10th Anniversary for Australian Tap Dance Festival
Launch at Firehouse May 30
From people aged 6 to 90, the humble beginner to the current legends of tap dance, the Australian Tap Dance Festival (ATDF) is Australasia’s largest tap dance event and celebrates its 10th year in 2021!
Despite what the mainstream may perceive, there’s no shortage of tap dance talent and opportunities in Australia and these artists and events have allowed the art form to survive and grow in recognition in the dance world.
To kick it all off, Tap Day at Firehouse Theatre on Sunday 30 May will launch the 2021 program of the 10th annual Australian Tap Dance Festival (ATDF), that will roll out events in cities across Australia (Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Hobart) including a day in Auckland, New Zealand. Places are limited so register now!
ATDF takes this opportunity to have their own celebration of National Tap Dance Day which is on May 25 in the USA, the birthday of Bill ‘Bojangles’ Robinson.
Join them for a day of tap dance workshops ending with a performance showcase and open jam to bring the tap community and public together to learn, share, meet and enjoy all things tap.
As in previous years, participants and audiences will see things they’ve never thought possible with tap. There is a richness and versatility to the art form that many have yet to discover.
“This is what excites us about presenting these opportunities to showcase to the wider community,” shares Festival Producer, Ella Lehaf, “there are no limitations to who can take part and this is one of the most fulfilling aspects of tap dance – seeing people of all ages, backgrounds and ability find pure joy in the sound and movement.”
ATDF is delighted to announce the incredible line-up for the Tap Day event to kick off the festival experiences: Peta Anderson (Riverdance and creator of Eireborne, Drummer Queens), Thomas Egan (Tap Dogs and creator of Tap Pack) and Winston Morrison (Festival Director and founder).
The main Festival will be held September 25 – October 2 in Melbourne. So far, the teaching faculty announced include: Darren Disney, Bill Simpson, Brianna Taylor, Thomas Wadelton, Tania Gould, Ben Read, Shane Preston, Winston Morrison, Garry Stocks, Peta Anderson, Reid Perry, Jessie Cram, and Jack Egan.
Founded in 2012 by Ella Lehaf and Winston Morrison, ATDF’s mission is to give local tap dancers access to world class mentors and bring the art of tap into the mainstream. The festival continues to create opportunities to spark a revival of broader community interest in tap dance and its innovative progress, while also paying respects to those who came before and the history of the art form that began on the streets.
ATDF is a not-for-profit venture and is the only one of its kind in Australasia.
australiantapdancefestival.com.au
AUSTRALIAN TAP DANCE FESTIVAL
Tap Day at Firehouse Theatre
90 Waverley Rd, Malvern East VIC
Sunday 30 May
Workshops 10am – 7pm
Information & Tickets: events.humanitix.com
Main Festival – Melbourne
Sept 25 – Oct 2
PETA ANDERSON
Peta started dancing at the age of 3, where she attended the McDonald College of the arts and then a Diploma in Performing Arts. Peta went on tour with “The Rhythms of Ireland” around Australia and NZ which lead her to performing with “Dance of Desire” in China. Peta appeared on Ireland’s “RTE” show “Dance off” where she was chosen to perform as principal dancer, which then went on to perform in New York on Broadway. Peta performed in Riverdance since 2011 around the world and was part of their 20th anniversary tours. She starred in the brand new production “Heartbeat of Home” in Ireland, China and Canada. Peta was also a part of an arena tour of the UK performing in Ant & Decs “Saturday night takeaway” representing “Riverdance”. Peta is now choreographing/producing and starring in the new show called “Eireborne” and “Drummer Queens” currently touring Australia.
THOMAS EGAN
Thomas is a Creative and Performer on the show The Tap Pack. The Pack has performed in London and Berlin and are currently on tour in Australia. They have also been nominated for two Green Room Awards for Excellence in Choreography and Best Musical, an Australian Dance Award and had sold out shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Adelaide Cabaret Festival and, Sydney and Melbourne seasons. They also have also played the TIPI Am Kanzleamt in Berlin and the Super Theatre in Beijing. Thomas worked as a commercial dancer in Sydney for many years having danced for Kylie Minogue, Delta Goodrem, Timomatic, Jessica Mauboy, X-Factor, Australia’s Got Talent, So You Think You Can Dance and Channel V. Thomas appeared Baz Luhrmann’s film The Great Gatsby as a featured dancer. That year he landed his first tour with Tap Dogs, in which he still tours with on occasions. Tap Dogs took him all over Australia, France, Hong Kong, Singapore and the UAE. It also brought him to perform in front of his largest audience of 500 million TV viewers for the spring gala in China. He also performed in the Production Company’s season of Singin’ In The Rain and Fame The Musical choreographed by Kelley Abbey. Thomas trained with his mother Sharon Lawrence, and Barbara Lynch while spending his high school years in an Arts School. He grew up in the theatres of Melbourne working at 10 years old as young Peter Allen in The Boy From Oz, Singin’ In The Rain, Oliver and Gypsy. Thomas sought further training from Robert Sturrock and trained in Los Angeles for Hip Hop and Tap.
WINSTON MORRISON
Winston Morrison is the founder of Melbourne Tap Dance and Australian Tap Dance Festival. He has had the pleasure of performing solo internationally at the Montreal Tap Festival, NYC Tap Festival, and teaching at NY’s Broadway Dance Centre and studios in Italy, France, Austria, Croatia, Czech, UK, NZ, Spain, Germany, Switzerland and Canada. Winston has been tap columnist for Dance-Train magazine and presented instructionals for Dance-Informa. He has appeared on television and radio, specifically to represent tap. Other credits include tap dancing in a Monash University and Commonwealth Bank advertisements. Also a musical director pianist and all round dancer in many styles, he brings this knowledge and musical sensitivity to his expression, classroom and shows. Through his own experiences, observations and learnings from teachers across various disciplines, he has developed distinctions that create a freeing sound and movement experience. Anyone can tap dance.
To kick it all off, Tap Day at Firehouse Theatre on Sunday 30 May will launch the 2021 program of the 10th annual Australian Tap Dance Festival (ATDF), that will roll out events in cities across Australia (Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Hobart) including a day in Auckland, New Zealand. Places are limited so register now!
