There’s something mesmerising about a dancer’s feet but none more so than a tapper’s.
Australian tap dancer, choreographer and creator Tommy Egan has not long returned from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where his show Two Right Feet, featuring a live jazz band and Egan himself, pays homage to tap’s roots and that intimate exchange of rhythm and expression.
“Jazz is all about finding your own self-expression through your instrument,” says Egan. “It just happens that my instrument is dance.” He reminds us that “jazz music and tap dance are very, very connected,” and he’s right, of course. As jazz is a conversation between instruments, it’s often also a challenge between two artists. Improvised sound is an integral part of jamming with a band – something which is richly embedded in tap culture also.
Watching Egan converse rhythmically with his band in Two Right Feet feels akin to other dance battles but delivered with a jazzman’s swagger. A swagger synonymous with the tap greats who came before him. Playful, virtuosic and deeply connected to not only their movement but also the music it creates.
Egan is a staunch proponent of dancers being able to converse with one another through dance and movement, not just learn the steps by rote. Much like one learns a language, one must also learn to speak it in conversation, we suggest. “Yeah, that’s 100% right,” he agrees. “I put a lot of importance on that for all my students,” he shares, noting its value in creating resilience and courage for almost any career in the performing arts.
One thing that really elevates this particular show is that Egan says he “listens. You’re sharing knowledge and you’re sharing an expression… I like to think of myself as someone that’s learning, not just someone who’s doing it. This show has been a journey of me learning about music – not just doing choreography – but also making music and making choices and direction and choreography in the sense of a musician as well. Finding really valuable and interesting things to put on stage from a musical concept.” It’s this mindset – that of a musician as much as a dancer – that brings depth to his work.
As we reflect on his connection with jazz music, Egan is passionate about giving respect and honouring the tap legends who came before him often connected with the genre. But Egan is somewhat of a legend himself. A former Tap Dog, co-creator and performer with the hit show The Tap Pack, and a prolific teacher, Egan is committed to his genre and to supporting a healthy and thriving tap culture here in Australia.
From Edinburgh’s biggest festival, Egan returned home to Australia. “I had a great opportunity to work with Gatsby at the Greenlight (Brisbane Festival), which was first at the Sydney Opera House. It was awesome to be with such an incredibly talented group of people.”
Set in a 1920s speakeasy venue and combining dancers, singers, acrobats and aerialists in a cabaret setting, the show was a festival highlight. Tap, it seems, can be very successful in these more informal settings, seeming to slide in effortlessly and receive greater appreciation, almost, in this growing cabaret resurgence we’re experiencing in Australia. “I think the cabaret scene is a good opportunity for tap dancers to put a different kind of work on. It’s a really good audience that is really welcoming towards tap.”
Turning his attention to the summer, Egan is planning something really important to him – continuing to foster the tap community across Australia and providing opportunities for young tap enthusiasts to dance with leading industry professionals as part of his Tap Project Tour.
“The Faucet Mission began with a youth firm, and my concept was that I might see throughout the studios that I used to be instructing at, that there have been one or two youngsters who had been actually enthusiastic about faucet dancing,” Egan explains. “And I assumed they want an area the place everybody’s speaking their language, the place faucet is the precedence, the place you get entry to superb faucet dancers.” The idea has grown, and yearly Egan excursions the nation, paying explicit consideration to regional areas in addition to the key cities. The tour is wildly in style with the devoted, and permits these disparate tappers collected alongside the way in which an area of their very own to attach with each other, and with a community of mentors, artists and occasions that help the neighborhood, such because the Australian Faucet Dance Competition, Bondi Faucet Competition or Sydney Faucet Competition.
One of many main supporters of faucet in Australia is Capezio. Not solely a sponsor for Egan himself however for occasions just like the Australian Faucet Dance Competition, Capezio has a wealthy historical past with the artform.
“Capezio has all the time been enthusiastic about supporting native expertise. Tom works laborious to supply alternatives to younger tappers, and Capezio is privileged to be part of their faucet journey,” shares Gemma Cann, Advertising Coordinator of Capezio Australia.
The long-lasting dance model has been supporting Egan for 12 years, and he wears customized pairs of their K360 shoes – the model of alternative for artists critical about their faucet.
“It’s an enormous a part of my soul as a performer,” Egan says. “I get to leap on that aircraft with my backpack, with my Capezio K360s inside.” He explains he doesn’t pack them within the maintain as a result of you possibly can’t simply get them anyplace. “You all the time take them on board. You’ve received to maintain them on you always. I’ve travelled all around the world with them,” he says with a touch of alarm at being parted with them.
Egan’s K360s have travelled to Berlin, the UK , the US, India, Thailand, Bali, the South Pacific and on cruise ships. “They’re by far my favorite shoe, the K360,” he reveals, noting that the Capezio 960 are what he recommends all his college students put on, as they’re additionally an unbelievable shoe at an inexpensive worth level with “that heavier sound you need.”
He’s fast to justify, “I don’t simply put on the shoe as a result of I’m sponsored by Capezio. The shoe is one thing I imagine in and it’s the very best product, I feel. I actually recognize them.”
“Capezio’s years of expertise have created faucet footwear trusted by dancers worldwide,” Cann says. “We’re proud to companion with Tom and his occasions to make sure each tapper has entry to high quality footwear.”
Capezio has actually gained the center of the faucet trade with a loyal buyer base, together with Egan. We requested him how vital he thinks it’s to have a model who identifies as championing faucet so proudly? “I feel it’s actually vital as a result of they platform actually good voices. Within the US, you get to see their movies of essentially the most unbelievable inspiring tappers. And right here in Australia as nicely, they platform our native dancers. That’s apart from making a product that’s of the best high quality as nicely.”
So, what’s subsequent for Egan after this summer season’s tour? “I feel girls voices in faucet have to be platformed extra. I’ve received a younger group of women that I’m planning on working with throughout the subsequent six months.”
Do your self a favour and take a look at one in every of Egan’s lessons as he makes his manner across the nation with The Faucet Mission this summer season, or enrol in his Sydney lessons to be taught with somebody who’s dedicated to making sure faucet has its personal distinctive place in our Australian dance trade.
Discover out extra at Thomasjegan.com.au/thetapproject.
