DC Dance Collective's Photo Gallery
Chloe Arnold Workshop
January 5th & 6th, 2008 | 6 photos
Workshop with Chloe Arnold at DC Dance Collective
Chloe Arnold (Dancer/Actress/Director/Choreographer) was recently featured in the new hit show Imagine Tap, Outkast's new movie Idlewild, Beyonce's video Upgrade You as her dance double, Sean Paul's music video for the movie Step Up and at City Center, NYC in Jason Samuels Smith's ACGI. Currently co-director of the Los Angeles Tap Festival, Chloe was Associate Choreographer for ABC’s American Celebration, Debbie Allen's Pearl in Los Angeles, and is choreographer for her group Syncopated Ladies. Performance credits include Debbie Allen's Brothers of the Knight, Soul Possessed, Sammy (the life and times of Sammy Davis Jr.), Savion Glover’s All Star Tap Revue, and The Oneness Awards honoring Michael Jackson.
Collage Performance
June 16th, 2007 | 18 photos
Performance by DC Dance Collective Faculty and Resident Companies at The Greenberg Theatre, Washington DC
Photos: Scott Gabriel
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Dianne Walker Tap Workshop
February 22nd, 2004 | 8 photos
Featured solist of the Tribute to Gregory Hines, Dianne Walker graced DC Dance Collective with a class full of insights, ancedotes, good humor, and complex footwork. The first of her two workshops focused on finding one's own "voice" while dancing to music. "The Pocket", she dubbed it: the place where you feel most comfortable in relation to the beat. Though she encouraged students to experiment with playing their notes in different accordances, for this particular class, she suggested students "lay back" on the beat. The music used was an instrumental version of The Way you Move.
The second class focused more on precisely defining your rhythms. The steps were technically very simple, yet rhythmically intricate, including a five souded cramp roll sequence that frustrated most who were present. Such frustration is to be expected when taking class from a Master, as Ms. Walker is. The true value in such classes is not the steps, or the rhythms. Instead, the value lies in the inspiration that is hopefully instilled in all present to experiment and own themselves artistically.
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A Tribute to Gregory Hines
February 21st, 2004 | 39 photos
On February 21st, 2004, the DC-Metro Tap community came together to celebrate the life of the late, great tap master, Gregory Hines. The show was held in Jefferson Auditorium at the Department of Agriculture. Special guests included Dianne Walker (another tap legend), Cartier "Big Coop" Williams, Joseph Monroe Webb and Bakaari Wilder. Pop singer and tap dancer extraordinaire, Mya Harrison made a surprise showing with show stopping rendition of "Blue Skies", one of Gregory Hines favorite tunes.
Soloists also included Michael Wooden, Trent Covington, Robert and Bara Burden (duet), Robin Watson (Philadelphia), LeeAnet Noble and Toni Lombre. Groups included DC ARTistry Tap & Drum (DC Dance Collective), Kids On Tap (a group from New Jersey directed by Kathleen Cirioli), Tappening (Joy of Motion), Tappers With Attitude (Knock on Wood Tap Studio), Young at Heart (DC Dance Collective), Starz (Strictly Rhythm), Jazzy's Kids (Junior Mode Studio), as well as groups from Center Stage, Artistic Dance Academy, and the Academy of Theatrical Arts.
Studio director of DC Dance Collective, Nancy Newell, described the event as "old home week" for DC area tappers who have often held such festivities at the Jefferson Auditorium, including the annual events Tap Fest and National Tap Dance Day.
The Tribute was produced not only to commemorate the life an incredible talent, but also sought to continue in Gregory Hines spirit of selfless giving. Hines was a committed teacher, and even taught classes for a time in the DC Metro Area. In that spirit, the Tribute aimed to raise money for scholarships for students to take any style of dance at the studio of their choice. The DC Metro Gregory Hines Scholarship Fund was spear headed by Beverly Wilder, Alice Webb, and Jacqui Vincent, the mothers of original Bring in Da' Noise, Bring in Da' Funk cast members Bakaari Wilder, Joseph Monroe Webb, and Vincent Bingham, respectively.
