EDITION 03:

Your monthly dose of tap dance.

Direction, Development, and What Comes Next.

Dear Mindful Movers,

Spring has been a season of motion, personally and artistically.

You know that moment when your spirit says move?

That’s where I’ve been.

Exploring what it means to create something beyond showcasing rhythm and how to honor the humanity that lives inside it.

The question of how to create with care, keeps showing up for me in every part of the process.

And I’ve realized: entrepreneurship is a spiritual game.

The biggest test of spirit, faith, and character happens more in entrepreneurship than anywhere else, bar none. I know I’m not the same person I was two or three years ago. And when you start evolving spiritually you begin a calling to serve, (and to see).

This type of sight shifts your lens. It helps you see people differently. It helps you see your own process differently. You understand the responsibility of the assignment more than an outcome. It surely requires obedience. It most definitely includes showing up especially when the next step hasn’t fully revealed itself.

This third edition of the newsletter is about what’s in motion both in my world and throughout the larger tap community. It’s a space to share the process, honor the elders, celebrate what’s blooming, and invite you in.

Thank you for reading, and walking with me.

With deep appreciation,
Shanzell Q. Page

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🎂 Tap Dance Birthdays: April + May

This month, we honor the birthdays of tap dancers whose footprints shaped the stage and the legacy.

April

• Buddy Ebsen – April 2, 1908

• Charles “Honi” Coles – April 2, 1911

• Nico Rubio – April 5, 1990

• Ann Miller – April 12, 1923

• Shirley Temple – April 23, 1928

• Skip Cunningham – April 24, 1936

• Maud Arnold – April 24, 1986

• Brian Davis – April 24, 1987

• Ernest “Brownie” Brown – April 25, 1916

• Ted Louis Levy – April 28

• Robert Reed – April 28, 1957

• Christopher Broughton – April 30, 1986

May

• Dulé Hill – May 3, 1975

• Jack Evans – May 3, 1991

• Aaron Turner – May 9, 1988

• Fred Astaire – May 10, 1899

• Aaron Parkhurst – May 10, 1988

• Elizabeth Burke – May 11

• Anthony LoCascio – May 12, 1972

• James “Buster” Brown – May 17, 1913

• Maurice Chestnut – May 18, 1984

• Derick K. Grant – May 19, 1973

• Winston Morrison – May 19

• Jonathan Morin – May 24

• Sarah Reich – May 24, 1989

• Bill “Bojangles” Robinson – May 25, 1878

• Dagmar Benda – May 29

🌟Spotlight: Dulé Hill

Dulé Hill (b. May 3, 1975) is a multifaceted artist whose journey began with tap dancing at the age of three. He gained early acclaim performing in the national tour of The Tap Dance Kid, which set the stage for a dynamic career spanning Broadway, television, and film. Many may recognize him from his roles on The West Wing, Psych, and The Wonder Years.

In 2024, Dulé retvisited his tap dance roots with the PBS documentary series The Express Way with Dulé Hill. In the episode titled Dulé Hill’s History of Tap Dance, he delves into his personal connection to the art form and its rich cultural legacy. The series as a whole explores the transformative power of the arts across diverse American communities.

Dulé also starred in the 2012 short film Nostalgia, directed by Johnnie Hobbs III. The film, which also features Chloe Arnold and Jason Samuels Smith, is a poignant exploration of an aging entertainer reflecting on his dance career. Nostalgia was nominated for Best Short Film at the Pan African Film Festival and won Best Short Film at The Cleveland Urban Film Festival.

📽️ Watch: Dulé Hill’s History of Tap Dance on PBS
📽️ Watch: Nostalgia on Amazon Prime Video
📸 @dulehill

🗓️ National Tap Dance Day May 25

May 25 is a day of acknowledgment and remembrance.

National Tap Dance Day was signed into law to honor the legacy of Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, a pioneering artist who brought tap dance to the world stage with elegance, and pride during a time when Black performers were often denied dignity and spotlight. He significantly changed tap dance in its relationship to minstrelsy, by breaking away from traditional minstrel show stereotypes and performing solo without blackface. This day celebrates Uncle Bo, and a tradition that has always been more than entertainment.

