North Texas has become a training hub for tap dancers, thanks in part to RIFF Dallas, an annual gathering now in its 12th year. Short for Rhythm in Fusion Festival, it attracts a couple of hundred students from across North America, ranging from beginners to professionals. The event culminates in two concerts at the Eisemann Center in Richardson that are open to the public.
Malana Murphy is the brains and feet behind RIFF. She’s also the tap director at Next Step Dance in Frisco and creator of the tap program at her alma mater, Dallas’ Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. For RIFF she’s bringing in 14 tap professionals to teach classes over four days at Next Step and the Renaissance Dallas Richardson Hotel.
The headliner is Boston native Derick K. Grant, an original member of Savion Glover’s 1990s phenomenon Bring in ’da Noise, Bring in ’da Funk, which launched renewed interest in tap during a three-year Broadway run and subsequent tour. Grant is a director at The School at Jacob’s Pillow and a staff member at the Boston Conservatory.
In addition to teaching, Grant is directing and starring in the Friday night faculty show, In the Name of Love … Rhythm and Blues on Tap, set to Motown hits performed live by a jazz trio. The show features dancers including Star Dixon, Martin “Tre” Dumas, Cartier Williams, Luke Hickey, Sterling Harris, Charles Renato, Ian Berg, Madeline Murphy and Rebecca Cannaday.
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“This show is a celebration of the music that touched the heart and soul of a nation, reimagined through tap dance and a live jazz band,” Murphy says.
At Sunday night’s TapN2Tap concert, groups from around the country will perform at the Eisemann Center, with new choreography by Renato and Murphy created during RIFF Dallas residencies earlier in the weekend.
Details
RIFF Dallas runs Jan. 16-19 at various venues. Participants can sign up for individual classes or tracks for children 6 to 9 years old, adult novices, intermediate and advanced students, preprofessionals and professionals. $30 to $625.
In the Name of Love is Jan. 16 at 7:30 p.m. at the Eisemann Center in Richardson. $40-$65. riffdallas.org.
TapN2Tap is Jan. 18 at 7:30 p.m. at the Eisemann Center. $35-$45. riffdallas.org.
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