PMJA Award Submission - Interview - Where We Live: A look at the history of tap dance in America

Where We Live
Episode: (Excerpted from) A look at the history of tap dance in America
Original Airdate: December 2, 2024
Category: Interview

This hour, we’re exploring the history of tap dance in America.

Tap was first developed as a fusion of footwork styles with roots in Africa and Ireland. Over the decades, tap legends like Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, Eleanor Powell, and Gregory Hines popularized the artform and brought it to the national stage.

Local dancers, choreographers, and teachers join us to discuss how they are keeping the rich legacy of tap dance alive in their work today.

GUESTS:

• Kevin Ramsey: Chair of the Theater Division, University of Hartford
• Ralph Perkins: Associate Professor of Dance and Music Theater, University of Hartford 
• Katie Cavenagh: founder of the Connecticut Tap Collaborative
• Jillian McNamara: founder of the American Dance Collaborative