TAPESTRY 2007—A CELEBRATION OF NATIONAL TAP DANCE DAY—COMING TO ARLINGTON’S REGENT THEATRE FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2007 AT 8PM
Gala Performance Hosted by Boston Tap Wiz Josh Hilberman Will Showcase Internationally Acclaimed Tap Dance Soloists Jason Samuels Smith, Barbara Duffy, and Michelle Dorrance

Boston’s 11th Annual National Tap Dance Day Concert will be presented at The Regent Theatre in Arlington on Friday, May 18 at 8pm.  Produced by Thelma Goldberg’s Dance Inn Productions, Tapestry 2007 will feature three distinguished New York City tap artists:  Emmy award winning Broadway veteran Jason Samuels-Smith; the pedigreed and virtuosic 20-year stalwart of concert tap dance, Barbara Duffy; and the intriguing, multi-dimensional Michelle Dorrance.  Artistic Director, Josh Hilberman, will host the event, and a dynamic jazz trio—featuring bandleader Paul Arslanian on piano, Berklee chairman Ron Savage on drums, and Peter Tillotson on bass—will accompany the dancers.
                                                                                      
On May 25, National Tap Dance Day (now International Tap Dance Day), tap artists around the world will celebrate the birthday of tap dance pioneer Bill “Bojangles” Robinson with performances paying tribute to the roots of tap.  A week before on May 18, Tapestry 2007 looks into tap’s future with three of the brightest minds and six of the fastest feet in tap:

Jason Samuels Smith
In less than a decade as a performer, choreographer, and director, Smith has emerged as a multi-talented leader in the art form of tap.  He won both an Emmy and American Choreography Award for his tribute to the late Gregory Hines, which opened the 2003 Jerry Lewis/MDA Telethon.  He created the Los Angeles Tap Festival, starred in Dean Hargrove’s short film “Tap Heat,” was featured in the Universal Pictures film “Idlewild” starring Outkast, and had the lead role in “Bring in da’ Noise, Bring in da Funk."  Smith is currently touring and performing India Jazz Suites, a dynamic collaboration with Kathak Master Pandit Chitresh Das.  His appearance in Tapestry 2007 marks his Boston area concert debut.

Barbara Duffy
“One of the most inventive tappers around today," according to Gregory Hines, Duffy’s performance highlights include the “Gala For The President" --performing before President and Mrs. Bill Clinton, an appearance at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall (“a riveting performer” --the Independent), and for more than a decade as dance captain and principal dancer in Brenda Bufalino’s "American Tap Dance Orchestra."  A native New Englander whose first guru was Boston tap icon Leon Collins, Duffy has established her own dance company in New York City where she teaches classes when not performing throughout the world. 
             
Michelle Dorrance
New York City’s most sought-after tap dancer, Dorrance has recently been part of Ayodele Casel's "Diary of a Tap Dancer," Mable Lee's "Dancing Ladies," Harold Cromer's "Opus One," and was critically acclaimed in the premiere of Derick Grant's "Imagine Tap!" in Chicago.  She was a founding member of Savion Glover's company, Ti Dii, which performed at The Cannes Film Festival and the 2002 Winter Olympics, and Improvography at the Joyce Theater.  Her choreography has been featured at Jacob's Pillow, at Birdland with members of the Duke Ellington Orchestra, and at the Joyce Theater & the Duke on 42nd Street as a part of New York City Tap Festival's Gala performances.

Complementing the Friday, May 18 National Tap Dance Day Concert, the Dance Inn will present tap master classes and workshops with the featured artists on Saturday and Sunday May 19 and 20 downstairs at the Regent Theatre.  More information is available at http://www.thedanceinn.com/htmls/danceinnproductions/dip.html#tapestry2007.

The historic Regent Theatre—located at 7 Medford Street (off Mass. Ave.) in Arlington, Massachusetts—is wheelchair and MBTA accessible with free parking across the street.  Tickets for Tapestry 2007—A Celebration of National Tap Dance Day are $28 for preferred seating, $24 reserved seats, and $20 for seniors, students, and groups of 10 or more. For tickets, directions, and more info call 781-646-4849 or visit www.regenttheatre.com.