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KNOCK ON WOOD Studio News
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 We wish you all a
Totally
TapTastic
2009
at Knock On Wood, where the halls ring with music and laughter, and the studios are filled with friends and good cheer.
Take a look at what's on tap for 2009!
* Tap Guyz - Totally amazing male tappers? Sure, you've heard of Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, Fred Astaire, & Gregory Hines, to name just a few. You know you've always wanted to give it a try, so don't be shy - join this new beginning level class just for men, taught by our very own "Jazzy Jim" Hughes! Everyone knows Real Men DO Dance - so why not check it out?
* Beginning Jazz - Ms. Hermione is offering our first Jazz class for teens and adults! Class includes basic postures, stretches, and fundamental movements of American jazz dance including warm-up, stretch, jazz technique, and combinations.
* Tap Tech - For those of you who've been wishing for a weekly Adult Tech class to add to your regular tap class, Ms. Hermione's happy to help you step it up! This "Adults Only" class is open to all levels.
* Saturday Adult 2 - You've been asking for it, and now TWA-alum Jeffrey Williams is finally going to make it happen. Don't miss it!
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CAN'T WAIT FOR THE SUPER BOWL?
JANUARY 4, 2009 is SUPER SUNDAY at KOW!
Special "Take Two" discounts for every student who takes more than one class on January 4, from the great choices below. Save $5 per class!
2 Master Classes with Ann Kilkelly
Sunday, January 4
* 11:00 am -12:30 pm: Adv. Beginner/Intermediate (ages 12+)
* 1:00-2:30 pm: Intermediate/Advanced (ages 14+)
Don't miss the first master class of '09! Our good friend, Ann Kilkelly, is a jazz-tap dancer, writer, director, choreographer, and award-winning professor of theatre arts and women's studies at Virginia Tech University. She'll be teaching a Stanley Brown soft shoe routine.
Professional Tap Teacher Seminar
Special Guest: Ann Kilkelly
Sunday, January 4
3:30-5:00 pm
Start the New Year off with our fun, continuing ed seminar! Ms. Yvonne and special guest Ann Kilkelly will lead local professional tap teachers through classic and new material, plus discuss and demonstrate current classroom strategies. Double your pleasure, double your fun - take a master class, too, and enjoy our "Take Two" discount!
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Plan Ahead for Tap Camps 2009!
* 2 Spring Break Camps, April 6-10:
- Jump Rhythm Jazz Project's Teen Tap Week
(ages 11 & up, intermediate to advanced)
- Dance Passport Spring Break Camp (ages 7-12)
* 3 Summer Camps:
- July 13-17
- July 27-31
- August 10-14
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| TAPPERS WITH ATTITUDE News |
AUDITIONS! Photo by Enoch Chan
 Auditions for aspiring members of Tappers With Attitude Youth Ensemble will be held on January 14, 2009. Tap dancers ages 10-and-up, currently working at an advanced beginner/ intermediate level are encouraged to audition; some needs-based scholarship support is available. To learn more about TWA, click here. For more information about auditions, tap here. To get your info packet and scholarship application, contact Ms. Lisa at 301-495-0395.
Mark your calendars for these upcoming peformances!
- Dance Place (March 7 & 8)
- Juvenile Diabetes Benefit (April 25)
- Atlas Performing Arts Center
(June 14 & 15)
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SAVE THE DATE: National Tap Dance Day 2009
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 It's too soon to let the (tap) cat out of the (shoe) bag, but we wanted to give you this important heads up right away. Knock On Wood & Tappers With Attitude are planning a terrific event to celebrate National Tap Dance Day 2009! Mark your calendar now, and stay tuned for updates.
You'll most definitely want to Tap Into Silver Spring on May 29.
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GETTING TO KNOW OUR FACULTY: Meet Jeffrey Williams
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 Influenced by Gene Kelly's performance in "Singing In The Rain," Jeffrey began taking tap, jazz, and ballet classes when he was 6 years old. Three years later, his passion for tap dancing led him to Knock On Wood studio where he continued his education under the direction of Ms. Yvonne Edwards.
Jeffrey auditioned for and was accepted into Tappers With Attitude when he was 11 and remained with the company until his graduation in 2006. During his years with TWA, Jeffrey took master classes and learned choreographed pieces from many masters. Since graduating, Jeffrey has been teaching tap dancing at area studios, as well as teaching improvisation techniques to the TWA Workshop since 2007.
Jeffrey is a full time mechanical engineering student at the James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland. Click here to read more about Jeffrey.
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CLICK 'N CLACK, the TAP-IT SISTERS say... TAP INTO KNOWLEDGE!
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  January's Tap Birthday Boy was born in 1918 - more or less! Born in Los Angeles, he originally aspired to being a prize-fighter. When that didn't work out, he headed for New York's renowned Harlem.
His particular "hook" as a vaudeville performer was that he sprinkled sand on the floor, to augment the sound of his dancing. He became known as "Sandman," a moniker that stuck with him for the rest of his life.
Always a scrapper, and up to any challenge, he once told me that he entered, and lost, 10 Apollo "Amateur Night" contests. Eventually, however, he won a record 25 straight contests! He later became the theater's stage manager, and the well-known "executioner" who would race from backstage to drag away unpopular Amateur Night performers.
While Sandman was never as well known as many of the headline dancers of his day, he coached many famous dancers including Gregory Hines and Ben Vereen, as well as boxers like Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Robinson. He actually became better know later in life, during "the tap revival." He toured, appeared in many tap documentaries, and in major films including "The Cotton Club," and "Tap."
Sandman was also seen on the Cosby Show, as Rudy Huxtable's tap instructor. He was known for his habit of calling out "Challenge;" in this clip, he throws down a tap "challenge" to Bill Cosby.
QUESTION: This month's tap legend was known for his deep commitment to teaching young people. When he received a 1984 National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Fellowship, he used part of his cash award to turn a Harlem parking lot into an outdoor dance school for local kids. His personal motto "Each One, Teach One" is well-known among tap dancers, and his full name should be remembered as well. We know him as "Sandman," but what name was he born with?
 LAST MONTH'S Q&A: First, CONGRATULATIONS to prize winner Helen Mandel!
In the 1960's, Rat Pack members were Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Joey Bishop and Peter Lawford. Together, they represented the most hep cats of their time. Check 'em out!
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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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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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