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KNOCK ON WOOD Studio News
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 "When there's a shine on your shoes, there's a melody in your heart ... What a wonderful way to start the day!" We love that old song, and think we should all start the studio season with shiny shoes and a melody in our hearts. We're working hard to get the season off to a great start, planning an expanded Master Class series, including some especially for younger dancers as well as some "for adults only." We'll also be hosting a series of "tap parties" (some especially for our 8-12 year-old dancers) featuring jams and opportunities to show off your own choreography. Watch the website for info, and flyers will be coming soon!
 It's not too late to register! Our 14-week Fall Session begins September 8 with a new season of great classes. Specialty classes will also start up soon, including our Professional Tap Teachers' Seminar, a new 4-week "Don't Sweat the Technique" series, and a new series of "boys only" technique classes. (See below for info on some of these events.)
Tap Into Silver Spring! Join us for our first production at the Round House Theatre in downtown Silver Spring on October 25 at 7:30 pm. The evening will be hosted by KOW faculty members and feature tap performers from across the DC Metro area. Watch for more info soon!
 Sally Foster Benefits KOW - Now it's easier than ever to shop for yourself AND contribute to TWA/Knock On Wood at the same time! You can purchase high quality gift wrap and accessories, gourmet chocolates, and much more, and Sally Foster will share a very generous portion of the proceeds with the studio. Just go to Sally Foster's website, click on "Give Credit," select "Group/Acct #," select "Group/Acct #" again on the next page, and enter our account # 0746195 (it's easier than it sounds!). After those few clicks, continue with your shopping. The money that Sally Foster donates helps us fulfill our program goals; we would be grateful for your support in this important fundraiser!
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| TAPPERS WITH ATTITUDE News |
 We're proud that our very first performance of the season is as the opening act at the Metro DC Dance Awards; this year, we are finalists for Outstanding Youth Performance 2008 and also Overall Production - Small Venue. Ms. Vicki is also a finalist for Outstanding Achievement in Dance Education, so keep your fingers crossed for all of us! (Photo by Enoch Chan)
Keep an eye on our 2008-09 season!
- Metro DC Dance Awards (Sept. 8)
- Ashburn VillageFest (Sept. 27)
- Dance Place (March 7 & 8)
- Juvenile Diabetes Benefit (April 25)
- Atlas Performing Arts Center (June 14 & 15)
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OCTOBER 5 is SUPER SUNDAY at KNOCK ON WOOD
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 CAN'T WAIT FOR THE SUPER BOWL?
OCTOBER 5, 2008 is SUPER SUNDAY at KOW!
Special "Take Two" discounts for every student who takes more than one class on October 5, from the great choices below. Save $5 per class!
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MASTER CLASSES WITH ANDREW NEMR
Sunday, October 5
11:00 am -12:30 pm
Advanced Beginner/Intermediate (ages 12+)
1:00-2:30 pm
Intermediate/Advanced (ages 14+)
Kicking off the master class season is Andrew Nemr. Andrew teaches and performs around the world, and is on the faculty at Steps On Broadway. His solo and ensemble work is internationally acclaimed. As his mentor Gregory Hines said, "Andrew Nemr is one of the tap dancers who will help move the form forward into the New Millennium. His skills are true and richly expressive." Don't miss this opportunity! Tap here for more info.
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BOYZ BUSTIN' LOOSE
"Bust a New Move!" with Baakari Wilder
Sunday, October 5
1:00-2:30 pm
KOW is proud to present an exciting new fun and challenging 4-part series especially for boys age 8-14! Sign up today for Boyz Bustin' Loose, which kicks off with Baakari Wilder on October 5. The remaining dates for the series are Sundays January 4, March 29, and May 3. The cost is $30 per class. (SPECIAL DISCOUNT of $100 for all four classes!)
Don't miss the chance to take a master class with Andrew, too, and enjoy our "Take Two" discount!
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PROFESSIONAL TAP TEACHER SEMINAR
Special Guest: Baakari Wilder
Sunday, October 5
3:30-5:00 pm
Our Professional Tap Teacher Seminar series returns for its 2nd Season! Join us, with special guest Baakari Wilder, for another informative seminar as we gather local professional tap teachers to explore classic and new material, discuss and demonstrate current classroom strategies. Double your pleasure, double your fun - take a master class, too, and enjoy our "Take Two" discount!
There will be two more Professional Tap Teacher Seminars in the coming months - mark your calendars for January 4 and March 5, 2009.
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KINDRA J. INGRAM, D.C. - TAP ENRICHMENT SCHOLARSHIP AWARDED
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 CONGRATULATIONS & A HEARTY WELCOME TO TREVOR KUNZ!
