of revenue.

VIEW the complete Schedule of Performers.

Call PCC CFA Box Office: 520-206-6986
or email centerforthearts@pima.edu

• BE A SPONSER or DONATE FOR OUR RAFFLE & AUCTION

• VOLUNTEER - To view a list of volunteer duties, click on this Google Document
Let us know what you would like to do, and we'll add your name. Three or more hours of volunteer service will earn you a ticket or pass to one or both of the performances and/or a master class.

Pima Community College Center for the Arts, Proscenium Theatre, West Campus
2202 W. Anklam, Tucson AZ 85709 (West of I10 on St. Mary's/Anklam to Greasewood). www.pima.edu/cfa

Saturday, May 23 at 7:30 pm
Sounds of the Soles of the Southwest
Tucson's finest professional and amateur tap dancers and cultural "percussive footwork" dance companies are coming together to perform special pieces for this performance only. There will be some out of town guest artists, too!
Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door, $10 for students with I.D. & members of the Arizona Dance Coalition and Dance Masters of America with membership card.
Purchase your tickets in advance, save $5 and help our show start on time!
Call PCC CFA Box Office: 520-206-6986 or email centerforthearts@pima.edu

Austin Twaits (pictured at right) has held the titles of Mr. Starpower and Mr. Ultimate Dance. He is performing Saturday night only.

Sunday, May 24 at 3 pm
Sounds of the Soles of the Southwest
FREE community performance with some of the same Saturday performers doing different pieces, and many more dancers from the community of dance studios, tap dance companies, cultural groups showcasing "percussive footwork," virtuosic young soloists, and some seasoned performers. To attend this performance, you will need a pass so we can monitor seat availability.
Contact Krystyna at 520-743-1349 or EMAIL

If you're not going to be onstage but own tap shoes, bring them and join us at the end of each show for the Shim Sham. If you don't know the Shim Sham, then you can learn it at one of our Master Classes.

Monday, May 25 - National TAP Dance Day

Visit the Tucson Children's Museum between 1-4 pm and watch tap dancers perform for a younger audience. We'll be teaching a beginning tap dance class suitable for ages 4-8 and lecturing on the history of tap and some of its legends. There will be film clips too. This event is FREE and TCM's ARTS DAY.
Tucson Children's Museum
200 S 6th Ave, Tucson 85701
520-792-9985

TAP JAM Later that evening Club Congress (in Hotel Congress) is inviting you to a TAP JAM from 7-9 pm where dancers and musicians will share the stage and dance floor. Everyone is welcome, but if you are under 21, bring a parent or guardian. More important, bring your TAP SHOES and join us in the Shim Sham! We're hoping for a cutting contest. Prizes!
Hotel Congress
311 E Congress, Tucson 85701
520-622-8848

MASTER CLASSES

Enroll in a Master Class or two or just observe. There are classes for absolute beginners through advanced and 425 seats for observers in the Proscenium Theatre!
• Enroll for three classes and receive an additional $10 off.
• Enroll for the choreography classes and you'll have an opportunity to perform in Sunday's 3 pm show.
Tap master Frank Trent (with award-winning student Hunter McCabe at left) is teaching an advanced piece for Sunday's 3 pm performance.

Download the schedule and Registration Form (fill-in PDF) at the top of the page.
Call Krystyna at 520-743-1349 for assistance or EMAIL

ARIZONA DANCE COALITION

Sponsor a dancer, a dance company, an instructor, a musician, the theatre or the entire event!
Your name (or anonymous) will appear on the web page, in the program, and depending on your generosity, we'll even announce your name at each performance at all three venues and put your name/logo with a live link on this event web page and the Arizona Dance Coalition website. We'll even throw in a few tickets and offer preferred seating! You will be loved. Your contributions can be made to the Arizona Dance Coalition, a 501 (c) (3) dance organization sponsoring this event. Learn more about this statewide dance organization at ADC.
Call Krystyna, ADC treasurer, for details at 520-743-1349.

A great big THANK YOU to
Altrusa International, Inc. of Tucson
and
Tucson Roscommon Sister Cities
for their generous contribution.

View a few YouTube Clips to get you started.
SHIM SHAM SHIMMY demonstrated by Frankie Manning
Hope & Cagney
Robert Reed St. Louis Hoofers (young dancers)

NTDD organizers are Colleen Kelly Beaman, Krystyna Parafinczuk, and Kris Shaw.

BIOS OF INSTRUCTORS AND PERFORMERS.

Master TAP Class Schedule and REGISTRATION FORM.