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Stockholm Tap Festival, 2023 (A Debrief) π
Hello friends and fellow Tap dancers π
So, I know I'm just a little late to the party (only 3ish months), but now that the travel has calmed for a few weeks, I wanted to touch base to share a little more about my experience attending Stockholm Tap Festival back in April πΈπͺ
What an experience, and what a festival.
First off, Stockholm, Sweden. A city I've wanted to visit since seeing the original Swedish version of Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Even though it was approaching the 'warmer' months in Europe, I checked the Stockholm weather forecast the day I left Australia, hurriedly adding several more winter items. Thank goodness, as it was snowing from the first day I arrived (snow isn't really a thing in Australia, so this in itself was quite exciting).
Of course, as much as I'd love to have explored Stockholm in greater detail, there wasn't a whole lot of time for this, as the festival kept me plenty busy for the whole time I was there.
I've taught on festival teaching faculties before (and love doing so) but for STF, it was always my intention to attend as a student. As any educator knows, personal and professional development is crucial πͺπ»
This is more-or-less what the week looked like for me...
20 separate classes (70-90 minutes each) + 4 talks + 2 stage performances (watching, not performing) + 4 evening events (watching and performing!) + a general social over-stimulation (happily so) + a surprise performance by Terrence the T-Rex.
It was a big week, to say the least. The feet were sore, the ears were ringing, the heart was full (...and still is).
The 'vibe' at Stockholm Tap Festival was warm and welcoming in a very European, 'come as you are' type way. Tap dancers from more than 40 countries attended (I was one of three from Australia!), with people of all ages and skill-levels taking part.
One of the things I particularly loved was the differentiation between levels: there were 6 different 'tracks' to choose between, from Advanced Beginner to Professional (I chose professional. Seek discomfort, right?).
I connected with many tap friends, both new and old, including my old pal, Sarah Reich...
...and the endlessly mind-blowing Tap-machine that is Anthony Morigerato (who also happens to be a generous teacher, and genuinely great human).
A lovely, unexpected highlight was having numerous past students of Just TAP approach me, and thank me for helping them get started in Tap. It was surreal and very wonderful. Some may well be reading right now (πβ€οΈ).
A few more photos of the teaching faculty:
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All in all, it was a very special festival, and I'm glad to have made the trek from Australia to take part. Congrats to Andrew, Jonas and the STF team. I'll be back again, for sure ππ»
And what did I learn?...
Well friends, I could talk about the many new flows of steps I learned, as well as the different approaches to improv, musicality, style, choreography and performance (all valid and useful)...
But what I most took from Stockholm Tap Festival was a reinforcement of something I already knew: that everyone, regardless of level, age or experience has a unique voice and something valuable and beautiful to offer the art-form.
And, being surrounded by such remarkable people allowed me a deeper understanding of my own Tap journey, and my role as a creator, educator and performer. With each festival I attend, each class I teach, each project and each adventure I embark upon, I'm slowly shedding the feeling of 'imposter syndrome' that's been with me since beginning Tap at age 16. We all have something useful to offer, and all play an important role in the global Tap community.
I'm grateful to be part of it π
So as promised, here's a small selection of videos from STF! βΆοΈ
First off, a clip of me and a few friends for the 'Jam Night'.
Next, the STF teaching faculty taking the floor to do what they do best (π€―):
And lastly, Terrence the T-Rex's guest performance (...he couldn't resist) π¦
βSidenote: If Instagram is your thing, you can follow Terrence the T-Rex here.
What about you?
Have you ever attended a Tap dance festival? Want to join me in Stockholm, 2024? π€·ββοΈ
That's all for now. Thank you for reading to the end βΊοΈ
I'll look forward to touching base again soon.
Your pal,
Bill Simpson
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P.S. Exciting news! The team and I are currently building a new Taptopia platform, including culmination of the numerous different courses and community experiences we've released over the years, packaged together in an all-access offering, of sorts. Keep an eye on us over the coming weeks - we can't wait to share more π
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Hi! I'm Bill.
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