2018-19 International Tour Cast of “Tap Dogs” (Photo by Chris Richardson)
The stage at DPAC is going to take a pounding next week….literally, when it will be home to the amazing tap skills of the Tap Dogs crew when they bring their high energy tap show to the Bull City next Tuesday, March 19th and Wednesday, March 20th. This performance serves up an intermission free 85-minute high-intensity show filled from end to end with precision tap dancing moves and heart pounding rhythms and music.
The performance is part dance and part rock concert with dancers showing off their skills on a set that resembles a construction site. The setting lends itself well to different surfaces and building materials like metal girders and moving platforms the dancers can manipulate for amazing stunts and tap routines. The set also includes a large digital screen background with a colorful light production blended into the performance making for an exciting backdrop to the dancers.
2018-19 International Tour Cast of “Tap Dogs” (Photo by Chris Richardson)
The popularity of Tap dogs has helped propel the popularity of tap in the United States and around the world and helped shaped the world of modern tap and features an amazing internal cast of dancers and musicians. It’s a small but tight cast with 6 guys tapping rounded out with two extremely talented female musicians adding a high-energy beat to accompany the tap moves.
Nathanial Hancock is one of the six talented tap dancers currently touring with the production and adding to the fancy footwork delighting fans all over the world. He has performed with Tap Dogs throughout Europe, Asia, Bahrain, UAE, Australia, and South Africa over the past 7 years.
2018-19 International Tour Cast of “Tap Dogs” (Photo by Chris Richardson)
Nathanial’s love of rhythm and unique, intricate time signatures place him at the forefront of modern tap dance in Australia. He has toured with the production for the past seven years and when he is not touring he is teaching tap in his home country of Australia. I spoke Nathaniel last week by phone to learn a little more about his journey to the stage and what the audience can expect from the show at DPAC.
Nathanial Hancock
When did you first know you wanted to be a tap dancer?
I pretty much knew I wanted to dance since I was a little kid. My first exposure was seeing Gene Kelly tap in the movie “Singin’ in the Rain” when I was around 6 years old. Then I saw tap dogs in Brisbane when I was just 11 years old and I knew tap is what I wanted to do!
What can Audiences expect at the show?
This is a high-intensity high energy show filled with amazing tap footwork all choreographed beautifully with music performed live on stage. There is no dialogue, just dancing and music. It’s very much like a rock concert, but with the rhythm and intensity of tap!
How has the show changed over the years?
Well Tap Dogs has been touring for almost 23 years. I’ve been with the Production for 7 years now. We added the two female musicians in recent years and modified the sets. There has also been the addition of an amazing light and digital screens to adding to the overall visual experience to attending the show.
What do you think makes this show so popular
It’s a family-friendly show that is accessible for everyone regardless of your experience with tap. There is dancing, music which really offers something for everyone to enjoy. Most if all, because there is no dialogue there is not language barrier so everyone all over the world can enjoy the performance as it speaks through the universal language of dance.
“Tap Dogs” has performances at DPAC Tuesday, March 19th and Wednesday, March 20th. through through Sunday February 17th. For tickets visit: https://www.dpacnc.com/events/detail/tap-dogs
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