When drums were taken from enslaved Africans, rhythm found another way. It moved into the body, and into the feet. Tap became a vessel, a form of communication, resistance, and survival. It told stories when voices were silenced carrying information when other tools were taken away.

Tap dance is not a novelty, it is an inheritance, a language, and cultural archive.

For me, May 25 carries personal weight. It’s the birthday of my grandfather, a gospel singer, deacon, and a man whose sound taught me what it means to walk with the Spirit of the ancestors. His presence is part of my pulse, and honoring this day is a way I honor him, too.

Tap Dance Day is a reminder of our history. The floor remembers, and we don’t just dance for applause, we dance because we must.

May we respect the dance, honor the ones who came before, and continue on.

🎬 Stormy Weather (1943)

• Watch Bill "Bojangles" Robinson alongside Lena Horne and the Nicholas Brothers in one of the most iconic musical films of the 20th century.
  📺 Watch

🎬 Harlem Is Heaven (1932)

• Bill Robinson’s first leading film role, a rare piece of cinematic history with an all-Black cast and live music by Eubie Blake’s orchestra.
  📺 Watch

📚 Learn More About Bill "Bojangles" Robinson

• Wikipedia Biography: A comprehensive overview of Robinson's life, career, and legacy.
  🔗 Bill Robinson – Wikipedia

• Britannica Entry: An authoritative summary of his contributions to dance and entertainment.
  🔗 Bill Robinson – Britannica

• Forgotten Hollywood Article: An article discussing Robinson's impact on Hollywood and his pioneering role in breaking racial barriers.
  🔗 Forgotten Hollywood: Bill “Bojangles” Robinson

🎬 Bojangles (2001) – Film Details

• Tubi (Free with Ads): Stream the full movie for free on Tubi.
  🔗 Watch

👞 Iconic Performances by Bill "Bojangles" Robinson

• Stair Dance (1932): Watch Robinson's signature stair dance routine.
  🔗 Watch

• Tap Dance Compilation (1935–1938): A compilation of Robinson's tap performances.
  🔗 Watch

• Teaching Shirley Temple: Robinson teaches Shirley Temple his stair dance in The Little Colonel.
  🔗 Watch

🎭 Explore Bamboozled (2000) by Spike Lee

• Amazon Prime Video: Available to rent or purchase.
  🔗 Watch

🌟 Spotlight: Maurice Chestnut

Maurice Chestnut (b. May 18, 1984) is a rhythm technician, a master of feel, and a storyteller whose instrument is the floor beneath him. He grew up in Newark, New Jersey, and started dancing at five years old. His mother, recognizing his love for rhythm, pushing him toward the arts early from pots and pans in the kitchen to piano, violin, drums, and eventually, tap dance.

He trained under Alfred Gallman, then joined the New Jersey Tap Ensemble under Deborah Mitchell. He names her as one of his most formative mentors. In fact, Maurice often says that every teacher he’s had led him to the next.

He was just a teen when Savion Glover saw him perform and invited him to join Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk. It was a turning point not just because of the stage, but because it showed him what was possible when you take your gift seriously.

Maurice went on to tour, to solo, to hold space. He danced with Geri Allen in the ensemble Timeline. He created original works like Beats, Rhymes & Tap Shoes and Dance Therapy after the tragic loss of his niece, transposing his pain into purpose through mentorship. His work bridges honest dialogue with the sacred.

He is a hoofer, a thinker, an original and has such respect for the art form of tap dance that his expression is limitless. Whether he's soloing in a park, holding court on stage, or mentoring youth through the dance, Maurice makes sure the art speaks clearly and reaches the people who need it most.

📽️ Watch this reel
📸 @Max_Washington
🖤 “May the rhythm be with you.”

Rhythm Circle Artists to Watch + Uplift

The tap community is alive and thriving. Here is what’s currently happening around the country. The following artists are actively contributing to the tap dance community through performance, teaching, and innovation:

National Tap Dance Day Celebration – Queens Edition

• Date: May 24, 2025

• Time: 11:00 AM

• Location: George Seuffert Sr. Bandshell, Forest Park, Woodhaven, NY

• Details: The Taplife Hero Foundation presents its 9th Annual National Tap Dance Day Celebration, featuring live performances by renowned tap dancers, companies, students, and teachers. The event includes live music, a DJ, and a special collaboration between singer/songwriter Frank Persico and the #Taplife Company.

