Glamour Puss Studios Tap Dancing Academy
Encyclopedia
Glamour Puss Studios Tap Dancing Academy was established in 1997 and is a Melbourne tap school specifically for adults and specialising in adult beginner tap dance
. More than 300 students attend classes held at either of the two 60s styled studios located in St Kilda, Victoria
and Richmond, Victoria
.
The tap dance
school is an active participant in both the global tapping community, working with professional tap dancers from around the world, and the local community, providing free public performances and participating in community events.
The school teaches students of all ages, sizes, shapes and abilities and has students aged from five to eighty five.
community events during the year such as the Myer Christmas Parade
.
The dance school is an active supporter of National Tap Dance Day
, having led the celebrations in Australia since 2004. Dancers of all abilities perform the Shim Sham Shimmy as part of a free public performance at various locations around Melbourne including Federation Square
, Queensbridge and the steps of Parliament House.
In 2009 Glamour Puss Studios created Melbourne Tap Week, extending National Tap Dance Day
to a week long celebration of tap dance
.
During 2010 Melbourne Tap Week, the Tapping Glamour Kittens from Glamour Puss Studios performed the world’s first Tap Dancing Flash Mob
at Prahran Market
, involving over 200 tap dancers, and some very surprised shoppers and stallholders.
2011's Melbourne Tap Week included historical routines by Louis DaPron
(Donald O'Connor
's choreographer), Leonard Reed
(the creator of the Shim Sham Shimmy), LaVaughn Robinson
, Ryan Francois (choreographer of the Jitterbug Stroll
), Sing Lim and Miriam Nelson (Doris Day
's dance coach). In 2011, dancers performed in St Kilda
, dancing from the St Kilda pier to Luna Park The dance school also hosted a series of master classes with Rusty Frank
during 2011 Melbourne Tap Week.
Glamour Puss has also promoted tap dance
history in Australia by teaching traditional tap routines from the masters. The tapping Glamour Kittens were originally taught the Shim Sham Shimmy by Brenda Bufalino
, and in both 2007 and 2010, a group of Tapping Glamour Kittens travelled to Las Vegas and attended a master class with Rusty Frank
where she taught them the B.S. (Boy Scout) Chorus.
Glamour Puss Studios has hosted many other notable international tap dancers at the studios. Master classes have been hosted by Omar Edwards, who is a co-founder of the Harlem Tap Studio in New York
, and is Savion Glover
’s cousin. The school has also welcomed Lynne Jassem, who is a founding member of the American Tap Dance Orchestra.
Tap dance
Tap dance is a form of dance characterized by using the sound of one's tap shoes hitting the floor as a percussive instrument. As such, it is also commonly considered to be a form of music. Two major variations on tap dance exist: rhythm tap and Broadway tap. Broadway tap focuses more on the...
. More than 300 students attend classes held at either of the two 60s styled studios located in St Kilda, Victoria
St Kilda, Victoria
St Kilda is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km south from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Port Phillip...
and Richmond, Victoria
Richmond, Victoria
Richmond is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Yarra...
.
The tap dance
Tap dance
Tap dance is a form of dance characterized by using the sound of one's tap shoes hitting the floor as a percussive instrument. As such, it is also commonly considered to be a form of music. Two major variations on tap dance exist: rhythm tap and Broadway tap. Broadway tap focuses more on the...
school is an active participant in both the global tapping community, working with professional tap dancers from around the world, and the local community, providing free public performances and participating in community events.
The school teaches students of all ages, sizes, shapes and abilities and has students aged from five to eighty five.
Community and events
The dancers from Glamour Puss Studios participate in many MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
community events during the year such as the Myer Christmas Parade
Myer Christmas Parade
Myer Christmas Parade is an annual event held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia organised by Myer department stores in conjunction with the City of Melbourne. Attracting a crowd of over 40,000, the parade commences at the top of Spring Street and ends outside Myer's flagship Melbourne store on...
.
The dance school is an active supporter of National Tap Dance Day
National Tap Dance Day
National Tap Dance Day falls on May 25 every year and is a celebration of tap dancing as an American art form. The idea of National Tap Dance Day was first presented to U.S. Congress on September 15, 1988 and was signed into American law by President George H.W. Bush on November 7, 1989...
, having led the celebrations in Australia since 2004. Dancers of all abilities perform the Shim Sham Shimmy as part of a free public performance at various locations around Melbourne including Federation Square
Federation Square
Federation Square is a civic centre and cultural precinct in the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
, Queensbridge and the steps of Parliament House.
