“Tidings of Tap” reviewed by CJ Hyland

Highly recommended ****Have you ever taken a second to consider the sounds of things? The whir of a fan blade spinning, the hum of an engine idling, the scuffle of puppy toes on a wood floor, we are inundated constantly with audible information, so much so that most of the time we don’t even register what we are hearing. I know I’m certainly guilty of quite often not paying attention to all of the noises around me, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t there. The fact is, almost everything makes a sound of some kind, frequently it just requires a little extra effort to hear it.

Tap is an art form all about sound. It is noisy, it is percussive and it demands you pay attention to what you are hearing as well as what you are seeing and that, as it turns out, can be an incredible delight. For example, I had no idea that snow falling sounds exactly like the very light rap of a ball tap rhythmically repeating, or that unwrapping gifts mimic the sound of tap shoes gently riffling across the floor, or that ice skating so exactly resembles the whoosh of taps sliding over pine boards. I didn’t know any of this, that is, until I had the very good fortune to take in Chicago Tap Theatre’s Tidings of Tap yesterday afternoon at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, IL.

Founded in 2002, Chicago Tap Theatre is a spirited and dynamic dance company committed to preserving the, quintessentially American, art form of tap dance while continually pushing the boundaries of creativity, innovation and quality within the form. Back for its fourth year at the North Shore Center for Performing Arts, Tidings of Tap is a raucous visual spectacle combining masterful dancing, artistic choreography, live music, and seasonally inspired projections in a fun, festive holiday extravaganza fit for all ages.

Unlike more traditional tap performances, Chicago Tap Theatre prides itself on breaking the mold of traditional tap dance by creating “tap operas,” full length productions complete with compelling characters, intriguing plots and of course plenty of dancing. Tidings of Tap is their holiday “opera” and it delights with 16 discrete numbers set Musical Director, Kurt Schweitz’s, jazzy interpretations of classic holiday tunes, Christmas carols and even traditional Klezmer music. Directed this year by internationally-celebrated choreographer and Jump RhythmÒ Artistic Director Billy Siegenfeld, and choregraphed by Siegenfeld, CTT Artistic Director Mark Yonally, Kirsten Uttich and Caleb Teicher, Tidings of Tap is a fun holiday frolic, capturing the spirit of the season through joyful noise.

The show begins with a blizzard and a young girl, captivatingly portrayed by USA Womens’ Rhythmic Gymnastics Senior team member Dasha Merkulov, on a trip through a wintry wood to discover the meaning of the holidays. Along the way, our impossibly limber heroine embarks on a series of adventures and meets a host of characters who use the language of tap to define their wishes, hopes, dreams and the joy of the season. Dasha is a nimble prodigy with a child-like freshness that seamlessly blends lyrical dance with gymnastic artistry. Watching her maneuver her way through spine-arching back flips, daring cartwheels, impossible body contortions and dazzling handsprings all while manipulating a variety of balls, hoops, ribbons and batons forward and backward along her limbs was a joy and a wonder. Her finesse and elegance in movement and rhapsodic motions were a perfect counterpoint to the percussive tap all around her, and boy was there tap!

Some highlights of the performance include “Skating,” which perfectly captures the essence of gliding along on a frozen pond. The soft percussive beats of dancers cum skaters Kirsten Uttich, Jennifer Pfaff Yonally, and Mark Yonally perfectly matched the melodic rendition of Vince Guaraldi’s tune of the same name, and the languid slides give the distinct impression of skating forwards, backwards and sideways. At the end of the number, the three take a spill, like any good ice-skating escapade, coming to rest chins in hands, all smiles, much to the delight of the kids in the audience.

In “Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah” traditional Jewish folk dance meets tap in an upbeat boisterous number that is definitely a fan favorite. Embodying the musical essence of traditional Klezmer songs, performers Sterling Harris, Chris Matthews, Alex Pasker, Case Prime, and Isaac Stauffer riotously beat out catchy tap riffs eventually becoming veteran Yiddish bottle dancers, on fire with their infectious jutspa and footwork. It was a sublimely loud package showcasing a powerhouse of athleticism and precision dancing all wrapped up in a fun, festive, frenzy of a number.

“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” was an incredibly creative wonder of improvisational tap, winsomely performed by Mark Yonally, to Diana Krall’ soft, sensual rendition of the eponymous Christmas carol. This show-stopper of a number combined masterful technique with quick, complicated footwork that never outpaced the music. Yonally’s percussive beats perfectly accompanied the soft notes of the piano and plucking of the bass, and his technical virtuosity and sheer joy belied just how hard he was working to be merry.

In a nod to all of the future tap stars in our fair city, “Christmas Time Is Here,” learned over a two-day intensive this November, offered the opportunity for rhythm-loving children to get on stage with the cast and showcase their tap skills in this energetic and heart-warming number. And the “Carols” portion of the program, where the artists on stage tap out holiday songs for the audience guess and sing along to, offered the opportunity for wonderful comradery with the patrons sitting around you, as everyone  crooned along to joyously tapped-out versions of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas, God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman and Here Comes Santa Clause.

The performance ended, as it has since its premier, with the “Shim Sham,” a true cherry atop this dazzling, holiday sundae. In this number, audience members are invited on stage to join the cast in one of the most upbeat, energetic, adrenaline-filled, creations of noise that is so joyous your face hurts from all the non-stop smiling. And smile I did, throughout the entire two-hour performance.

If you have never experienced a tap performance or have, but never in the form of “tap opera,” than you should absolutely check out Chicago Tap Theatre and her wonderful company of talented, humorous, athletic artists. Tidings of Tap is a cheery explosion of whimsy-filled, energetic, holiday fun for the whole family and I enjoyed myself immensely. I guess, sometimes, it really is all about just taking the time to sit down and listen. Look at all of the fun sounds you can learn, given a good ear and some phenomenal tap teachers. I certainly intend to continue my education the next time Chicago Tap Theater takes to the stage!

For more information about Chicago Tap Theater please visit: ChicagoTapTheatre.com