STN Entertainment

"Should we add a buffalo step?" Barbara Robinson,
Jenny Florkowski, Sandy Williams, Eileen Jousma
and Kathryn Novak squeeze in a last-minute rehearsal
of their tap dance, "Earth Day Boogie."

et's do the time step again.
Barbara Robinson's got rhythm
- — tap that is. Since September,
she and five other tappers have
shuffled, flapped and slap-toe-heeled their
way to their ultimate recital performance
on National Tap Dance Day tomorrow.
Every Wednesday night, in Dance Stu-
dio 102 at the Maple-Drake Jewish Com-
munity Center, Robinson and her co-stars
have taken tap lessons from Otis Brown, a
dance instructor at the Center for Creative
Studies-Institute of Music and Dance
(CCS).
"I got into CCS because they're the only
ones who teach rhythm tap," says Robin-
son, a West Bloomfield resident who will
be performing in her third National Tap
Dance Day. "I took tap as a kid and I love

it. Anybody who's the least tiny bit inclined
should come out and try it. It makes me
feel like a million bucks and 20 years
younger."
Now in its sixth year, National Tap
Dance Day was established by a joint res
olution passed by Congress. It was proposed
by Detroiters U.S. Rep. John Conyers Jr.
and renowned tapper Lloyd Storey. Na-
tional Tap Dance Day was initiated to co-
incide with tap-dance legend Bill
"Bojangles" Robinson's birthday, May 25.
On May 24, 1990, under the auspices of
CCS, the first National Tap Dance Day was
celebrated at Detroit's Orchestra Hall.
"For so long, tap was something that
wasn't valued, necessarily, by mainstream
culture. Now, the same way we like blues
and jazz, we like tap," said Judith Sheldon,

Bel Canto
Choral Society

Their free Spring Musicale is
directed by Eugene Branstrom
and accompanied by Rochelle
Barr. Congregation Beth
Achim, Southfield.
(810) 352-8037.

Mon., 8 p.m.

chair of CCS's School of Dance for the past
15 years. "rap has been a real solid form of
entertainment for decades; the influence
of tap is all over our music and dance his-
tory — Broadway routines, Fred Astaire.
We don't think of the underlying cultural -
heritage of tap,, but that's what it is."
Last year, more than 24 different danCe
schools participated in National Tap Dance
Day, which featured about 550 dancers-
from all over Michigan and some outlying
states. The free performances run contin=
uously from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Chene
Park Amphitheater downtown. CCS in-
structors, the CCS Tap Ensemble and Jazz
Ensemble and the Sultans also will be fea-
tured.
"(This performance) is our contribution
to National Tap Dance Day— at great sac-

Harvey Thompson
and Friends

Yup, the very same
(minus Bob, of course).
The Igajestic, Woodward,
Detroit. (313) 833-0120.

Tues. 9 p.m.

Join them all at the Detroit
Historical Museum's Jazz
in the Streets. Cash bar,
snacks and mini buffet.
(313) 833-1262.

Thurs., 9 p.m.

..

titi V

rifice to our personal dignity," jokes Robin-
son. --
Aria what was the most important piece
of advice Robinson's tapmate Sandy
Williarasbestowed on her fellow dancers?
._ "You haveiommile. And if you're not hav-
ing a good tune

`

_

—Julie Yolles
- ,
fa The public is invited to celebrate Na.-
tional Tap Dance Day from 11 a.m.-3
„p.m, Saturday, June 16, in Chene Park.
Tandances Will= continuously from
11 a.m. - 3-pm. There is no charge. Ch-
erie Park is located at Chene and Jef-
ferson, one mile east of the Renaissance
Center in Detroit For more information,
call (313) 872-3118, Ext. 610.

y O1

Te Stmclance Festival
chose Kalamazoo native
Michael Grady's play as one
of 12 top scripts. Purple Ro
Theatre Company, Chelsea.'
(313) 4754902.

Shear Madness

If you haven't seen it, you
haven't got a clue. The long-
running comedy whodunit
closes June 30 at the Gem
Theatre. (313) 963-9800.

Wed.-Fri., 7:30 p.m.;
Sat., 6 & 9 p.m.;
Sun., 2 p.m.

