In this week's episode, host Travis Knights proposes a strategy to begin to shed the relationship that tap has with blackface minstrelsy, by changing the name of Tap Dance itself. Send your feedback to taplovetour@gmail.com Supplemental Music: Say it Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud - James Brown Check out the full interview with Nicholas Payton here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCuBRcxfY6I Join our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/travisknights Subscribe to the Tap Love Tour Podcast on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/the-tap-love-tour Subscribe to the Tap Love Tour Youtube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsSfLevc4PJTChTNkmf5GVw?view_as=subscriber

The Tap Love Tour Podcast

Episode 93: Rename Tap Dance

I've been straight up lying to my mentor Heather Cornell for years. In this episode I come clean to her and admit my betrayal of her trust. She then masterfully reveals exactly why she is my chosen mentor. Connect with Heather Cornell here: https://www.manhattantap.org/ Supplemental Audio: Som'thin From Nuthin - Bring In Da Noise Bring In Da Funk Lush Life - Billy Strayhorn Join our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/travisknights Subscribe to the Tap Love Tour Podcast on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/the-tap-love-tour Subscribe to the Tap Love Tour Youtube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsSfLevc4PJTChTNkmf5GVw?view_as=subscriber

Episode 103: Heather Cornell - I Stole From Heather

Searching For Henry Part 5 This is part 5 of our limited Tap Love Tour Podcast series ‘Searching For Henry’ where we gather pieces from different times and places in order to Re-member the prolific Tap Dance choreographer, Dr. Henry LeTang. In this episode we speak with Vermont Legislative Representative, Tap Dancer, educator and mentee of Dr. Henry LeTang, Linda Joy Sullivan. This episode is extremely important to me because at a certain point it felt like Linda channeled a lesson directed specifically at me from the spirit of Dr. LeTang. I hope I remember it this time. Connect to Linda Joy Sullivan here: linda.joy.tap@gmail.com Supplemental Audio: Bridge Scene from the motion picture Waking Life directed by Richard Linklater Join our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/travisknights Subscribe to the Tap Love Tour Podcast on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/the-tap-love-tour Subscribe to the Tap Love Tour Youtube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsSfLevc4PJTChTNkmf5GVw?view_as=subscriber

Episode 102: Linda Joy Sullivan - Searching For Henry Part 5

In this episode we revisit an old debate within tap dance about heels vs flats. We start with Michele Cole who shares the opinion of her mentor Dr. Henry LeTang that women should wear heels when tap dancing. With the help of our special guest Hollywood Jade, we're bringing this topic into the 21st century in order to better understand 'dem heels' and the power of femininity. Connect with Hollywood Jade on instagram @hollywoodjade Supplemental Audio: Alice Coltrane - Turiya and Ramakrishna Q-Tip - Heels Join our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/travisknights Subscribe to the Tap Love Tour Podcast on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/the-tap-love-tour Subscribe to the Tap Love Tour Youtube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsSfLevc4PJTChTNkmf5GVw?view_as=subscriber

Episode 101: Hollywood Jade - Dem Heels

Today the Tap Love Tour Podcast turns 100! Much gratitude and appreciation to all the guests, to all the listeners and to all of the patrons. In this episode, host Travis Knights is canceling himself. Supplemental Audio: On To The Next One by Jay Z: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jRKsH8_OWQ Bill Robinson from 'In Old Kentucky': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrshHjPJxz8 Join our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/travisknights Subscribe to the Tap Love Tour Podcast on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/the-tap-love-tour Subscribe to the Tap Love Tour Youtube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsSfLevc4PJTChTNkmf5GVw?view_as=subscriber