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Bergerac Tap Workshops
18 photos
Nancy Newell was invited to Bergerac, France in February to teach seven tap (claquette in French) workshops to students of all ages and levels at Ecole de Danse Desha/Simone Moulin. Ms. Newell had a wonderful week with her hosts, and found the students well-trained, enthusiastic and receptive.
Ecole de Danse Desha is the oldest school in Bergerac. Its founder, Desha, and husband Myrio performed world-wide in the 1920s and 1930s. They appeared with such notable artists as Josephine Baker, Edith Piaf, and Maurice Chevalier. Simone Moulin, a student of Desha, was chosen to be the Artistic Director and Principal Instructor for Desha's school. Simone Moulin began tap dancing in 1981, and included it in the classical ballet, modern, and jazz curriculum of the school.
Anne Fuhrman, student of both Nancy Newell and Simone Moulin, helped arrange this exchange. This trip was made possible, in part, by a grant from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanties.
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Thomson Elementary Outreach Project
21 photos
The Thomson Elementary School Outreach Project began in May of 2003 with a performance for the students that was hosted by one of the school's sponsers, PBGC. The show highlighted various connections in dance. Numbers included a Tap duet by Nancy Newell and Mat Guenther, a Broadway Tap solo by Felice Sacks, a Rhythm Tap improvisation by Mat Guenther, as well as both a Martial Arts demonstration and a Break Dance demonstration by Mat Guenther. In a brief monologue before the Break Dance demonstration, Mr. Guenther spoke a little of the history of Break Dance, and its roots in non-violence, personal freedom, and acceptance of others.
In the fall of 2003, DC Dance Collective began an afterschool dance education program in an initiative to bring more physical activity to the students of Thomson. The program was run by Mat Guenther who worked with school representatives Roberta Greaves and Physical Education instructor Bobby Lewis to bring the program in.
The program itself consisted of 6 weeks of dance, 3 times a week. The dance styles that were taught were Hip Hop (taught by Jessica Bruce and Sally Traynham), Break Dance (taught by Mat Guenther), and Tap Dance (taught by Robert Burden). Nearly fifty enthusiastic children from Thomson participated in the program, coming to class with upbeat attitudes and wide smiles. The program culminated with a tap performance by Robert Burden and Mat Guenther for the 4th, 5th, and 6th grades. DC Dance Collective plans to continue its fufilling relationship with Thomson Elementary and its wonderful students.
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Winter Solstice Performance
December 20th, 2003 | 14 photos
The Winter Solstice Performance, was held at DC Dance Collective on December 20th, in celebration of the ancient holiday. The performance was put together and featured students of Najwah, as well as her Ancient Rhythms Dance Troupe. The show began at 8:00pm and lasted about an hour and a half, with the audience relaxing on large pillows and floor rugs.
The show not only included dance numbers, but also a narrative describing a brief history of the solstice and its meaning to several of the cultures that celebrate it. In addition to that, Hanna Grisar recited a poem on the nature of the solstice and its meaning.
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Fayard Nicholas Lecture
November 9th, 2003 | 12 photos
What a delightful experience it was to have such a legend in our midst. Fayard Nicholas graced us with his exuberent presence as he talked about his experiences growing up in show business in the 1910s and 1920s. Having danced alongside some of the greatest dancers to ever have graced the screen, Fayard shared his extensive knowledge of the Hollywood Musical industry and the tap dance scene in general during the early part of this century.
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Collaborative Arts Festival 2003
September 6th, 2003 | 39 photos
This Festival was a celebration of DC Dance Collective's 4th birthday. It included a day full of sample classes from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM, and culminated in a performance at 7:30 PM. The performace featured a selection of the studio's instructors, resident companies, and a few student groups as well.