photo by Cacia Lacount
April's tap dance journey began at the age of five at The Dance Shop in Holbrook, MA. Emmy MacWilliams and Jean Wenzel were her teachers. Throughout high school and college, April studied various dance styles including tap, jazz, ballet, step, and Hip-Hop. She was a member of the UConn Tap Team from 2004-2008 and the UConn AllStars, hip-hop and step team, from 2006-2008 during her time at the University of Connecticut. She was selected to be a member of The Boston Tap Company in 2008, under the direction of Sean C. Fielder. In 2010, April was awarded a scholarship to attend the School at Jacob's Pillow as an Inaugural student of the tap program directed by Dianne "Lady Di" Walker. This 2-week intensive program's faculty included Derick K. Grant, Tasha Lawson, Ray Hesselink, and guest faculty Harold Cromer assisted by Sarah Reich. In 2013, April was invited by Ian Berg to join an emerging tap dance company, formally titled Subject:Matter later in 2015, when she was appointed Assistant Director. During that time, she co-founded Listen to My Sole, a Boston-based Tap Jam with fellow Subject:Matter company member, Benae Beamon.
April moved from Boston to Jersey City, NJ in September of 2017. Shortly after relocating, she performed an excerpt from Expensive Nail Polish Dries Fast with Subject:Matter at the renowned Joe's Pub in New York, NY. During that time, she also taught tap dance at Newark School of the Performing Arts until June of 2018. While at Newark School of the Performing Arts, she auditioned and was selected to perform in a piece for their 50th anniversary Gala directed by and performed with Savion Glover. Following this, she was invited to be a dancer for New York dance company, The Dolo Project, directed by Dolores "Lola" Sanchez. April has volunteered her time with Tap Water Dance Academy, a New Jersey-based mobile training program for beginner to pre-professional tap dancers under the direction of Asha Griffith in 2019. She has also served as a Production Assistant for Tap Family Reunion in 2018 and 2019, as well as And Still You Must Swing at The Joyce Theatre in 2019, assisting producer Elka Samuels Smith of Divine Rhythm Productions. As a dancer, her many inspirations include Gregory Hines, Dianne Walker, Jimmy Slyde, Chuck Green, Steve Condos, Marshall Davis, Jr. and many other beautiful people who continue to share their voice on the wood. Everyday she is inspired by all that surrounds her. She enjoys creating music and connecting her spirit with audiences everywhere, creating through movement and sound. UPCOMING PERFORMANCES
Until performances are allowed in person, view my most recent performance: Revelations in Rhythm: Produced by Marshall Davis, Jr. & Directed by Savion Glover For Healing through Tap Dance (private healing through a tap dance medium), choreography, and performance inquiries, fill out the contact sheet below for pricing and options.
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