The 15th St. Louis Tap Festival Honors Arthur Duncan
The 15th St. Louis Tap Festival held July 24 to July 30, 2006 featured talented tap dancers from many places, a superb faculty, a super hotel and a beautiful performance in a state-of-the-art Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center. The presence of Arthur Duncan, Dr. Jimmy Slyde, Harold Cromer and Dr. Prince Spencer highlighted the event. In addition to teaching classes, they spent lots of time sitting in a lounge area outside the classrooms where students, parents and teachers could chat with them and get to know them. Making the legendary hoofers available to the current tap dancers has always been the feature attraction and the dream of Robert L Reed who heads up the festival. In turn, these senior hoofers enjoy the opportunity to see each other and to encourage the next generation of tap. The entire festival was dedicated to the memory of Dr. Fayard Nicholas. Jazz artist Eugene Mosley designed special plaques in memory of Dr. Nicholas presented them to several members of the faculty.
This year marked the first appearance of Arthur Duncan of Lawrence Welk television fame. Decades ago, Welk introduced Duncan as "the young man who is keeping tap dancing alive." In 1965 Welk invited Duncan to become a permanent member of the show, making Duncan the first African American to appear as a regular cast member of a weekly variety show. These shows have provided Duncan a 17 year career and can still be seen. Duncan's classes proved extremely popular. He is an excellent teacher who knew his material and used great tap music. At Duncan's theatre performance, Dr. Jimmy Slyde read a proclamation from the mayor of St. Louis declaring an Arthur Duncan Day.
Dr. Prince Spencer taught classes in "slides," assisted by the talented Logan Miller. Spencer danced with the Step Brothers for many years; Red Foxx used to refer to him as "the one Step Brother." Spencer generously shared his many trade secrets and helped students explore his well-known slides with style and grace. Film clips of the Step Brothers performances were shown at the theatre where Spencer was escorted on stage by Jo Rowan and Jessica Miller, both from Oklahoma City University, to receive a special award.
Harold Cromer returned this year to repeat his "life story act" on stage and received another standing ovation. Cromer made his Broadway debut with Ethel Merman, Bert Lahr and Betty Grable in "Du Barry Was a Lady." Later, he partnered with James Cross in the comedy team of Stump and Stumpy. This year, assisted by Sarah Reich from Los Angeles, he taught an unusual tap number to Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. Cromer also served as an excellent Master of Ceremonies at the theatre.
Dr. Jimmy Slyde arrived mid-week in time for the tap jam, Melba's History Panel, the Student Showcase and the theatre performance. He sat on the front row at the student performance and cheered the students on during and after their dances. At the theatre performance he displayed his brilliant musicality. The students enjoyed a rare opportunity to see him perform because there is no one who dances like he does and he is selective about his performances.
Directors of New York's Tradition In Tap, Avi Miller and Ofer Ben, taught a packed class at 9 a.m. class every day at which they presented rhythmic tap steps and good combinations. Their choice of music is always inspiring, probably because Avi plays piano, though not in class. They were the Masters of Ceremonies for the Student Showcase and kept everyone laughing with their comments and introductions. Presently, they are planning a New York event for November to honor The Silver Belles.
The students taking the classes of Deborah Mitchell, artistic director of the New Jersey Tap Ensemble, experienced her unique style. She has a special ability to get the most out of every student. She was a protégé of legendary hoofer, Bubba Gaines. She sang and danced at the theatre show and proved she knew her craft.
Reggio McLaughlin makes his classes fun and entertaining. The students laugh and learn from his dancing style that began in the subways of Chicago. He has been the partner of senior hoofer Ernest "Brownie" Brown for many years and assists "Brownie" in his classes all over the world. He is respected by the tap community for his professional and personal assistance to "Brownie," who was unable to attend this year's workshop due to an accidental burn injury.
Jo Rowan, Dance Chairman of Oklahoma City University arrived at the end of the week to teach "ballet for tap dancers," emphasizing turns, leaps and jumps. Her presentations and teaching skills have helped many tap dancers improve their technique.
Jeannie Hill, an excellent teacher who always smiles and keeps a pleasant atmosphere, enjoyed her first St. Louis Tap Festival this year. She taught students her unique style, and had the students interact with each other. She taught Dr. Buster Brown's "Laura" that several danced at the theatre performance. Her solo was another Brown dance to "Begin the Beguine." She has worked with Billy Siegenfeld for many years and is a principal performer and assistant director to Jump Jazz Rhythm.
Students enjoyed the classes of George Patterson, who ended with a sensational performance at the theatre. He danced in "Bring in 'da Noise/Bring in 'da Funk" and studied with Savion Glover and at the Sammy Dyer School of Theatre in Chicago under Shirley Hall-Bass. Patterson brought a youthful, exuberant style to class and continues to dance all over the world.
Lisa LaTouche from Canada returned to the Festival for her second year. After a fill-in role last year, she was so popular that she was asked to return. Her beautiful face and dedication to tap assures that there will be more to come from her in the future.
John Kloss first appeared at the St. Louis Tap Festival about ten years ago as a member of the comedy tap duo, The Swift Brothers. Now based in the San Francisco area, he directs the San Francisco Bay Area Tap Festival. He taught a Miller Brothers and Lois routine from the vaudeville era performed by Sara Reich, Nico Rubio and Lee Howard at the theatre.
MADD Rhythms from Chicago danced a special number at the theatre and also performed at the Student Showcase. Each one of them has something to say in their individual style. Bril Barrett, Tre Dumas and Jumaane Taylor were missed because they were performing in "Imagine Tap" in Chicago.
The St. Louis Hoofers performed as a group and Logan Miller individually. They all represent the artistry of Robert L. Reed. Miller serves as captain for the group. His dancing improves every year in skill and confidence.
Two hip hoppers were added to the roster and the students enjoyed their classes. Darryl Sandoz hit the Hip Hop scene in 2000 with video appearances and live performances in Los Angeles. He has taught classes from St. Louis to Hollywood. Wisdom Rounds has done many videos and toured extensively with Pretty Willie and others. They have expressed interest in tap after seeing Robert Reed teach. They added a new dimension to the festival.
Producer Robert L. Reed taught two classes daily and displayed his tap and acrobatic skills at the performance, closing his act with back handsprings landing in splits. The festival participants are grateful for his work with Randy Miller in presenting one of the best faculties ever. The cast party was held at the beautiful home of Duane and Kelly Mazzacavallo. The parents of Reed's St. Louis Hoofers served as staff members helping in many ways to assist everyone.
The diverse and talented seventeen member faculty afforded students many opportunities to choose classes from some of the best tap teachers in tap in the world. Having the history panel in a beautiful meeting room, a tap jam in the courtyard, and the classes and the student performance, all in the same hotel, created a close, family atmosphere, allowing everyone to get to know each other. A future article will feature more about the History Panel and students from this fun-packed festival.
Read more of Melba's early columns www.melbasdance.com.