In 2009 Glamour Puss Studios created Melbourne Tap Week, extending National Tap Dance Day
National Tap Dance Day
National Tap Dance Day falls on May 25 every year and is a celebration of tap dancing as an American art form. The idea of National Tap Dance Day was first presented to U.S. Congress on September 15, 1988 and was signed into American law by President George H.W. Bush on November 7, 1989...
to a week long celebration of tap dance
Tap dance
Tap dance is a form of dance characterized by using the sound of one's tap shoes hitting the floor as a percussive instrument. As such, it is also commonly considered to be a form of music. Two major variations on tap dance exist: rhythm tap and Broadway tap. Broadway tap focuses more on the...
.
During 2010 Melbourne Tap Week, the Tapping Glamour Kittens from Glamour Puss Studios performed the world’s first Tap Dancing Flash Mob
Flash mob
A flash mob is a group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual and sometimes seemingly pointless act for a brief time, then disperse, often for the purposes of entertainment, satire, artistic expression...
at Prahran Market
Prahran Market
The Prahran Market is one of the premier fresh food markets in Melbourne, Australia. It has existed on its present site in Commercial Road, South Yarra, some 200 metres from Chapel Street, for over 125 years. The market offers a variety of stalls and shops offering fresh fruit and vegetables, meat,...
, involving over 200 tap dancers, and some very surprised shoppers and stallholders.
2011's Melbourne Tap Week included historical routines by Louis DaPron
Louis DaPron
Louis Francis DaPron , was an American dancer, choreographer and dance instructor. He worked often with tap dancer Donald O'Connor.-Early days:...
(Donald O'Connor
Donald O'Connor
Donald David Dixon Ronald O’Connor was an American dancer, singer, and actor who came to fame in a series of movies in which he co-starred alternately with Gloria Jean, Peggy Ryan, and Francis the Talking Mule...
's choreographer), Leonard Reed
Leonard Reed
Leonard Reed was an American tap dancer, co-creator with his partner, Willie Bryant, of the famous Shim Sham Shimmy dance routine.-Early life and career:...
(the creator of the Shim Sham Shimmy), LaVaughn Robinson
LaVaughn Robinson
LaVaughn Robinson was an US tap dancer, choreographer, and teacher.A virtuoso tap dancer, Robinson perfected a high speed, low to the ground, a cappella style of dance that was characterized by elegance, precision, and clarity of sound...
, Ryan Francois (choreographer of the Jitterbug Stroll
Jitterbug Stroll
The Jitterbug Stroll is a swing line dance choreographed in 1992 by Ryan Francois, a Lindy Hop dancer and teacher. Ryan Francois is the creator of The Jitterbug Stroll and it saddens him to see someone teaching the wrong steps in the wrong timing and worst, posting it on You Tube...
), Sing Lim and Miriam Nelson (Doris Day
Doris Day
Doris Day is an American actress, singer and, since her retirement from show business, an animal rights activist. With an entertainment career that spanned through almost 50 years, Day started her career as a big band singer in 1939, but only began to be noticed after her first hit recording,...
's dance coach). In 2011, dancers performed in St Kilda
St Kilda, Victoria
St Kilda is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km south from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Port Phillip...
, dancing from the St Kilda pier to Luna Park The dance school also hosted a series of master classes with Rusty Frank
Rusty Frank
Rusty Frank is an American tap dancer, producer, writer, choreographer, lindy hopper, historian and tap-dance preservationist.-Early life:...
during 2011 Melbourne Tap Week.
Glamour Puss has also promoted tap dance
Tap dance
Tap dance is a form of dance characterized by using the sound of one's tap shoes hitting the floor as a percussive instrument. As such, it is also commonly considered to be a form of music. Two major variations on tap dance exist: rhythm tap and Broadway tap. Broadway tap focuses more on the...
history in Australia by teaching traditional tap routines from the masters. The tapping Glamour Kittens were originally taught the Shim Sham Shimmy by Brenda Bufalino
Brenda Bufalino
Brenda Bufalino is an artist of the tap dance world. In a career spanning several decades, she has worked with many influential artists. Bufalino founded the .-External links:**...
, and in both 2007 and 2010, a group of Tapping Glamour Kittens travelled to Las Vegas and attended a master class with Rusty Frank
Rusty Frank
Rusty Frank is an American tap dancer, producer, writer, choreographer, lindy hopper, historian and tap-dance preservationist.-Early life:...
where she taught them the B.S. (Boy Scout) Chorus.
Glamour Puss Studios has hosted many other notable international tap dancers at the studios. Master classes have been hosted by Omar Edwards, who is a co-founder of the Harlem Tap Studio in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and is Savion Glover
Savion Glover
Savion Glover is an American tap dancer, actor, and choreographer. As a learning prodigy, he was taught by notable dancers from previous generations. Glover is currently interested in restoring African roots to tap...
’s cousin. The school has also welcomed Lynne Jassem, who is a founding member of the American Tap Dance Orchestra.