100th Episode: I Am Not Your Negro

Searching For Henry Part 4 - Michele Cole This is part 4 of our limited Tap Love Tour Podcast series ‘Searching For Henry’ where we gather pieces from different times and places in order to Re-member the prolific Tap Dance choreographer, Dr. Henry LeTang. In this episode we speak with multi-form dancer, Black and Blue alumni performer Michele Cole about the importance of being "True to Black Dance". Supplemental Audio: Bill Robinson in Stormy Weather: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snnUrLb6KwQ Donna Lee by Charlie Parker: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02apSoxB7B4 Miller Brothers and Lois: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLiMJ6oHl1o&t=40s Lon Chaney Track from Black and Blue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLVjEYl_k3c Max Washington audition from the motion picture TAP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8n06CTB7DI Join our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/travisknights Subscribe to the Tap Love Tour Podcast on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/the-tap-love-tour Subscribe to the Tap Love Tour Youtube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsSfLevc4PJTChTNkmf5GVw?view_as=subscriber

Episode 99: Searching For Henry Part 4- Michele Cole

Searching For Henry Part 3 - Dexter Jones This is part 3 of our limited Tap Love Tour Podcast series ‘Searching For Henry’ where we gather pieces from different times and places in order to Re-member the prolific Tap Dance choreographer, Dr. Henry LeTang. In this episode we speak with the incredibly accomplished dancer Dexter Jones about his experience working with Dr. Henry LeTang and what Dr. LeTang would think of the DaNcE scene today. Join our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/travisknights Subscribe to the Tap Love Tour Podcast on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/the-tap-love-tour Subscribe to the Tap Love Tour Youtube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsSfLevc4PJTChTNkmf5GVw?view_as=subscriber

Episode 98: Searching For Henry Part 3 - Dexter Jones

Searching For Henry Part 2 - Reminiscing with Linette Doherty This is part 2 of our limited Tap Love Tour Podcast series ‘Searching For Henry’ where we gather pieces from different times and places in order to Re-member the prolific Tap Dance choreographer, Dr. Henry LeTang. This week we chop it up with actor, choreographer, educator Linette Doherty. In this conversation, Linette and I reminisce about our time on set of the Showtime film ‘Bojangles’ starring Gregory Hines, choreographed by Dr. Henry LeTang. Join our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/travisknights Subscribe to the Tap Love Tour Podcast on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/the-tap-love-tour Subscribe to the Tap Love Tour Youtube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsSfLevc4PJTChTNkmf5GVw?view_as=subscriber

Episode 97: Searching For Henry Part 2 - Reminiscing with Linette Doherty

This is part 1 of our limited Tap Love Tour Podcast series ‘Searching For Henry’ where we gather pieces from different times and places in order to Re-member the prolific Tap Dance choreographer, Dr. Henry LeTang. In this episode, host Travis Knights with guest David Cox and a special appearance by Latoya Bedeau, talking about their experience working with Dr. Henry LeTang on the set of the Showtime movie ‘Bojangles’. Supplemental Audio: Club Scene from the Showtime movie Bojangles Henry's Shim Sham courtesy of Ethel Bruneau Join our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/travisknights Subscribe to the Tap Love Tour Podcast on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/the-tap-love-tour Subscribe to the Tap Love Tour Youtube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsSfLevc4PJTChTNkmf5GVw?view_as=subscriber

Episode 96: Searching For Henry Part 1- The Improbable Dream with David Cox

This week we are joined by multi-form dancer, choreographer, co-founder of Project Convergence, and resident artist at the American Tap Dance Foundation, Vikas Arun. We discuss how to engage in cross-cultural artistic practice with respect and integrity. Connect with Vikas here: https://www.vikasarun.com/convergence Supplemental Audio: Terence McKenna https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FA_Dg1A2s68 GHANAN GHANAN | Project Convergence https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Of8DGEw7xM&t=70s Join our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/travisknights Subscribe to the Tap Love Tour Podcast on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/the-tap-love-tour Subscribe to the Tap Love Tour Youtube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsSfLevc4PJTChTNkmf5GVw?view_as=subscriber