Trevor is the winner of the first Kindra J. Ingram Tap Enrichment Scholarship, and has also been accepted into Tappers With Attitude Youth Ensemble's Training Workshop.
Trevor started tapping at Knock On Wood in January 2007 in "Jazzy Jim" Hughes' Tap for Boyz class, and has progressed quickly from the Level 1 class to Level 2-3. He also participated in the Jump Rhythm Jazz Project Teen Tap Intensive in July. Trevor is an avid soccer player and fan, and enjoys playing chess, when he is not tapping.
Next Spring, there will be another round of applications available for the second Ingram Scholarship. Information will be available in 2009.
We are all extremely proud of Trevor and his accomplishments, and look forward to seeing his continued progress.
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KNOCK ON WOOD - GOING GREEN
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 As we continue to look for ways to 'Go Green,' we would like your help to cut back on the amount of paper we use. Our mailings, which we send four times a year, generate a huge paper usage and expense.
We recently mailed you a letter with a detachable card requesting your correspondence preference. If you haven't done so already, please help us by filling out the card and returning it to us as soon as possible. Please note that by mailing the card with your own postage, you will help us save hundreds of dollars - money that we can use to enhance our programs!
If it's easier, you can save on postage and email your correspondence preference at any time. (Just indicate how you want us to contact you. Your choices are "electronic only," "snail mail only," "electronic and snail mail," or "take me off your list.")
We thank you for your participation as we continue to find ways to help the environment.
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TWA ALUMS - WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Jason Holley
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 One of TWA's youngest dancers ever was DC's Jason Holley. Jason began tap with Ms Yvonne at age 5, and joined TWA as a 6 year old. He appeared in Debbie Allen's, "Brothers of the Knight," at the Kennedy Center, and at age 15, he moved to Los Angeles to study at Debbie Allen Dance Academy. To learn more about what he's up to ... in another country far away ... tap here!
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| CLICK 'N CLACK, the TAP-IT SISTERS - Trivia Corner |
  It's "Back to School" time ... so let's look at some recent history associated with higher education. In 2002, Oklahoma City University paid tribute to nine world-famous African-American tap dancers, awarding them the honorary degree Doctor of Performing Arts in American Dance.
There were eight of tap's remaining great male artists (Cholly Atkins, Bunny Briggs, James "Buster" Brown, James T. "Jimmy Slyde" Godbolt, Henry LeTang, Fayard Nicholas, Leonard Reed, and Prince Spencer). One amazing female artist was also honored - and she is our "mystery dancer" this month.
Born in Chicago in 1916, she landed her first job in musical theatre at the age of 13. She toured on the TOBA circuit with the great acts and orchestras, including the Whitman Sisters.
A frequent partner of Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, this artist was one of the first African American women to develop a career as a tap soloist. She made history as the first African American female dancer to receive a contract with a major Hollywood studio, and went on to appear in over 20 films.
 She was also one of the first women to break the stereotype of women dancers in short skirts and high-heels. Instead, she wore low-heeled shoes, and pants - garments more suited to her rigorous athletic style, which included toe stands and a variety of flashy acrobatic steps seldom performed by women in those days.
She makes her home in Vancouver, still taps, still teaches, and still inspires dancers around the world.
QUESTION: In 2003, what newly minted "Dr. of American Dance" came to the Smithsonian to present her tap shoes to the Museum of American History? (Hint: Knock On Wood had the great honor of hosting her master classes, and many of you met her then.)
LAST MONTH'S Q & A: This jack-of-all-trades began tap dancing in a unique and unusual way. What special tap dancing talent does he possess?
"As a kid in the late 1920s in Hell's Kitchen," Harold Cromer recalls, "my twin sister and I used to go to the Chelsea Theatre on 8th Ave., where I saw the great Bill Robinson tap dancing. While I was roller skating and playing hockey, flashbacks of Robinson would come to me, and there I was, trying to emulate him on roller skates - and not falling down, either!"
Tap dancing on roller-skates became Cromer's trademark, leading to a career in theater, vaudeville and films during the 1930s and '40s.
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Knock On Wood Tap Studio8700 Georgia Ave., Suite B
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301-495-0395
Our programs are sponsored in part by funding from
the Montgomery County government and the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County,
The Jim and Carol Trawick Foundation, The Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation,
Dallas Morse Coors Foundation, and the Washington Post.
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 Knock On Wood and Tappers With Attitude appreciate the work of
Dance/MetroDC in its efforts to unite and support the DC area's dance
community. Dance/MetroDC is the only comprehensive source for dance
performances, events, master classes, workshops, jobs, auditions and
more in the DC metro area. Check their website for more information or to subscribe to their newsletter.
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