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The Footprints Story
Footprints Tap Ensemble began with just three dancers in 1995, with the
vision to carry on the tradition and legacy of tap dance and to provide an
opportunity for young dancers to achieve something great in the dance world.
Today Footprints is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3)
production and performance company (and two training companies) of
Chicago-area youth who actively choreograph, teach, perform and participate
in all aspects of dance show production. The ensemble is directed by the dancers
themselves, whose ages range from 9 to 17. The organization is dedicated to
carrying on the legacy of the great tap masters, educating others in the art
and history of tap dance, and providing leadership and development
opportunities to youth through tap dance production experience.
Footprints’ annual production Tap
Jam, held each November, hosts notable master tap dancers and draws a
sell-out crowd. In addition to their own productions, the ensemble has
performed in The Nutcracker On
Broadway, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Chicago Human Rhythm
Project concerts since 1998, Dance
Chicago concerts, Chicago Tap Theatre holiday concerts, and Walt Disney World's 25th Anniversary
Celebration. They have been featured on WGN News, in Dance Spirit and Dance
Teacher magazines, and in the Chicago Tribune, Daily Herald, Lakeland
Newspapers and Pioneer Press. In December 2007, the Republic of China and the
Chicago Human Rhythm Project sponsored members of Footprints for three
collaborative performances in Beijing.
Footprints has a diverse repertoire that includes
everything from classic Broadway tap to funky hip-hop tap. Most members of
Footprints took their early tap dance training with Shelley Hoselton, who takes pride in preparing young dancers to
train with the masters. Since 1995, members have performed alongside or
trained with numerous master dancers, including Savion
Glover, Jason Samuels Smith, Jimmy Slyde, Dianne
“Lady Di” Walker, Sarah Petronio, Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards, Lane
Alexander, Ayodele Casel,
Brenda Bufalino, Cholly
Atkins, Leonard Reed, Robert Reed, Sam Weber, Ernest “Brownie”
Brown, Omar Edwards, Bril Barrett, Martin Tre Dumas, Jay Fagan, Ted Levy, Prince Spencer, Henry LeTang, Greg Russell, Jason Janas,
Acia Gray, Mark Yonally, Cait Jones and Sarah Cook. In New York City, Footprints
was honored to dance at famed Cafe Forty-One for tap great Jimmy Slyde in a show hosted by him in their honor.
Footprints was founded by Artistic Director Sarah
Cook, under the auspices of Shelley Hoselton's
Talent Forum. Thanks to the support from the studio, Shelley, business
managers Gerrie Reese-Jones and Lynn Columbus, the
staff and parents, as well as the early training shared by Sarah, the company
has achieved great notice for now being directed by the dancers themselves.
Adults In
Our History
Shelley Hoselton,
Producer Since 1995
Gerrie “Mama”
Reese-Jones - Business Manager, 2000-2010
Lynn “Little Mama”
Columbus - Business Manager Since 2008
Mark Yonally
- Teacher, Tap Technician, Historian & Special Adviser Since 2000
Cait
Jones - Dancer / Rehearsal Director 1998-2005; Teacher, Rehearsal Advisor
& Workshop Director Since 2006
Sarah Cook Mason - Founding
Artistic Director, 1995-2000
Photo
by Kathleen Weinstein Photography.
This
site is owned by Footprints Tap Ensemble of Talent Forum.
Copyright
© 2001-2010 by G. Reese-Jones. All rights reserved.
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