The History of Tap Dance

Date: Sunday, March 8

Time: 2:30 - 4:00pm

 

Location:

Juanita E. Thornton/Shepherd Park Neighborhood Library

7420 Georgia Ave., NW

Washington, DC

 

Free!

 

Come have fun at this free event! You'll learn about the history of tap and then have the opportunity to try a few tap steps yourself!

 

Sam Heimowitz is a professional tap dancer with 21 years of experience as a performer and choreographer. A native Washingtonian, he grew up dancing at Knock On Wood Tap Studio, becoming a founding member of KOW's youth tap ensemble Capitol Tap, where he now serves as rehearsal assistant, resident historian, and performer. Sam appeared with Maurice Hines at the Arena Stage in "Tappin' Thru Life" when he was in 7th grade.

 

Sam was a co-president of Taps at Yale, growing the group from 15 members to 46 members and collaborating with the Yale Jazz Collective. He has participated in numerous tap dance festivals and residency programs, performing up and down the east coast and all over the DMV area. He has a breadth of historical knowledge of the art form and experience teaching dancers of all ages and abilities.

 

Sam has recently been awarded a DC Commission on the Arts artist grant and you can find him on @Witznsmits on Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok, and Youtube. Recent tap performances include Dance Place, Art All Night, Petworth Christmas Mart, and Annadale Arts Festival; he's soon to be seen at Intersections Festival at Atlas Theater.

 

Katharine Manor was raised in the DC metropolitan area and began studying tap dance at the age of 4 under the mentorship of Washington DC’s renowned “Tap Lady,” Miss Yvonne Edwards. Her training has emphasized musicality, clarity of sound, and improvisation, prioritizing artistry and precision over flash and acrobatics.

 

With more than 24 years of dedicated study, Katharine has trained with many of the nation’s most accomplished and respected tap artists. She is currently a member of Percussion Discussion's District Tap (adult ensemble) and is a founding member of Capitol Tap, performing under the direction of Lisa Swenton-Eppard and Baakari Wilder.

 

Katharine has performed at the 2016 American Dance Festival College Association Southeast Conference and the 2016 Black Theatre Network Conference. She has also toured with Davis & Elkins alumna and singer-songwriter Kaia Kater, who was recognized in Rolling Stone’s 2016 “Top Ten Upcoming Artists” review. In March 2019, she performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Katharine holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Vernacular Dance from Davis & Elkins College, where she studied under Professors Laurie Goux, Becky Hill, and Emily Oleson.