The Evolution of Tap Dance
June 25 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Event Navigation
Date: Wednesday, June 25
Time: 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm (Doors open at 6:30 pm)
Location: Bata Shoe Museum
Tickets: $15 General, $10 Senior (65+), Students (with ID) and Arts Worker, $10 Friends of the BSM
Step into the world of tap dance with Rumi Jeraj and Travis Knights as they take you on an engaging journey through the history, artistry, and innovation of tap shoes. From their origins as humble wooden-soled footwear (fact-checking this claim for accuracy!) to the vibrant designs and styles seen today, tap shoes tell a story about the evolution of the dance and the dancers who wear them.
Discover the creative process behind modern advancements in tap footwear, including insights from the duo’s recent work through Shoe Dreams, curated by Dance Makers. Through lively conversation, rhythmic demonstrations, and personal anecdotes, Rumi and Travis will bring the world of tap to life in this presentation.
Learn, laugh, and listen to the mesmerizing sounds of tap dance and the shoes that help define the art form.
Agenda
6:30 pm – Doors
7:00 pm – Presentation Begins
8:00 pm – Presentation Ends, Galleries Open
9:00 pm – Museum Closes
Please check in with Visitor Services upon arrival. Contact shan@batashoemuseum.ca with any questions.
Terms and Conditions apply.
If the cost of the event is a barrier, please contact artistic@dancemakers.org.
ABOUT THE FACILIATORS
Rumi Jeraj is an Ismailli muslim hailing from Sherwood Park Alberta (the world’s largest hamlet). A Graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University Rumi presented his work at Dusk Dances, the Hamilton Fringe Festival, Citadel Compagnie’s Night Shift, Interaccess Gallery and Common Ground Dance Festival. Notable projects include Nature Boy a collaboration with Purawai Vyas (a Bharatanatyam dancer) which saw the pair exchange over rhythm and culture and Space and Spectra a collaboration with drummer Aidan McConnell which brought together contemporary dancers and free improvised musicians. Rumi is currently a guest curator for Dance Makers exploring what the tap shoe of the future might look like. Shoe Dreams brings together dancers, shoe makers and designers to collectively dream up this shoe. He is also currently interested in bringing together his Tap and Contemporary dance practices to create a body percussion work on dancers and musicians of various forms and traditions. He aspires to create and be a part of work which mixes forms in order to better tell stories. He believes there is a perfect balance between words, music, and movement which can communicate intellectually, emotionally and viscerally all at once. He aspires to find this state on stage.
Born in Montreal, Canada, Travis was introduced to the rich oral tradition of Tap by his teacher Ethel Bruneau at age 10. He went on to travel the world spreading his love of rhythm across 4 continents, touring with Tap Dogs, Tapestry Dance Company, Anandam Dance Theatre and the self-produced Tap Love Tour. He was the 2020 recipient of the Jaqueline Lemieux Prize for outstanding contribution to dance in Canada. In December 2021, in partnership with Dance Immersion, Travis, along with renowned Tap Dancer Lisa LaTouche, created and directed Legacy Series: Tap Dance Symposium which aimed to re-introduce Tap Dance to the local Black community in Toronto. In 2022, Travis won a Dora Award for Outstanding Performance in Dance Immersion’s Tap Legacy Concert, and became a Slaight Family Music Associate at Soulpepper. In 2024, Travis’ Tap Love Tour production company released two major works, a feature length documentary called Restorative Culture: Johnathan Morin, and a full length original dance work called The Mars Project that premiered at Fall For Dance North. He currently lives in Brampton, Ontario and hosts The Tap Love Tour Podcast, available on spotify, soundcloud and apple podcasts, (make sure to subscribe) featuring interviews of a myriad of inspiring tap dance artists.