Connections: TRAX by Lisa La Touche & Kazunori Kumagai

JUNE 11-12, 7:00 – 9:00 PM EDT
Suggested Cost: $10
Sliding Scale Options: $5, $10, $20
Online Film Premiere

Get an inside look from choreographer and performer Lisa La Touche’s creative process for her upcoming event, here.

Connections celebrates the many ways rising dance and performance artists have been supported and influenced by other artists they respect as past or present teachers, mentors or exemplars of the best in their field. Each program features a look at new or developing work as well as conversation or storytelling about the human connections that drive the creative spirit.

This evening will check in with dancemaker Lisa La Touche and curator Kazunori Kumagai, two exciting artists from the world of tap.

TRAX

In her new solo, shot outdoors in the Canadian Rockies, Lisa La Touche will be sharing a narrative of her recent discoveries of African American Ancestors who cultivated this land and who also taught their children the future and traditions of tap dance and show-biz. Her work is part improvisational and part compositional (choreographed) all with tap dance.
She will also be re-presenting as a US debut her recent work, ‘Fool’s Gold’ talking about the parallels of the mineral Pyrite. People were fooled to think it was gold (meaning that they never gave it any value), yet it shines through tests of time and becomes a marvel for any onlooker. It reminders Lisa of the resiliency of her ancestors and perhaps a time to change that perspective on what Gold really is. “Cool down Fool… we’ve BEEN Gold”.

About Lisa La Touche (artist)

As a proud Canadian and New Yorker, Lisa’s credits are world renowned. She was an original cast member in Broadway’s Shuffle Along, choreographed by Savion Glover and directed by George C. Wolfe, where she received both the Fred Astaire Award and the Actor’s Equity Award for Outstanding Broadway Chorus. Her TV credits include the 70th Annual Tony Awards and Amazon’s Original “Z, The beginning of everything”. Previous highlights have also included touring with the Savion Glover production, Stepz, and also performing with both New York’s Off-Broadway and the North American touring casts of STOMP. Since 2010 she has run her own performance company Tap Phonics and has been commissioned to present for such organizations such as The Brooklyn Museum, 92Y and Fall For Dance North. As an educator and Professor she has taught for PACE University, NYU, The School of Jacob’s Pillow, University of Calgary, Decidedly Jazz Danceworks, Rosie’s Theater Kids and member of the creative council for the American Tap Dance Foundation. Above all, her proudest achievement greatest inspiration is the gift of being a mom.

Learn more about Lisa here.

About Kazunori Kumagai (curator)

Kazunori Kumagai is a “True Tap Artist” (New York Times), who is always searching his expression through the sounds and the rhythm. At age 19, Kazu came to NY and trained in the the New York Shakespeare Festival Institute of tap “Funk University” the training workshop for the big hit Broadway musical Bring in da’ Noise, Bring in ‘da Funk. Since then he has been performing and teaching all over the world. He is the recipient of numerous awards such as the 2016 Bessie Award “Outstanding Performer,” 2014 Flo-Bert Award, and 2006 Dance Magazine “25 to Watch.” And recently News Week Japan selected him as one of the “100 Most influential Japanese People in the World.” In 2008, he opened his first tap dance studio—KAZ TAP STUDIO—in Japan and has been trying to pass his knowledge and passion to next generation. Kazu is a 2019-20 92Y Harkness Artist in Residence.

Gibney will hold all Winter & Spring 2021 Season events online via Zoom. You can reach Gibney’s Box Office via email. For ticketing inquiries or requests, please email Marketing & Audience Services Manager, Kimiko Tanabe, at boxoffice@gibneydance.org.

Gibney encourages people with disabilities to attend online offerings, and we welcome the opportunity to make this event more accessible. If you have any questions or access needs, please email us at constanza@gibneydance.org or call us at 212-677-8560 (voice only) at least 24 hours in advance of the event you plan to attend. If you are hoping to attend an event and would like us to engage the services of an ASL interpreter or audio descriptor, please let us know with as much notice as possible, and we’ll do our best to make it happen.

Above photo (left) of Lisa LaTouche by Jeremy Fokkens. Right photo of Kazunori Kumagai by Maiko Miyagawa.