Jason Samuels Smith
Encyclopedia
Jason Samuels Smith is an American tap dance
performer, choreographer, and director.
in New York City. At a young age he had appearances on Sesame Street
and at the age of 15 landed a position as an understudy to the leading role in Tony Award Winning Broadway show Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk.
and American Choreography Award for "Outstanding Choreography" for the Opening number of the 2003 Jerry Lewis/MDA Telethon in a tribute to the late Gregory Hines
. Samuels Smith was also awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by the City of Los Angeles for creating the First Annual Los Angeles Tap Festival in 2003; a Proclamation declaring April 23 "Jason Samuels Day" from the City of Shreveport, Louisiana; the "Ivy of Education" from Brainerd Institute; and the "President Kenny Award" from Stony Brook. He was also the recipient of an Arts International Grant, an Alpert McDowell Residency Award, and the 2007 Gregory Hines Humanitarian Award among others.
's feature film Idlewild
. Debbie Allen
has featured his dancing in several productions including the AMC television series Cool Women, Sammy (a tribute to the life of Sammy Davis Jr.), and in a leading role of Soul Possessed with Patti LaBelle
, Arturo Sandoval
, and Carmen DeLavallade. He also founded the tap dance program at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy in Culver City, California
, which is also the location of the annual Los Angeles Tap Festival.
Other performance credits include:
Samuels Smith is currently performing India Jazz Suites, a dynamic collaboration with Kathak Master Pandit Chitresh Das, in addition to starring in the debut of Imagine Tap! at the Harris Theater in Chicago.
Samuels Smith founded tap company A.C.G.I. (Anybody Can Get It) as well as JaJa Productions band featuring original jazz-influenced hip hop music
, with appearances throughout the United States.
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...
performer, choreographer, and director.
Biography
Jason Samuels Smith, a native New Yorker, was born on October 4, 1980 to professional performing arts parents Sue Samuels and JoJo Smith. He began his professional performing career at an early age through Frank Hatchett's Professional Children's Program at the Broadway Dance CenterBroadway Dance Center
Broadway Dance Center, located in the heart of Times Square in New York City, was founded in 1984 a "drop-in" dance training schools in the world, offering over 200 classes a week in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Hip Hop, Theater and more...
in New York City. At a young age he had appearances on Sesame Street
Sesame Street
Sesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
and at the age of 15 landed a position as an understudy to the leading role in Tony Award Winning Broadway show Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk.
Awards and achievements
He won both an EmmyEmmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
and American Choreography Award for "Outstanding Choreography" for the Opening number of the 2003 Jerry Lewis/MDA Telethon in a tribute to the late Gregory Hines
Gregory Hines
Gregory Oliver Hines was an American actor, singer, dancer and choreographer.-Early years:Born in New York City, Hines and his older brother Maurice started dancing at an early age, studying with choreographer Henry LeTang...
. Samuels Smith was also awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by the City of Los Angeles for creating the First Annual Los Angeles Tap Festival in 2003; a Proclamation declaring April 23 "Jason Samuels Day" from the City of Shreveport, Louisiana; the "Ivy of Education" from Brainerd Institute; and the "President Kenny Award" from Stony Brook. He was also the recipient of an Arts International Grant, an Alpert McDowell Residency Award, and the 2007 Gregory Hines Humanitarian Award among others.
Credits
In 2004, Samuels Smith co-starred in Dean Hargrove's award-winning short film Tap Heat. He is also a featured dancer in HBO/Universal Pictures release of OutkastOutKast
Outkast is an American hip hop duo based in East Point, Georgia, consisting of Atlanta native André "André 3000" Benjamin and Savannah, Georgia-born Antwan "Big Boi" Patton. They were originally known as Two Shades Deep but later changed the group's name to OutKast...
's feature film Idlewild
Idlewild (film)
Idlewild is an American musical film, released August 25, 2006, written and directed by Bryan Barber. The film stars André 3000 and Big Boi of the hip hop duo OutKast, and Idlewild features musical numbers written, produced, and chiefly performed by OutKast...
. Debbie Allen
Debbie Allen
Deborrah Kaye “Debbie” Allen is an American actress, dancer, choreographer, television director, television producer, and a member of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities...
has featured his dancing in several productions including the AMC television series Cool Women, Sammy (a tribute to the life of Sammy Davis Jr.), and in a leading role of Soul Possessed with Patti LaBelle
Patti LaBelle
Patricia Louise Holte-Edwards , better known under the stage name, Patti LaBelle, is a Grammy Award winning American singer, author and actress who has spent over 50 years in the music industry...
, Arturo Sandoval
Arturo Sandoval
Arturo Sandoval is a jazz trumpeter and pianist. He was born in Artemisa, in the newest renamed Artemisa Province, Cuba....
, and Carmen DeLavallade. He also founded the tap dance program at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy in Culver City, California
Culver City, California
Culver City is a city in western Los Angeles County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 38,883, up from 38,816 at the 2000 census. It is mostly surrounded by the city of Los Angeles, but also shares a border with unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. Culver...
, which is also the location of the annual Los Angeles Tap Festival.
Other performance credits include:
- Fox's hit series So You Think You Can Dance (special guest performer)
- The New York City Center Fall For Dance Festival
- Sadler's Wells Sampled at Sadler's Wells in London
- Savion Glover's NYOTs (Not Your Ordinary Tappers)
- Cross Currents: Turned on Tap at the Queen Elizabeth Hall - South BankSouth BankSouth Bank is an area of London, England located immediately adjacent to the south side of the River Thames. It forms a long and narrow section of riverside development that is within the London Borough of Lambeth to the border with the London Borough of Southwark and was formerly simply known as...
in London - The 2002-2003 Harlem Jazz Dance Festivals' TAAP: The Art and Appreciation of Percussion
- The NY Tap Committee/Town Hall's 21Below! with Jennifer HollidayJennifer HollidayJennifer-Yvette Holliday is an African-American singer and Tony Award-winning actress. She started her career on Broadway in musicals such as Dreamgirls, and later became a successful recording artist...
- Thank You Gregory: A Tribute to the Legends of Tap
- The Cotton Club Returns: A Tribute to Great Jazz Legends
- The American Institute of Vernacular Jazz Dance Darktown Strutters Ball Gala
- The Career Transition for Dancers 20th Anniversary Jubilee
Samuels Smith is currently performing India Jazz Suites, a dynamic collaboration with Kathak Master Pandit Chitresh Das, in addition to starring in the debut of Imagine Tap! at the Harris Theater in Chicago.
Samuels Smith founded tap company A.C.G.I. (Anybody Can Get It) as well as JaJa Productions band featuring original jazz-influenced hip hop music
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
, with appearances throughout the United States.