Editor's Notebook: My Happy Feet

Today the tapping begins in town. Jersey Tap Fest, the first annual New Jersey tap dance festival, arrives at SOPAC. Classes that celebrate young, emerging tap artists and master classes are available to the public from July 14th through 16th from 9:00 a.m. until 7:15 p.m. with daily night events at 7:30 p.m.

The fest's big finale, a performance honoring living tap dance legend, Dr. Harold 'Stumpy' Cromer, will take place on July 17th at 7:00 p.m.

For this Patch editor, class was in session on Sunday morning, when Hillary-Marie Michael, Founder and Director of Jersey Tap Fest, gave me a brief lesson on this most American of art forms.

"If you can walk," said Michael, "you can tap." I gave it my best shot – and the video will prove it in the next day or two – and Michael was enthusiastic and full of praise. (So why was Barry Kaufman, the videographer, laughing so hard? You tell me.)

The Saturday evening performance features New Jersey Tap Ensemble, the Junior Belles, Honoree: Dr. Harold 'Stumpy' Cromer, Karen Callaway Williams, Maurice Chestnut, Jeffry Foote, Jason Janas, Hillary-Marie Michael, Logan Miller, Deborah Mitchell (schedule permitting), Sarah Reich and Tap Con Sabor, Kyle Wilder and many more. One of them may be me, as Michael taught the first steps to a traditional end-of-show routine.

"Audience members tap along," she explains, when they hear the first beats of Paradiddle. Bring your dancing shoes to SOPAC; I'll be there with happy feet. Patch writer Marilyn Lehren will bring us behind-the-scenes and front-of-house photos, as well.

Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.sopacnow.org/tickets over the phone at 973-313-ARTS or in person at the SOPAC Box Office. $30 Orchestra. $25 Mezzanine. $20 age 17 and under, college students with ID and senior citizens.