This hour, we’re exploring the history of tap dance in America.

Tap was first developed as a fusion of footwork styles with roots in Africa and Ireland. Over the decades, tap legends like Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, Eleanor Powell, and Gregory Hines popularized the artform and brought it to the national stage.

Local dancers, choreographers, and teachers join us to discuss how they are keeping the rich legacy of tap dance alive in their work today.

GUESTS:
Kevin Ramsey: Chair of the Theater Division, University of Hartford
Ralph Perkins: Associate Professor of Dance and Music Theater, University of Hartford
Katie Cavenagh: founder of the Connecticut Tap Collaborative
Jillian McNamara: founder of the American Dance Collaborative

This hour, we’re exploring the history of tap dance in America.
Tap was first developed as a fusion of footwork styles with roots in Africa and Ireland. Over the decades, tap legends like Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, Eleanor Powell, and Gregory Hines popularized the artform and brought it to the national stage.
Local dancers, choreographers, and teachers join us to discuss how they are keeping the rich legacy of tap dance alive in their work today.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.hartford.edu/directory/hartt/ramsey-kevin.aspx">Kevin Ramsey</a>: Chair of the Theater Division, University of Hartford</li>
<li><a href="https://www.hartford.edu/directory/hartt/perkins-ralph.aspx">Ralph Perkins</a>: Associate Professor of Dance and Music Theater, University of Hartford </li>
<li>Katie Cavenagh: founder of the <a href="https://tapdancectc.wixsite.com/thectc">Connecticut Tap Collaborative</a></li>
<li>Jillian McNamara: founder of the <a href="https://www.americandancecollaborative.com/page1">American Dance Collaborative</a></li>
</ul>

Produced by Connecticut Public, 'Where We Live' puts Connecticut in context. Host Catherine Shen brings us fascinating, informed, in-depth conversations and stories beyond news headlines.  We start local, but we take time to explore domestic and international issues and consider how they impact us personally and here at home.

Produced by Connecticut Public, '<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/where-we-live/about">Where We Live'</a> puts Connecticut in context. Host Catherine Shen brings us fascinating, informed, in-depth conversations and stories beyond news headlines.  We start local, but we take time to explore domestic and international issues and consider how they impact us personally and here at home.

Where We Live is a call-in talk show about who we are in Connecticut and our place in the world.

Where We Live

Produced by Connecticut Public, '<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/where-we-live/about">Where We Live'</a> puts Connecticut in context. Host Catherine Shen brings us fascinating, informed, in-depth conversations and stories beyond news headlines.  We start local, but we take time to explore domestic and international issues and consider how they impact us personally and here at home.

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