The NEW YORK
STAGE ORIGINALS
TAP KIDS
put on an
amazing public performance on Saturday night but
even more amazing was the education they
provided for our Marion community students. On
Friday at 9:30, the TAP KIDS made a great tap
experience for the High School freshmen and
sophomores. Then at 1:30 they related a story
about tap dance to 3rd,
4th,
and 5th
graders from Francis Slocum Elementary who came
to the F. Ritchie Walton Performing Arts Center
and were dazzled by the talents of these eight
young dancers from all over the country. One of
these eight dancers is our own Kiliegh Williams,
who attended Francis Slocum herself for her
elementary school experience. Tap dance is “an
_expression of passions” stated one youngster.
“Is tap dancing hard?” quizzed another. “How
long have you been tap dancing?” shouted another
young student. “Most of these performers have
been tap dancing since they were around age 3, 4
or 5” responded Lisa Hopkins, the group’s
director. Inquisitive little minds learned
about old fashioned jazz tap as well as tapping
to more current sounds like hip hop. One little
guy asked Dave Rees, Chairman of the Walton
Center Arts Society, “how do you get into this
group?” “You have to audition” replied Rees.
“When is the next audition, ‘cause I wanna get
in it!” said the little boy, clearly impacted by
the love of the art of dance from this
experience. The TAP KIDS stirred up lots of
interest and joy for these kids. Saturday
night’s performance included awesome
presentations by CSA’s TAP INDIANA, the great
young tappers from DANCER’S EDGE, and some hot
feet smoking on stage from PLAYHOUSE STUDIO OF
DANCE, all in incredible form. In Marion, we
have much to be proud of and thanks to great
educational experiences like what TAP KIDS did
for our students, dance and the arts will
flourish in this community for a long, long
time. Future shows for the Walton Center Arts
Society include BROADWAY – A STAR SPANGLED
SPECTACULAR, coming in fall 2006, THE PURDUE
GLEE CLUB, proposed for January 2007, TAYLOR
UNIVERSITY JAZZ ENSEMBLE, March 2007 and a great
final presentation for the season featuring THE
GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA on April 27, 2007. For
more information check out the website.
www.waltoncenter.org
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