Juba! Masters of Tap and Percussive Dance
From its roots in Africa and Ireland to the glitz and showmanship of the Broadway stage, the captivating artistry of tap dance continues to flourish and evolve.
Series
Premiere Date
April 1, 2001
Length
60 minutes
Funding Type
Juba! Masters of Tap & Percussive Dance captures the dynamic renaissance of tap as seen and performed by some of the world’s greatest living dancers. Filmed at the Chicago Human Rhythm Project’s eighth annual Festival of Tap and Percussive Dance, Juba! combines explosive dance performances with exquisite documentary footage in a stunning hour-long portrait of the tap dance resurgence in contemporary American culture.
The documentary includes in-depth interviews with performers and behind-the-scenes footage of the dance workshops and rehearsals from the July 1998 festival. Classroom sessions led by tap masters drew students and enthusiasts from all over the world to the two-week celebration of dance. Evening performances displayed the virtuosity of the artists-in-residence, accompanied by the innovative music of the Rich Fudoli Quartet.
Interviews with and performances by leading figures in the tap world include Chicago Human Rhythm Project’s Founder and Artistic Director Lane Alexander, Van “The Man” Porter of Riverdance fame, Mark Mendonca of Bring in ‘da Noise, Bring in ‘da Funk, Dianne “Lady Di” Walker, Sam Weber, Ernest “Brownie” Brown, Michael “Shoehorn” Conley, Barbara Duffy, Reggio “The Hoofer” McLaughlin, the North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble, Rhythm I.S.S., Linda Sohl-Donnell, Prince Spencer, and Fred Strickler.