The Tap Love Tour Podcast

Tap dance as medicine. Rhythm as prayer. Healing as sound. In this episode, I sit with Berklee musician and rising tap voice Dylan Suzch to explore how movement can restore what the world breaks. We talk about arranging music for dancers, and how rhythm can hold space for pain, joy, and everything between. I also open up about my own experience watching Jeremy O. Harris’ Slave Play at Canadian Stage — a reminder of how art can cut deep and still call us to heal. Connect with Dylan on instagram: @dylan_does_tapdance Support Tap Love Tour on Patreon: patreon.com/travisknights

In a captivating chat, Jacky Li, a visionary designer from Canada and founder of SAF Shoes, shares his journey from Hong Kong to the forefront of dance footwear innovation. He explores how vintage jazz fueled his passion for rhythm in shoe design, making them feel like musical instruments. Jacky vividly discusses transforming custom social shoes into a thriving business, adapting during the pandemic, and the intricate balance between comfort and style. His creative process is a beautiful blend of inspiration, collaboration, and the pursuit of dancer-focused design.

Jazz trumpeter Jeremy Pelt and award-winning tap dancer Lisa LaTouche dive deep into the interconnectedness of music and storytelling. Jeremy shares insights from his Griot project, highlighting the importance of oral traditions in preserving Black artistry. They discuss the role of tap as a pivotal form of musical dialogue and how mentorship shaped their journeys. With anecdotes of self-critique and the creative process, they explore the rich emotional landscapes that inform their work, pushing for unity between jazz and tap.

In the wake of major cuts to the National Endowment for the Arts, we speak with tap legend Jane Goldberg about the Changing Times Tap Initiative Grant. Creating new work has always been about piecing together resources to achieve your vision. Tune in as the Tap Goddess of the Lower East Side shares how this grant could be a key piece in your puzzle. https://janegoldberg.org/changingtimestapinitiative/ Support the work of Tap Love Tour through our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/travisknights

Why did one of the longest-running tap festivals in the world just get cancelled? Acia Gray, renowned tap dancer and founder of Tapestry Dance Company in Austin, Tx, joins us for a sober conversation about the philosophical shift and budget cuts at the National Endowment for the Arts. After 25 years of producing the Soul to Sole Tap Festival, Acia is making the difficult decision to bring it to a close. We dig into what this means for the tap dance community, the state of arts funding in America, and the resilience it takes to create space for rhythm over decades.

An open letter to Terpsichore Dance Celebration Support the work of Tap Love Tour through our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/travisknights

Brinae Ali, an internationally acclaimed tap dance artist and leader of the Baby Laurence Legacy Project, delves into the transformative power of art. She discusses the importance of balancing creativity with community impact and shares her insights on bridging generational gaps through artistic practices. Brinae also talks about her upcoming Mars Project, which weaves dance, music, and theater to explore identity and heritage. With a focus on resilience and empowerment, she underscores the role of gratitude and collective efforts in fostering a thriving artistic community.

Ian Berg, an incredible Tap Dance artist, composer, and educator, discusses the fusion of tap dance with music, the importance of jazz culture in higher education, choreography, composition, and creating music for tap dancers. He reflects on his tap dance journey, influential figures, and the interplay of music and tap dancing through melodies and time signatures.

Stacey Achieng, co-founder of TapaTapa Tap Dance Group in Nairobi, Kenya, discusses spreading dance across East Africa. Topics include the journey of learning tap dance in Kenya, Kenyan culture, lineage and migration history, tap dance self-help groups, and community engagement initiatives.

Tap dancer Molly Smith, director of Chicago Tap Theatre's new production, discusses the significance of queer tap dance, embracing queerness in tap dance history, exploring the choreographic process for the show, challenges and celebrating representation in tap dance history, and promoting ticket purchasing and Patreon support.