All In The Family

A few afternoons ago, I had the opportunity to watch some incredible dancing.  No, I wasn't at yet another ABT rehearsal, instead I was watching a run through of Barbara Duffy and Company's new show "Stages" that my sister is currently featured in. 

Over the past few years, I've had the pleasure of watching Ms. Duffy's choreography and seeing my sister grow even more proficient as a tap dancer at the same time.  Carson has always been an incredible dancer, but I think that the clear, rhythmic, classical and joyful movement that Ms. Duffy choreographs is perhaps the most perfect showcase for Carson's feet (and exuberant energy) that I've ever seen. 

Ever since childhood, I've been exposed to some of the greatest tap dancers in the world, and gotten to know some of them personally,  but I don't think I've ever seen a show as tight and all around excellent as this current show (which has its premiere in Arlington, MA this evening.)  One of the biggest problems I've found with tap performances, is that there is a tendency for the dancers to not only want to show off with their feet, but to show off with their mouths as well.  Long spoken interludes often draw out tap performances, instead of showcasing what the audience has really come to see, those spectacular feet.

(Carson and her trusted tap shoes.)

Fortunately, Ms. Duffy has avoided this problem, and even though there are a few spoken sections of the show, they never seem unnecessary, instead they give us glimpses into the various dancers different personalities.  By combining these brief expository sections (often about the origins of the various dancers' tap careers) with exceptional choreography, Ms. Duffy and company have crafted a superb showcase of one of the most misunderstood dance forms. 

Tap dance can at times become so much about spectacle that as an audience we can forget that it is an incredible display of what makes dance so unique: the display of personality and personal expression through movement.  I also find that it is easy for that movement to come across as repetitive to an audience.  Whereas other dance forms differentiate in a clearer way between movements, so much of tap relies on minute changes in the release of the ankle to produce different sounds.  What I was most astonished with at the rehearsal the other day was how varied the choreography and performances were.  There are various combinations in dance size and partnerships (alternating between group dances and duets, trios or quartets) that keep every portion feeling fresh.

(Barbara sings a little song.)

(And Maya follows.)

As a ballet dancer, I find that often the world I am immersed in is too self-contained for its own good.  I feel so fortunate to have this built in exposure to another art form within my family (as both my mother and sister are tap dancers.)  It's extremely important for dancers to draw inspiration from other art forms and we could all benefit from studying the incredible musicality that is required of tap dancers.  The show should be coming to New York sometime soon, and I'll be sure to post all the information, as it's something that everyone should most definitely see.

(Carson and her sassy hair.)

(Chikako takes a moment to fix her laces on the side.)

(Carson in the middle of her incredible duet with Lynn.)

(Carson and Lynn mid duet.)

On a side note, I had a great time playing with my camera in this rehearsal but I quickly found out that tap is EXTREMELY difficult to capture on camera.  There are much fewer "poses" than in ballet which makes for a lot of awkward in between shots.  However, I got a lot that I like as you can see from the many photos in this post.

(Look at those levels, they're practically a show choir.  Oh, just you wait, you'll know what I'm talking about with my next "Lazy Post.")

(Ahhh!  They're attacking me like a swarm of bees.  Bees with tap shoes instead of stingers.)

(Scoot it back.)

(What would they do without their handy piano man (not Billy Joel) who played both the melody and bass lines for this rehearsal.)

(Ain't they cute?!)

(Look at that gorgeous skin!)

(Who doesn't need one more shot of Carson's Hershey Kiss Hair?  Potential Halloween costume?)

(We LOVE IT!)

(And what a view.  I feel like there should be Jets and Sharks rumbling on the roof across the way.)

Comments

[jennifer]

i love tap dancing! it always takes me a minute to relax my feet though, so used to pointing it in ballet class.

have u tap danced extensively, m? i remember how sascha radetsky showed off his tap dancing skills in "rodeo"...

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