Elka Samuels Smith has been very successful in establishing and running Divine Rhythm Productions, an artist management company representing many artists in various fields of dance. Read how her life experiences combined to make her the perfect leader of this venture serving dance artists.
December 2009 - Dancer Magazine
Ernest "Brownie" Brown died in August 2009 at age 93, having outlived most of his fellow vaudevillians. Melba outlines his legacy, for which he will be remembered and missed by many generations of the tap world who loved him.
November 2009 - Dancer Magazine
What is bebop? How can you answer that question in an advanced tap class? Ardie Bryant's discussion of bebop during classes in New York for Tradition in Tap provided food for thought.
October 2009 - Dancer Magazine
Unbeknownst to most, Michael Jackson wanted to learn to tap dance. About 10 years ago he asked Debbie Allen to help him find a great tap teacher. Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards, who worked with him on this, shares her observations.
September 2009 - Dancer Magazine
In November 2008, New York's Tradition in Tap festival honored Ardie Bryant, a tap legend who is still performing in his 80s.
March 2009 - Dancer Magazine
Dormeshia's exposure to the tap legends, mixed with training in all the different art forms, plus encouragement from family, teachers and many others, helped her become the world class dancer she is today. Most of all, she will never forget Arlene and Paul Kennedy for their gifts to her and the world ot tap.
January 2009 - Dancer Magazine
Ludie Jones, one of the greatest tap dancers in Harlem, has kept tap alive for 70 years and is still dancing and teaching at age 92.
October 2008 - Dancer Magazine
Four of Melba's teachers enjoyed a dance experience in New York this summer.
September 14, 2008 - The Monitor
Teachers are the "front line" in preserving tap and inspiring new generations of tap dancers. Tap is not only an end in itself, but a method we can use to provide students well-rounded dance training.
September 2008 - Dancer Magazine
February rain and snow did not chill the energy of the first Oklahoma City Tap Festival, held at Oklahoma City University.
August 2008 - Dancer Magazine
When tap dancer Danny Daniels could not attend his award ceremony in New York for Tradition in Tap, producers Avi Miller, Ofer Ben and Germaine Salsberg took the award to California to present to Daniels.
July 2008 - Dancer Magazine
Friends of Jimmy Slyde share their memories of this unequaled performer whose exquisite dancing spanned many decades.
July 2008 - Dancer Magazine (Reverence column)
While Gus Giordano's time has passed, his gifts to jazz dance live on. Melba Huber explores the life and work of this influential artist.
June 2008 - Dancer Magazine
Canadian dancer Lisa LaTouche spent three days in Beijing doing media promotion for Chicago Human Rhythm Project's "JUBA! Masters of American Tap."
May 2008 - Dancer Magazine