Directors’ Note
Welcome to Penn Live Arts for our annual Spring Concert Series! We’re so pleased to be back in this space to bring you a joy-flled production. We’re living through a period of tension and uncertainty in our country, and we are all feeling this on a daily basis in a variety of ways, but the arts provide us with an opportunity to both speak to the moment and escape from it. This weekend’s production features a wide variety of works, including some grounded in intensity. But our hope is that above all this concert provides you with a much needed dose of joy.
Our Youth Ensemble dancers have participated in our holiday programming for over a decade, but this weekend marks their frst appearance in our Spring Concert – JOY! Two of our Associate Dancers, who are currently pursuing degrees in dance at local colleges, will present original choreography with guests from Muhlenberg College and Rowan University – JOY! We’ll be closing the show with our 2025 Guest Choreographer Commission by Star Dixon from Chicago, the frst guest artist in our company’s history that we have been able to fy in to set a new work on the ensemble – JOY!
Did we mention that after completing Phase II of our Capital Campaign last spring, our brand new hardwood performance foor is currently being built in California? More JOY!
We hope you enJOY this weekend’s concert. And we hope you’ll join us at Cherry Street Pier on Thursday, May 22nd for our free annual National Tap Dance Day Jam, honoring Bill “Bojangles” Robinson. Bring your shoes, or just come to cheer on your favorite hoofers and join us in celebrating this artform that brings us together in community and – yes, you guessed it – in joy.
-Tamera and Katie
Tamera Dallam Artistic Director
Katie Budris Managing Director
The Lady Hoofers Tap Ensemble
Spring Concert Series
Artistic Director
TAMERA DALLAM
Managing Director KATIE BUDRIS
Administrative Associate & Outreach Coordinator EMILY LEDDY
Production Associate Administrative Intern
MEG SARACHAN GREGORY WILLIAMS
Wardrobe Manager Asst. Wardobe Manager
MARY KATE SELBY DEONNA POWELL
Choreography by
KATIE BUDRIS, TAMERA DALLAM, STAR DIXON, MICHAEL J. LOVE, KAT ECHEVARRÍA RICHTER, DOLORES SANCHEZ, TARA TUCCI, SAMMIE SMITH, MIA VALERIOTE
Stage Managers
CHRISTINA BROWN, LAURA DUTTON
Public Relations
BRYAN BUTTLER MEDIA RELATIONS
Board of Directors
KATIE BUDRIS, TAMERA DALLAM, KATHERINE MOORE, LAURA PENHALE, KAT ECHEVARRÍA RICHTER, MEG SARACHAN, AMY C. SMITH, FRANKIE STOKES
Advisory Board
SARAH COOK FLYNN, MICHAEL J. LOVE, LISA LA TOUCHE, ROBYN WATSON
This concert is partially supported by the Philadelphia Cultural Fund and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the National Endowment of the Arts, a federal agency.
FIRST COMPANY DANCERS
Deonna Powell
Katherine Moore
Brittany Beatty
Molly Layden
Caitlyn Crompton
Meg Sarachan
Mia Valeriote
APPRENTICE DANCERS
ASSOCIATE DANCERS
Lindsey Clark
Mads Braverman
Alani Bell
Aubree Hankinson
Julia Gregg
Julianna Herrera
Olivia Levitsky
Paige Krissinger
Emma Riddell
Mara Fricker
Tara Tucci
Ava Keagle
Celeste Sanchez
Sammie Smith
Sarah Taylor
ACT ONE
NEXT BIG THING
World Premiere
Choreography by TAMERA DALLAM
Dance Captain: AUBREE HANKINSON
Dancers
The Lady Hoofers Tap Ensemble Apprentices
ALANI BELL, MADS BRAVERMAN, MARA FRICKER, JULIA GREGG, AUBREE HANKINSON, AVA KEAGLE, PAIGE KRISSINGER, CELESTE SANCHEZ, SARAH TAYLOR
Music: “Next Big Thing” by Jon Mero
TAKE THE “A” TRAIN
Choreography by KAT ECHEVARRÍA RICHTER
Dance Captain: KATIE BUDRIS
Dancers
BRITTANY BEATTY, LINDSEY CLARK, CAITLYN CROMPTON, JULIANNA HERRERA, OLIVIA LEVITSKY, EMMA RIDDELL, MEG SARACHAN
Understudies
AVA KEAGLE, DEONNA POWELL
Music: “Take the ‘A’ Train” composed by Billy Strayhorn; “In a Sentimental Mood” composed by Duke Ellington; and “Perdido” composed by Juan Tizol
WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT...
