Warm-up workshop
Once every few months (ok, so this one was long outstanding), I gather all my students together for a jam. The Rhythm Tappers @ Malaysia started this tradition in 2006 and we are now in our 5th year of jamming. Now, in the strictest sense, a jam would usually consists of tappers who come together to practise, show-off and just..jam. But in the effort to promote the awareness of rhythm tap in Malaysia and as a tiny goal for students to present their classwork, we open up the jam to include family, friends and whoever member of the public who’d like to join us for an evening of rhythm, taps, exercise and fun!
Opening Briefing
So our jam typically consists of students’ (informal) class presentations, mini-rhythm-simple-tap workshops for everyone and of course sections of improvisation (incl. non-tappers).
The wonderful thing about this jam was the STUDENTS. Everyone did a GREAT job with the informal student presentations. It was also the 1st time that all the student dances were complete songs – in the past, due to time restrictions, we often have to turn off the song mid-way in some presentations since it wasn’t possible to complete the entire song with the combination/steps/repeats. Also, everyone presented their stuff well (esp. given the practise/time limitations of a couple of the presentations) and danced hard!
Love that Rhythm Tap attracts all kinds - ages, occupations, personalities!
Another awesome thing was the chill-jam at the end. Starting with some intial testing and warming-up with some African drums that we brought (belonging to a teenage tapper Brandon), the tappers and a guest who drummed continued to experiment and gradually began to “click” (after all, the taps and drumbeats need to “talk” to each other). I stepped away for a drink and rest, and by the time I came back, there was a really nice groove going…plus a few of the advanced beginners’ really came out of their shell and were “hitting” some really nice steps & beats!
Drums, rhythm & taps!
Do join us for the next jam – it’s open to everyone and don’t shy shy if you’re not a tapper. It’s structured like a party with workshops for you or when you prefer you can just sit and observe. Keep posted for the next jam (likely to be in Feb 2011).
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Glad to see very many new faces. I hope tap will be an integral part of the Malaysian dance scene, just like it is over here .:)
Hi Clarissa! Tks for dropping by- are you tapping in the states?
I just found this site while anyhow searching kowfu’s name. Hello.
my 2nd jam & i definitely luvd d xprience tis time round. esp d impromp ‘drums&taps’ part. so glad i stayd back. ya..wish i cud ‘just tap it’! n njoyd d wine too. btw, pls do u hv a pix of our clas presentatn? didnt snap any myself…
Will send a pic from my file…but it’s from the back tho…
Hey KE!
I really do miss tapping more consistently, and hope to begin again this Dec.
Sorry, I didn’t see your msg until now, when I decide to google up on the rythmic tappers @ MY. Why no inform by email function, lah? I did attend a tap festival in chapel in 2010 organized by Gene Medler and the NC Youth Tap Ensemble. and actually did attend a class with your favourite Diane Walker. Unfortunately, I couldn’t go for a lot of classes coz I got myself a new pair of shoes that I decided to break in during the festival, which left me with cuts and corns. Was going to join a class this Fall but their class conflicts with my other class, but as I know I’ve no more evening classes come Spring, I’m intending to sign up for the class at a studio that’s walking distance from my home! Wanted to attend the Chicago Tap festival over the summer as well, but ran out of money (poor grad student lah). But I did get a pedagogical Josh Hilberman dvd (whose class I was only able to sit in for because of my sore feet). Let me know what are the events around in Dec and if I can make them, I’ll drop in
Hi Clarissa- not sure…the whole comments function on Wordpress is a mystery to me! BTW, if you mean you’re back in MALAYSIA in Dec 2010, do get in touch with me via Facebook – we’ve got an overnight trip/party this year