On Thursday 1st July I fly to the Big Apple for a month of all things tap related. Although I’m not signed up for any TAP CITY classes I’ve been browsing the website and thinking about doing one of the 4-day intensives. But I’ll have to wait and see how it goes. I’ve noted down the events that are happening and plan to attend talks, films and perhaps a performance. There are so many things to do in NYC so I know I’ll have to pace myself in order to make the most of it.

The real focus of my trip to New York is to attend Heather Cornell’s 20th Anniversary NYC Rhythm Tap Intensive Workshop with live music and do research at the Lincoln Centre for the Performing Arts. With two solid weeks of “Back to our roots – Jazz” the intensive is just what I’ve been looking for. And being in New York it is also the perfect opportunity catch up with friends and relatives, and put some faces to those Facebook tap acquaintances!

Research and professional development supported by LUTSF and ADAD

Well now with the support of the Trailblazer Fellowship I’m able to budget and plan for professional development. So when I read the schedule for Heather Cornell’s 20th Anniversary NYC Rhythm Tap Intensive Workshop with live music I was excited that it matches the focus of my project. But then again my project has been inspired by tap dancers I’ve seen on numerous occasions, such as Heather Cornell, Roxane Butterfly and Max Pollak, who have worked closely with musicians for many years. What’s more Heather’s Back to our roots – Jazz intensive is her last and The 20th Anniversary Celebration is for 20 Students only.

Heather Cornell’s Rhythm Tap Intensive you will get the same individual attention that Heather offered her company members and dancers in her professional training program for two decades.

From Manhattan Tap Intensive with Heather Cornell on www.manhattantap.org

Of course I’m now fully signed up for the two weeks in July. And whilst in New York I’ll be using the opportunity to check out the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts for tap and jazz research. It will also be great to catch up with old tap buddies and make new contacts, particularly since there’s likely to be a lot of tap visitors in town for the Tap City festival the first week of July. And budget permitting, I might be able to squeeze in a master class or two at Tap City as well!