Episode 123: Lynn Dally - From One Generation To The Next
Feb 23, 2024
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Join Travis Knights and Allie Stewart as they chat with Lynn Dally about tap dance legends, passing on knowledge, preserving tap dance legacy, Black and Irish dancers influence, and intergenerational dialogue. Reflect on family, art, racial awareness, and the importance of studying past masters like Eddy Brown and Jimmy Slide in tap dancing tradition.
Collaboration among dancers, musicians, and managers is essential for a successful tap dance company.
Educating presenters on the essence of rhythm tap can open up more opportunities for tap dance performances.
Overcoming challenges like lack of categorization and convincing sponsors is crucial for establishing a niche in the dance industry.
Preserving tap dance traditions involves connecting with past influences through workshops, mentorship, and studying the movements of legendary tap dancers.
Deep dives
Forming a Collaborative Dance Company
The podcast explores the journey of forming a collaborative tap dance company led by three dancers and three musicians. They valued collaboration, each contributing their strengths and creating a powerhouse ensemble. Their repertoire included various pieces where they collaborated on everything, showcasing a mix of individual and group creations. The company's background in dance and music, university education, and access to resources all played a crucial role in their success.
Challenges in the Tap Dance Field
The episode delves into the challenges faced in the tap dance industry, particularly the lack of recognition and categorization for tap dance performances on live stages. Presenters and agents initially struggled to understand the essence of rhythm tap dance, associating it mainly with movie-style tap. The podcast highlights the importance of educating presenters, sending press packs, and overcoming perceptions to open up opportunities for tap dance performances.
Building a Successful Touring Company
The discussion revolves around the key factors required to establish a successful touring tap dance company. Apart from dancers and musicians, essential team members include a manager, promoters, and access to various resources like rehearsal space, promotional materials, and a supportive network. Overcoming challenges like lack of categorization, convincing sponsors, and promoting the uniqueness of their rhythm tap performances were crucial in carving a niche in the dance industry.
Innovation in Tap Dance
The podcast episode delves into the innovative approach of two brothers in presenting tap dance in a contemporary way. They aimed to break away from traditional perceptions by incorporating fresh elements while also paying tribute to historical roots. Through pieces like 'Jam with Honey', they celebrated and acknowledged the influence of past masters like Honey Coles, intertwining history with modern expression. The discussion highlights the brothers' endeavor to redefine tap dance by infusing it with a blend of tradition and innovation.
Preserving Oral Traditions and Influences
The episode explores the challenge of preserving tap dance traditions without direct access to original masters. The conversation emphasizes the importance of connecting with past influences through available resources like videos and mentorship from mentees of legendary tap dancers. It stresses the value of immersing oneself in the movements and nuances of past masters, such as Eddy Brown, to grasp the essence and depth of tap history. Additionally, attending specialized tap workshops like those at Jacob's Pillow is recommended to further absorb and carry forward the legacy of tap dance.
Influence of Modern Dance
The podcast touches on the impact of modern dance on tap dance evolution over time. While acknowledging the distinctiveness of tap dance, there's a recognition of how modern dance principles have influenced tap dancers' approach to movement, space, and choreography. The conversation underscores the significance of embodying a three-dimensional and full-bodied expression in tap, drawing parallels to modern dance's emphasis on physicality and spatial awareness. It also hints at a trend of tapping into early dance forms like jitterbug and swing for a more grounded understanding of tap's roots.
Inspiring Future Generations
The episode concludes with a call to budding tap dancers to delve into personal connections with past masters and contemporaries through workshops, mentorship, and self-exploration. Encouraging dancers to engage with original sources like workshop videos, tap enthusiasts are urged to internalize the essence and uniqueness of different tap styles. By exploring a range of influences from veterans like Jimmy Slide to modern innovators like Dormeshia and Michelle Dorrance, aspiring dancers are encouraged to blend tradition with personal expression, enhancing the tapestry of tap dance.
This week Travis Knights and special guest Allie Stewart are joined by the co-founder of The Jazz Tap Ensemble, Lynn Dally. The gems that Lynn drops in this episode shine so bright. Visit https://jazztapensemblelegacy.org/ to purchase archives of her decades of work.
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