Review of the 8th International Feet Beat Festival

By: Liisa Benmergui, Festival Volunteer

PARTICIPANTS FROM 15 COUNTRES

The 8th International Feet Beat Tap Festival took place between August 2 - 8, 2004, in Helsinki, Finland. Participants came from 15 countries, among others: Israel, Japan, UK, The Netherlands, France, Germany and United States, as well as, from various cities across Finland. The festival was a great success and once more put Helsinki on the map as a destination for high quality tap dance.

GUESTS AND COURSES OFFERED

As always, Feet Beat offered a line up of superbly talented master teachers including: Mari Fujibayashi (Japan) and Olivia Rosenkrantz (France) from Tapage, Gene Medler (USA), Keith Terry (USA), Evie Ladin (USA), Chester Whitmore (USA), and Jason Samuels Smith (USA). Accompanying the tap courses, were courses in South African Gum Boot Dance, Vernacular Jazz, Body Music, South Appalachian Clog Dance, and two courses geared toward understanding music and musicians. The Festival's theme this year was "the melting pot of dancers and musicians", and appropriately, Feet Beat collaborated with a number of musicians throughout the festival and offered classes aimed not only at dancers, but musicians, as well.

JAMS AND TAP CONCERTS etc.

Feet Beat believes a festival is just not complete without its evenings filled with good quality entertainment. The week began with an informative and enjoyable lecture by Evie Ladin about tap origins. As the week progressed, Feet Beat was host to two tap jams, two tap concerts and one of the highlights of this year's festival was "An Evening with a Hollywood Tap Legend: Fayard Nicholas". Unfortunately, due to illness, Mr. Nicholas was unable to attend the festival.

The two tap concerts, Feet Fusion and Beat City, were held at the Gloria Theatre. Hosted by the festival producer Sofi Kyrklund and the versatile Chester Whitmore, both concerts were different in terms of performers, giving the audience a wide spectrum of talent from around the world. Feet Fusion included performances by North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble (USA), Michal Israelstam and Sincopa (Israel), Joseph Wiggan (USA), Feet Beat Tap Ensemble and Indictus Company (Finland), and many others. The masters dazzled us at the Beat City concert, each with their own style: Jason Samuels Smith blew everyone away with his technique, speed and intensity; Keith Terry's body music enthralled the audience and left them asking for more. Evie Ladin and Keith also performed a wonderful duo; Tapage's East-Asian rhythms mesmerised the viewers; and, Chester Whitmore not only danced a romantic soft shoe, he also performed on drums challenging Jason Samuels Smith.

The 8th Feet Beat Tap Festival has received a lot of positive feedback and Feet Beat would like to thank all of the participants for their support. Year after year the Festival improves and develops toward a deeper understanding of what dancers want and need at a tap festival.