• More Info: Flushing Town Hall Event Details

Keane Sense of Rhythm – National Tap Dance Day Festival

• Dates: May 24–25, 2025

• Location: Saint Paul, MN

• Details: Workshops with guest artists Acia Gray, Ricci Milan, Jensen Freedman, and more. The celebration includes performances by KSR's Youth Tap Ensemble and other local studios, free classes, and a community jam session.

• More Info: Keane Sense of Rhythm Event Details

Ian BIan Berg & Subject:Matter – With Far Hand Release Party & Jam

• Date: May 25, 2025

• Time: 3:00 PM – 5:45 PM

• Location: The Lilypad, Cambridge, MA

• Details: Celebrate the release of With Far Hand with a performance and jam session by Ian Berg and his company, Subject:Matter.

• More Info: Subject:Matter Event Details

Dormeshia – In the Groove Weekly Classes

• Dates: Ongoing through June 22, 2025

• Location: New York City

• Details: Join Dormeshia for her weekly tap classes focusing on rhythm and groove.

• Registration: Register Here

Michela Marino Lerman – Performances in NYC

• Dates:

  • May 16: Betty Carter Project

  • May 21: Capezio Celebration

• Location: New York City

• Details: Michela Marino Lerman presents a series of performances showcasing her dynamic tap artistry.

• More Info: Michela's Official Website

Ayodele Casel – THE REMIX at The Joyce Theater

• Dates: May 28 – June 8, 2025

• Location: The Joyce Theater, New York City

• Details: Ayodele Casel premieres THE REMIX, a new work celebrating the music and culture of the 1990s through tap dance.

• Tickets: The Joyce Theater

Joseph Wiggan – TapWorks at Colburn School & NTDD Class

• Dates:

  • May 17: TapWorks Performance

  • May 25: National Tap Dance Day Class with Common Ground

• Location: Los Angeles, CA

• Details: Joseph Wiggan performs and teaches in events celebrating tap dance and its community.

• More Info: Common Ground Tap

Dorrance Dance – The Center Will Not Hold Tour

• Details: Dorrance Dance continues its tour with The Center Will Not Hold, an exploration of tap and contemporary dance forms.

• Upcoming Shows: Dorrance Dance Tour Dates

Tap Dance Day Weekend Workshop – Chicago, IL

• Dates: May 23–25, 2025

• Location: Harold Washington Cultural Center

• Details: Celebrate Tap Dance Day with a full weekend of classes, lectures, and film screenings led by top Chicago tap dancers. Open to ages 8 and up, with beginner to advanced options plus a free class for educators.

• More info & registration

🔮 Invitations

Things are in motion, and I am currently developing new choreographic and collaborative work. This summer, I’ll be premiering a new piece. A meditation on place, lineage, and the spiritual weight of where we grow.

I’m also beginning a new phase of artistic process that invites musicians and movers into conversation. If you are a dancer or musician interested in participating in thoughtful, rigorous exploration, I want to hear from you.

We are creating work that engages rhythm as both language and offering. If that speaks to you, contact me.

Upcoming Events & Classes

📅 Virtual & In-Person Offerings

• Mindful Movement Wake-Up Stretch – 6 AM, twice a week ☀️ sign-up

• Tap Fundamentals & Rhythmic Exploration – Tuesdays at 6 PM

• The Art of Tap (Adult Class) – Mondays at 5 PM

• Stay posted on socials for upcoming pop-up & performances!

📝 Booking is open! Sign up at Mindful Movement with Shanzell.

📅 Join us on Instagram Live (@mindfulmovementwithshanzell)!

✨ Closing Note

If I had all the answers, there’d be no room for God to get the glory.

What started as a space for accessible dance education is growing into a place for process, performance, and deeper inquiry. The work is evolving, and so am I.

Right now, I am shaping space, developing work, and laying the foundation for what comes next. This chapter is about honoring the call, and letting the work speak through the body, and with truth.

“If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, I will send you rain in its season.”
— Leviticus 26:3–4

With gratitude, and rhythm,
Shanzell Q. Page
Founder & Artistic Director, Mindful Movement with Shanzell