The fourth annual D.C. Tap Fest comes to town this weekend with workshops, classes and performances at the D.C. Dance Collective in Northwest Washington.
The festival will also host a concert headlined by Megan Sullivan of FOX’s “So You Think You Can Dance?,” Jumaane Taylor of “Tap Stars,” Emmy awardee and Tony nominated Ted Louis Levy and 7-year-old dance prodigy Luke Spring who was seen on the “Ellen Degeneres” show at the Duke Ellington Theater Saturday night, where organizers will honor D.C. delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton. Grammy award winning singer and D.C. native Mya will also perform.
The festival was founded by DC natives Chloe and Maud Arnold. The sisters started taking classes at the D.C. Dance Collective when they were five years old. Now, they are professional tap dancers who wanted to pay tribute to the art form and give back to their community, said Charisse Callender-Scott communications director of the event.
Organizers expect 350 students to take classes this year. There is no set application process to participate in the workshop. “We don’t want to turn anyone away,” Callender-Scott said.
This will be the first year D.C. Tap Fest has partnered with the Smithsonian Institution to help kick off their jazz week.
All ages and levels of dance experience are welcome.
“We can use dance as a way to inspire and educate and inspire. When you hear tap dance, you think it’s for old people – but then you see the energy and life these young people have for the dance when they get together,” Callender-Scott said.
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