Anthony J Russo
DIRECTOR
St Charles, MO
Anthony started his career as a tap dancer at the age of 15. Before his senior year of high school, Anthony was hired for a national tour of Tap Dogs and has continued with the show for over 10 years performing 5 out of 6 roles in the show. He also danced with the Tap Dogs through several countries in Europe, Johannesburg-South Africa, the International Festival "Danse Encore" in Canada, numerous corporate events, and an NFL half time show (49ers VS Redskins) back in 2003. In 2009, Anthony was involved in the creation process for Cirque Du Soleil's vaudeville project, "Banana Shpeel", and continued with the show as a featured tap dancer in Chicago, New York, and Toronto. This show also made an appearance on "America's Got Talent" in 2009. Russo was most recently seen performing with Rasta Thomas' Bad Boys Of Dance in Hamburg, Germany with a new tap show, "Tap Stars", in 2011. Anthony has entertained for 25+ corporations including Microsoft, Pfizer, HILTI Tools, Chevrolet/GMC, Mitsubishi, MTX Audio, Charles Schwabb, Circuit City, IBM, and Marriott Hotels. He has donated his talents to many fund raising events including "Dance For It" for Breast Cancer, "Sidanse" for AIDS, and "Ghar Sita Mutu" for a community center in Nepal. Anthony created TAPademics INC., a company dedicated to tap dance education and entertainment, in 2003. As Co-founder and Director of the in-studio workshop, "Tap The Map", Anthony continues to spread his knowledge and passion on to the next generation. Since 2007, Tap The Map has traveled to over 100 dance studios across The US and Canada and continues to grow.
Chris Erk
Southington, CT
Chris Erk is from Connecticut and has been dancing since the age of 4. Chris toured with the international production of Tap Dogs for 5 years. He has worked on Gil Stroming's Break the Floor, Bounce, and Jump Events as a teacher, judge, and Creative Coordinator. Chris also has been a performer, and choreographer for Tee & Jam Productions for the past 6 years, with whom he has worked on over 100 Corporate Sponsored functions worldwide. He also has taught at Broadway Dance Center, Steps, and is a member of Jared Grimes's company, TADAH. Currently, Chris lives in New York City where he works as a tap teacher at dancing schools in the tri-state area.
Dewitt Fleming
New York, NY
DeWitt Fleming Jr. is an acclaimed tap dancer that has performed and taught throughout the United States and abroad. New York Times says he is, “a non stop source of rhythmic variety and surprise….sparks seem to fly from those shoes!” DeWitt has danced with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, the Princeton Symphony Orchestra, The George Gee Swing Orchestra, and with artist such as Wynton Marsalis, Marvin Hamlisch, Christian McBride, and Wycliffe Gordon. Some of his Off- Bwy stage credits include: Banana Shpeel(ensemble), Sleigh Bells Swing(soloist), Dance Bojangles Dance(Bojangles), Highlights in Jazz, and Finnegan’s Farewell(Tyrone). Regional: Alliance Theater’s Sophisticated Ladies(Lead). He is the co- host, and also co-creator of the Off-Bwy hit Broadway Underground. In NYC he has taught at Broadway Dance Center, Steps on Broadway, Harlem School of the Arts, Queens College, and various festivals/workshops including the NYC Tap Festival.
Donovan Helma
Aurora, CO
Since the age of three, Donovan Helma has been dancing under the direction of his mother's dance studio in Denver, CO. Before the age of 17, Donovan had studied with many tap legends including Savion Glover, Robert Reed, and Henry Le Tang, just to name a few. He currently continues his education in New York City. When he is not taking class or performing, Donovan teaches for numerous studios and national conventions all across the United States. Some recent works include General Motors and Charles Schwab industrials along with a Monday Night Football halftime show with Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. He has recently performed for Montreal’s Danse Encore International Festival in a production by Tap’d Out. In 2004 and 2006 Donovan toured and performed with the national cast of Tap Dogs. Donovan looks forward to continuing his performing career and inspiring students nationwide.
Jason Luks
New Jersey
Originally from Northern New Jersey, Jason grew up training in tap, jazz, and ballet. At the age of 16, he won the title of Adult World Tap Champion at the IDO World Tap Dance Championships in Riesa, Germany. He has a BFA in Dance from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. While there, he had the privilege of dancing for world-renowned choreographers Mark Morris and Trisha Brown. His credits include White Christmas, Saturday Night Live, MTV VMAs, and a soloist with Mike Minery’s Tapaholics. Most recently, Jason had the exciting opportunity to tap at the Kennedy Center for Ted Kennedy’s Birthday Celebration and present his own tap choreography at the Joyce Theater.