Episode 95: Vikas Arun - Project Convergence

This a companion piece with the previous episode titled 'Rename Tap Dance'. It's taken me a minute to process this. I'm still processing things. In this episode we're going to talk about the name Hoofer as an alternative to Tap Dancer. Supplemental Audio: Henry LeTang - Tappin': The Making of Tap The Movie (1989) Sandman Sims - Tappin': The Making of Tap The Movie (1989) -Check out the full behind the scenes piece here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHZi81cCf1M&t=302s Ethel Bruneau - unreleased podcast Savion Glover - Savion Glover: Dance, History and Resistance -Check out the full interview with Savion here: https://www.facebook.com/781373185208746/videos/1035935663601949 Join our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/travisknights Subscribe to the Tap Love Tour Podcast on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/the-tap-love-tour Subscribe to the Tap Love Tour Youtube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsSfLevc4PJTChTNkmf5GVw?view_as=subscriber

Episode 94: Hoofer

This week I share a major revelation that will affect the rest of my life as a tap dancer. This podcast features The First Lady of Swing, Sarah Petronio and a very special surprise at the top of the episode. Supplemental Music: Jason Moran Plays Thelonious Monk's Town Hall Concert. Check out the full concert here: https://www.npr.org/2015/10/08/446866440/jason-moran-plays-thelonious-monks-town-hall-concert Check out the full interview with Sarah Petronio here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fT_pR7T42w4&t=4499s Subscribe to the Tap Love Tour Podcast on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/the-tap-love-tour Subscribe to the Tap Love Tour Youtube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsSfLevc4PJTChTNkmf5GVw?view_as=subscriber

Episode 92: RESET

This week we are joined by the powerful LaTasha Barnes. She is a dancer, educator, mentor and all around heavy weight in the world of jazz dance. We discuss her new relationship to discipline, the values of jazz culture, and the significance of the names we answer to. To connect with LaTasha follow her on instagram: @tasha_b_va Supplimental Music: I Need You To by TOBE NWIGWE Pickin' The Cabbage by Cab Calloway Subscribe to the Tap Love Tour Podcast on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/the-tap-love-tour Subscribe to the Tap Love Tour Youtube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsSfLevc4PJTChTNkmf5GVw?view_as=subscriber

Episode 91: LaTasha Barnes - The Values of Jazz Culture

This week we are joined by multidisciplinary artist and traditional healer Makhosi Ingwe yaMabala also known as Samson Brown. Samson went viral last year in a touching Gillette commercial where his father guides him through his first shave. Samson Brown is a black trans man. Our conversation is rich and varied food for the soul. This is the first podcast after the murder of George Floyd so my intro is a bit all over the place… sorry, not sorry. I do hope you get something fruitful from it. For consultation from traditional healer Makhosi Ingwe yaMabala email: makhosiingwe@gmail.com Supplimental Music: Anderson Paak - Lockdown Victoria Santa Cruz - Me Gritaron Negra Subscribe to the Tap Love Tour Podcast on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/the-tap-love-tour Subscribe to the Tap Love Tour Youtube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsSfLevc4PJTChTNkmf5GVw?view_as=subscriber

Episode 90: Samson Brown - Reconnecting With Ancestors

This week we are joined by celebrated tap dancer, choreographer, entrepreneur, philanthropist Chloe Arnold. The founder and artistic director of the tap dance sensation Syncopated Ladies, shares her account of the sharp pivot that saved the DC Tap Festival amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This conversation reminds us that we always have two choices. Connect to Chloe and Maud Arnold here: https://www.chloeandmaud.com/ Supplimental Music: Syncopated Ladies + Formation + Beyonce - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5CM89-vOvw Subscribe to the Tap Love Tour Podcast on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/the-tap-love-tour Subscribe to the Tap Love Tour Youtube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsSfLevc4PJTChTNkmf5GVw?view_as=subscriber

Episode 89: Chloe Arnold - Two Choices

Follow artist Travis Knights as he takes you on an adventure through time, rhythm, and dance.