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Our History
Footprints Tap Ensemble of Talent Forum 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 501c(3)
production and performance company (and apprentice company) 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 10 to 18. 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 numerous
master dancers, including Jason Samuels Smith, Dianne “Lady Di”
Walker, Sarah Petronio, Mike Minery,
Ayodele Casel, Teddy
Levy, Lane Alexander, Bril Barrett, Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards, Omar
Edwards, and Mark Yonally. Dancers have trained
with master tappers Savion Glover, Jason Samuels
Smith, Dianne Walker, Sarah Petronio, Brenda Bufalino, Cholly Atkins,
Leonard Reed, Robert Reed, Sam Weber, Lane Alexander, Ernest
"Brownie" Brown, Prince Spencer, Henry LeTang,
Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards,
Omar Edwards, Acia Gray, Bril
Barrett, Mark Yonally and Sarah Cook, among others.
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, 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.
Rehearsal Directors are members Chrissy Jones,
Stephanie Marsh and Karen Silvasy, ages 16, 17, and
16 respectively. Joey Columbus, age 15, and Madeline Partain,
age 16, have been newly named as Assistant Rehearsal Directors.
Photo
by Kathleen Weinstein Photography.
This
site is owned by Footprints Tap Ensemble of Talent Forum.
Copyright
© 2001-2009 by G. Reese-Jones. All rights reserved.
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