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Tapology 2022 Tap Dance Festival ‘a safe space to be seen and heard’

Featured photo: Alexandria “Brinae Ali” Bradley and Tapology Artistic Director Frances Bradley-Vilier dancing during the 21st Anniversary Sankofa Concert. Photo Credit: Tapology

Written by Tanya Terry

Tapology’s 2022 Tap Dance Festival opens to the public Nov. 4-6, in Flint. This is the 21st year of the amazing festival.

This year’s theme is Call and Response in Light of the African Tradition and Its Impact on Culture. The theme was created in 2020 during the pandemic. It was a virtual show created and conceptualized by Alexandria “Brinae Ali” Bradley. It was a call to action, a call to responding to the social injustices in the world and much more, according to Tapology Artistic Director Frances Bradley-Vilier

“It’s touching on the social issues in America,” stated Bradley-Vilier.

“It’s touching on the lost or untold stories of African traditions, of African American history, of tap history,” Bradley-Vilier added. “It’s touching on just paying homage to those who have made an impact through this art form, those who have made an impact through the culture of song and dance, of American culture, of African American culture. It’s pretty much a melting pot of all this rich context in history.”

Bradley-Vilier pointed out historians have verified call and response to have occurred since about the beginning of time in African traditional music, African-American music, the blues, gospel music and even hip hop.

“I don’t think it’s a conscious effort or something we’re aware we’re doing,” Bradley-Vilier explained. “But it’s something we’re innately doing.”

Clara Reyes teaching Afro-Caribbean Dance. Photo Credit: Tapology

Starting on Wednesday, November 2, at the Flint Cultural Center, Tapology presents its Visiting School Days. Tapology’s master teaching artist will offer a presentation to students from elementary and middle schools within the Flint Public Schools. Then, a historical presentation will take place at the Flint Public Library. Lastly, the students will watch a performance presentation from the performing artists and musicians.

Festival attendees can participate in Tapology’s master classes, for beginner, advanced and intermediate tap dance levels. Tapology’s teaching and performing artists teach all the classes. Participants can also learn African drumming and can take Afro-Caribbean classes. Classes are taught Friday, November 4, to Sunday, November 6, at the Flint Institute of Music.

Tapology CEO Bruce Bradley teaches the adult beginner’s class. Rudolph Davis, a local native of Saint Martin, is teaching the Afro-Caribbean classes. Honorees who will be teaching include a Chicago-based female tap group called Rhythm ISS…

All classes are open to the public.

Living Legend Tina Pratt teaching adult master class. Photo Credit: Tapology

This year’s grand finale is a call-and-response concert.

According to Bradley-Vilier, show-goers will not only get educated but entertained. Gregory Hines Humanitarian Award-winning Artist Jason Samuels Smith, Rhythm ISS… and the Tapology Youth Ensemble will perform. Gospel choirs will also offer selections. African Percussionist Baba Kevin Collins is performing. In addition, the Bradley family will come together and perform. Many other distinguished artists, performers and educators from the local area and around the country will share their talents and abilities.

Brinae Ali recently received a fellowship grant to be a researcher and learn about Laurence Donald Jackson, known as “Baby Laurence.” Jackson is a native Baltimore Hoofer.’

Bradley-Vilier also pointed out when African or African-American people have been enslaved or imprisoned, they came up with songs that helped them persevere.

“Before we were ever granted the opportunity to drum in America, we used our bodies as instruments.”

Bradley-Vilier said tap dance is deeper than most individuals know and what has traditionally been presented about it.

“This history is even more connected to our African-American history that may not have been shared to just the average person.”

Bradley-Vilier stressed African-American history is part of American history.

“This is for all to understand and embrace…Too many times, in education and in curriculum, these stories are not told. They’re always manipulated. It’s important that they are shared because that is the truth and truth should be embraced. You won’t ever really know who you are if you don’t know where you come from.”

For more information including registration information, visit tapology.org.

 

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