Anthony J Russo
DIRECTOR
St Charles, MO
Anthony's career began at 15, when he was offered his first Equity contract in "Anything Goes" at The Muny in Forest Park, St. Louis. Two years later, Anthony was hired for the 6th national tour of Tap Dogs and continued with the show for 8 years performing 4 of 6 roles in the show. Russo also danced with the Tap Dogs at various festivals, industrials, and an NFL half time show in 2003. Other performance and choreography credits include the Off-Brodway production of "At the Diner", Seven Off-Broadway productions of "Break The Floor", and "Iron Beats" China Tour and Tampa Bay - Busch Gardens. He was recently part of the creation and featured tap dancer in the original cast of Cirque Du Soleil's vaudeville project, "Banana Shpeel". This show also made an appearance on "America's Got Talent" in 2009. Anthony has entertained for 25+ corporations including Microsoft, Circuit City, Chevrolet/GMC, Mitsubishi, MTX Audio, Charles Schwabb, and Marriott Hotels. Anthony created TAPademics INC. in 2003 and continues to travel the world, both teaching and performing.
Chris Erk
Southington, CT
Tap Technique
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.
Donovan Helma
Aurora, CO
Tricks & Slides
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
Rhythm Tap, Theater Tap
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
Rhythm Tap
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.
