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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, Dance Chicago,the
CHRP 2002 Great American Youth Tap Ensembles
concert, the CHRP 2003 International Youth Tap
Ensemble JAMboree!, Chicago Tap All-Stars, 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.
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. Current
rehearsal directors are members Sarah Garren, Julia Nee,
Chrissy Jones and Stephanie Marsh, ages 17, 17, 15, and
15 respectively. Former rehearsal directors Cait Jones,
Becca Snow, Grace Douglass and Lisa Peterson are now
rehearsal advisors. In 2007 we added a third training
level called the Footprints Workshop, with rehearsals
directed by Cait Jones.
Photo by Kathleen
Weinstein Photography.
This site is owned
by Footprints Tap Ensemble of Talent Forum.
Copyright ©
2001-2007 by G. Reese-Jones.
All rights reserved.
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