Jumaane Taylor
Chicago, IL
Jumaane Taylor, a Chicago native, has been tap dancing since the age of 7. He began his training at the Sammy Dyer School of the Theatre where he currently teaches. He has had the esteemed opportunity to perform and study with Idella Reed Davis, Martin Dumas III, Jimmy Payne Jr., Lisa LaTouche, Sarah Savelli and George Patterson III. Jumaane made his professional debut with the group M.A.D.D. Rhythms founded by Bril Barrett. He now serves as Assistant Director of the company. Jumaane has performed and taught nationally and internationally. Some of his credits include the Chicago Tap Summit, Hyde Park Jazz Festival, Chicago Human Rhythm Project, Cleveland Tap Intensive, L.A. Tap Fest and numerous shows with ETA Creative Arts Foundation. Attending ETA, Jumaane has studied Dunham Technique from Geri Williams and acting from Runako Jahi. He was featured in "Dance Spirit Magazine" as "One of the Top 20 Hoofers under 20". In 2000, he won 1st place in the "1st Annual Chicago Tap Off" and in 2006, he was proclaimed in The Chicago Tribune as one of the top five dancers in Chicago. Taylor was apart of the ensemble for "Imagine Tap!" which was directed and choreographed by Derick Grant. In 2008, he joined the cast of "A La Recherche De Josephine" that toured France. He was also a principal dancer for a production entitled "Wonderland: A Tap Tribute To Steve Wonder" directed and choreographed by Sarah Savelli and Ayodele Casel. Jumaane continues to dance both locally, nationally, and abroad in such places as Canada and Europe. In Chicago, he became a band member of a jazz sextet, Abstrakt Pulse, established by trumpeter Corey Wilkes. All the while performing at jazz events throughout the city of Chicago.
Lisa La Touche
Calgary, CA
Originally from Canada, now resident of New York City, Lisa’s platforms have ranged from the Beijing International Dance Festival as a dancer, choreographer and American media spokesperson, to performing on CBS with r&b/pop star Mya and Emmy Award winning choreographer Jason Samuels Smith. Recent performances have included Jason Samuels Smith’s “Charlie’s Angels” (tribute to the music of Charlie Parker, on Broadway). She was also a principal dancer in “Tap into Peace”, a story told in tap by way of the music of Stevie Wonder choreographed by Sarah Savelli and Ayodele Casel, and “Sophisticated Ladies”, honoring the music of Duke Ellington. You can currently see her perform at Harlem’s legendary Cotton Club w/ Dormeshia and Omar Edwards and study with her at Steps on Broadway in NYC. She recently has founded her own group the L-Touch Tap Phonics and works with Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter Maya Azucena. She also has co-founded the Tap Messengers where they recently were showcased in the Carefusion’s New York City Jazz music Festival. Internationally, Lisa has taught and performed at the Brazilian Tap Festival, Germany’s Munich On Tap, London’s Pineapple Studios, L.A. Tap Festival, The Chicago Human Rhythm Project’s Rhythm World, The St. Louis Tap Festival, San Antonio 3rd Coast Rhythm Project, The Vancouver Tap Festival and the Eastern Canadian Tap Conference to name a few. She was Assistant Director and Choreographer for Bril Barrett's M.A.D.D. Rhythms, and founded their International extension, M.A.D.D. Rhythms Canada in her hometown of Calgary, Canada. Lisa La Touche was also featured in the May 2oo8 issue of Dancer Magazine as an emerging artist and is continuously pursuing new heights in her talents while continuously establishing herself as a versatile artist in New York City. For more info please visit http://www.lisalatouche.com.
Luke Hawkins
Folsom, CA
Luke Hawkins has been tap dancing since the age of seven where he began training at his mother's dance studio in Northern California. His first professional job came at 8 years old when he played Young Don Lockwood in California Musical Theatre's production of Singin in the Rain. Since then his feet never stopped moving. Soon after, Luke began training with tap master Jerry Burke and under his mentoring won three national dance competition titles. After two years of training at the Boston Conservatory, Luke moved to New York and tapped his way into roles in Irving Berlin's White Christmas, City Center Encore's production of No No Nanette, and Xanadu on Broadway. Regionally he has played Huck in Big River, Tulsa in Gypsy (Barnstormers Theatre NH), and Turkey in Johnny Guitar (Speakeasy Stage co. Boston). Internationally, he was the lead tap dancer in the European tour of Magic Of The Dance. He also traveled to Amman Jordan with the New York Tap Ensemble to perform for the US embassy. Most recently Luke could be seen in Cirque du Soleil's production of Banana Shpeel alongside partner in crime, Anthony J Russo. To keep up on what Luke is doing, please visit http://www.LukeHawkins.com
Michael Keefe
Boston, Mass.
Michael Keefe trained from an early age at Kerry Smith's Academy of Dance Arts and K&M Studio, Inc. in Massachusetts. He was also a featured dancer with The Massachusetts Youth Ballet. A diverse, competition dancer, Mike won numerous individual titles including "Mr. Headliner". He then went on to expand his training at NYU's Tisch School for the Performing Arts. In addition to performing Mike has gained acclaim as a choreographer, has held multiple teaching positions across the country and was a judge for Hall of Fame Dance Competitions. His professional credits include dancing with recording artist JoJo, performing at the New York City Fringe Festival and being a featured soloist in Rhythmic Circus' "Feet Don't Fail Me Now". He was also a featured tap dancer at the 2005 Presidential Inauguration Celebration & the off Broadway show, Mike Minery & Friends. He is a proud member of Bad Boys of Dance and has been a featured performer in "Rock the Ballet" since it's debut in 2008.
