With its undeniable mastery of musicality the Florida Tap Dance Project (FDP) is putting its best foot forward and taking the spotlight on Saturday, September 15th, from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm at its free-to-the-public Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, Dolphin Unveiling, and tap dancing event.
Free Tap Dance Workshops (open to all Tampa Bay area tap dancers) are on the agenda from 10:00 am – 1:30 pm at Dunedin’s Patricia Ann Dance Studios, 941 Douglas Avenue, followed by the Project’s ribbon cutting ceremony at 2:00pm and the dolphin unveiling at 2:15pm of “Rhythm,” the Florida Dance Project’s official dolphin mascot.
Community festivities continue from 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm at Pioneer Park at 420 Main Street in Dunedin with dance performances by the Tap Dance Ambassadors of Florida featuring Kayla Cowart (“The Tap Girl of Florida”), sponsor of the gala event; and, tap dancers from Tapped In, Inc., Truth Tap Company, the Rhythm and Sole Tap Ensemble, and Patricia Ann Dance Studios.
Kayla Cowart graduated in 2015 from Largo High School’s Magnet Program. Likewise in 2015, the emerging American tap dancer/choreographer founded Tap Dance Ambassadors of Florida; comprised of Cowart and St. Petersburg-Clearwater tap dance professionals: Morgan Angillilis-Storrison, Tapped In, Inc.; Ruth Ann Martin, Truth Tap Company; Ashlyn Bolton, The Rhythm and Sole Tap Ensemble; Aubrey Cheek, St. Petersburg-turned-New York dancer; and Raymond Bennett.
Also in 2015, Cowart pioneered the Florida Tap Dance Project with the focus of showcasing Tampa Bay’s up-and-coming tap dancers in St. Petersburg-Clearwater. Her passion involves bringing tap ambassadors, tap dancers and tap dance students together to participate in high-caliber dance instruction, training, and educational programs while affording all of them the opportunity to interact and connect with their audiences through their unforgettable tap dance performances. The culmination of her vision is to one day shine that spotlight on the Project’s talented dancers at tap dance performances at Florida’s historic Capitol Theatre, a cultural landmark in Clearwater.
“My goal is to garner attention for Pinellas County and St. Petersburg-Clearwater’s emerging tap dancers and brand the Tampa Bay area as the ‘Capital of Florida’s Tap Dance Industry,’ which is an integral part of Florida’s tap dance community,” said Cowart, a consummate performer who is currently a cast member in “Stomp,” Off-Broadway’s long-running music and dance production.
Cowart’s dolphin “Rhythm” is the newest addition to a pod of more than 200 six-feet-tall mixed-media dolphins designed by local artists and sponsored by local businesses that are making a colorful splash along Pinellas County’s Dolphin Trail in St. Petersburg-Clearwater.
Dunedin is the first stop on Rhythm’s Tap Trail in honor of Ms. Elaine Forestier who founded Patricia Ann Dance Studio more than 56 years ago. Morgan Angellilis-Storrison of Tapped In, Inc. and Kayla Cowart both tapped under the tutelage of Forestier. Ms. Elaine, who died this year at the age of 95, actively tap danced until the age of 93.
Visit Florida Tap Dance Project’s website www.floridatap.com for more information. Dancers wanting to participate in the free September 15 dance workshops can sign up and reserve their spot by emailing: info@floridatap.com.