Tap Treasures Tours
Tap Treasures was first introduced at Tap City 2016, the New York City Tap Festival. It is designed to provide numerous opportunities for festival students, and the general public, to learn more about, and experience, the rich evolution of tap dance in its birthplace, New York City.
Upon arrival, participants first received an attractive Tap Map identifying key locations that are important to tap’s history, as well as detailed information and a schedule for the week ahead. Each event is hosted by local iconic tap dance figures who share their own personal relationship to tap, while also presenting historic and related information through fun interactive discussions, film clips, classes or performances.
"Tap Treasures reinvestigates and revisits eight historic locations in Manhattan that contributed to the evolution of tap dance. As we celebrate an almost forgotten history of this fascinating art form, let us not forget the people, the places and events that have influenced, perpetuated and molded our very own American art-form Tap Dance, born and raised right here in New York City.” Tony Waag, Artistic Director & Producer
Tap Treasures 2016
On Monday, July 11, 2016, the uptown tour began in Harlem at the legendary Apollo Theater where participants took a tap specific private tour of the theate and ended up on the stage where everyone got a chance to perform the "Shim Sham" and the “Coles Stroll” in honor of the late Charles “Honi” Coles who created the dance. That evening everyone met at the Circle Line Marina, Pier 83, to embark on the annual Copasetic Boat Ride and Jam where additional festivities continued as we celebrated the legacy of the amazing Copasetics.
On Tuesday, July 12, 2016 at 7pm, there was a candid conversation with Broadway choreographers Randy Skinner & Mercedes Ellington at the Duke on 42nd Street about the “The New 42nd Street” and the restoration of seven historic theaters (with a focus on the Liberty Theatre and the New Amsterdam Theater), where numerous tap dance luminaries started their careers, including Fred and Adele Astaire, Bill Robinson, Ray Bolger and Ruby Keeler.
Participants then attended the Tap City Awards Show, also at the Duke on 42nd Street, where the 2016 Hoofer, Tap Preservation and International Hall of Fame Awards were presented as we also celebrated the Gregory Hines Collection of American Tap Dance archives at the Lincoln Center's New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
On Wednesday, July 13, 2016 at 7pm we began our tour at the former Woodpeckers Tap Dance Center where a short video created by Tony Waag was presented about the history of the space. Following that was a personal reflection by tap master Brenda Bufalino and a reunion of former American Tap Dance Orchestra dancers who danced a bit and then talked about their own memories of the tap dancers that taught and danced at the center, and the productions that occurred while in the space. Brenda Bufalino and the American Tap Dance Orchestra operated the center from 1989-1995 and it became the model for most of the current programs produced year-round by the ATDF today.
After that, Tap Treasures participants strolled by what was once the Village Gate (another venue that presented a lot of tap dancers and tap production in the 1970’s & 80’s). Sharon De'Lugoff (Art De'Lugoffs daughter) andJane Goldberg (once known as the tap goddess of the lower east side) shared stories about the Village Gate along the way and then everyone end up at the American Tap Dance Center for a cake and champagne reception in celebration of 30 years as a tap dance organization!
On Thursday, July 14, 2016, participants attended one of the two Tap Treasures shows, again at the Duke on 42nd Street, and on Friday, July 15, 2016, 150 festival students were presented in Tap it Out at Foley Square in the area that was once known as the 5 Points District and the birthplace of tap.
At the conclusion of the festival, participants received a flash drive containing numerous related images, bios, videos and additional information to take home, share and enjoy with their own community, dance studio and family.
Tap Treasures 2017
Monday, July 10, 2017
Orientation & Presentation (2-3pm)
St. Luke’s Theatre, 308 West 46th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues)
Tap Treasures Tour (3-6pm) Optional Event - See Below (8-10pm)
At 1:45pm, all Tap Treasure participants were asked to meet at St. Luke’s Theatre in the Theater District where they first receive a “Tap Map” identifying key locations important to tap’s history, as well as a schedule for the afternoon activities.
At 2:00pm all participants watched a video presentation and then went on a brief walking tour led by Tony Waag and visited six former sites and theaters where numerous pivotal Tap Dance events, people, programs and shows were presented back in the day.
At 3:30pm, everyone then walked to the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts for a private tour of the American Tap Dance Archives housed at the Jerome Robbins Dance Division of The New York Public Library For the Performing Arts.
At 4:45pm the tour continued with another short walk to Steps on Broadway to participate in a Tap Jam hosted by dancer/chreographer Barbara Duffy.
Finally, all Tap Tour participants had the option of traveling to Harlem on their own steam to visit the historic Cotton Club on 125th Street. The Cotton Club was sited as a Tap Treasure in a brief presentation at 7:30pm. Following the presentation, The Cotton Club All-Stars (a 13-piece band) played at 8:30pm and the Sophisticated Ladies (a chorus line created by Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards) hit the floor around 9:00pm!
Tap Treasures 2019
Sunday, July 7, 2019
Orientation & Presentation (9:30 - 10:30am)
Broadway Dance Center
322 West 45th Street
Tap Treasures Tour Part One (11am - 1pm)
“Broadway Tap Revival”
Participants took a walking tour of the Broadway Theater District featuring SIX historic Broadway theaters which hosted
major productions during the tap dance renaissance.
Lunch Break (1 - 2pm)
Tap Treasures Tour Part Two (2 - 5pm)
“Radio City Music Hall”
Participants took a tour of the famous venue.
Tap Treasures 2023
Sunday, July 7, 2019
Orientation & Presentation (6-8pm)
don’t tell mama
343 West 46th Street
Tap City producer Tony Waag presented booking manager Sidney Myer with the Tap Treasure Award while participants enjoyed a brief presentation regarding the history of this legendary cabaret venue. Participants then took a walking tour of the Broadway Theater District. They visited numerous venues from past tours including Fazils, Swing 46, Sony Hall and the Liberty & New Amsterdam theaters on 42nd Street.