Choreography by SAMMIE SMITH
Dancers
Copacetic Rhythms, Muhlenberg College
SAMMIE SMITH, ELLA ZALOT
Music: “Topanga Canyon” by John Vincent III
CHARLESTON
Mainstage Premiere
Choreography by KAT ECHEVARRÍA RICHTER
Dance Captains: BRITTANY BEATTY & KATIE BUDRIS
Dancers
LINDSEY CLARK, MARA FRICKER, AUBREE HANKINSON, AVA KEAGLE, PAIGE KRISSINGER, MOLLY LAYDEN, EMMA RIDDELL, SARAH TAYLOR, MIA VALERIOTE
Understudies
ALANI BELL, BRITTANY BEATTY, MADS BRAVERMAN, DEONNA POWELL, MEG SARACHAN
Music: “Charleston” composed by James P. Johnson; performed Paul Whiteman
IMPROVISATION
Dancers
CAITLYN CROMPTON, SAMMIE SMITH, TARA TUCCI
Music: “Cantaloupe Island” by Herbie Hancock
BEYOND THE SEA
World Premiere
Choreography by KATIE BUDRIS
Dancers
DEONNA POWELL, EMMA RIDDELL
Understudies
BRITTANY BEATTY, LINDSEY CLARK, MARA FRICKER, PAIGE KRISSINGER, SARAH TAYLOR
Music: “Beyond the Sea” composed by Charles Trenet; performed by Jonathan Grof
LET’S DANCE
Choreography by TAMERA DALLAM
Dancers
The Lady Hoofers Youth Ensemble TAYLOR ADAMS, MICAELA KLINE, ELIZABETH KRAMER, KIERSTIN KRAMER, REBECCA KNOB, ARABELLA SQUILLA
Music: “Danza 2016” by Lucky Chops
#SAMPLEDMIXEDANDREMIXED: SEE-LINE WOMAN
Choreography by MICHAEL J. LOVE
2023 Guest Choreographer
Dance Captains: TAMERA DALLAM & MEG SARACHAN
Dancers
CAITLYN CROMPTON, TAMERA DALLAM, JULIANNA HERRERA, MEG SARACHAN, TARA TUCCI, MIA VALERIOTE
Understudies
KATHERINE MOORE, CELESTE SANCHEZ
Music: “See-Line Woman (Masters At Work Remix)” by Nina Simone on Verve Remixed; includes samples of “See-Line Woman” by Nina Simone on Broadway-Blues-Ballads and “The Ha Dance” by Masters At Work on The House Of Cutting
INTERMISSION
15 minutes
Support The Lady Hoofers Tap Ensemble by visiting our merchandise table in the lobby where you can purchase apparel, tap keepsakes, or make a contribution in support of our mission.
ACT TWO
CMYK
Choreography by DOLORES SANCHEZ
2017 Guest Choreographer
Dance Captain: MIA VALERIOTE
Dancers
CAITLYN CROMPTON, JULIANNA HERRERA, MOLLY LAYDEN, DEONNA POWELL, SARAH TAYLOR, MIA VALERIOTE
Understudies
EMMA RIDDELL, CELESTE SANCHEZ
Music: “CMYK” by James Blake
UNCHAIN MY HEART
Choreography by KATIE BUDRIS
Part I
Improvisation by ALANI BELL, MADS BRAVERMAN, KATIE BUDRIS, AUBREE HANKINSON, KATHERINE MOORE, CELESTE SANCHEZ
Part II
Dancers
ALANI BELL, MADS BRAVERMAN, CAITLYN CROMPTON, OLIVIA LEVITSKY, CELESTE SANCHEZ, MIA VALERIOTE
Understudies
LINDSEY CLARK, AUBREE HANKINSON, AVA KEAGLE
Music: “Got to Give it Up” by Marvin Gaye; “Unchain My Heart” by Ray Charles
STICK AROUND
Choreography by KATIE BUDRIS
Dancers
BRITTANY BEATTY, JULIA GREGG, AUBREE HANKINSON, KATHERINE MOORE, DEONNA POWELL, MEG SARACHAN
Understudies
MADS BRAVERMAN, MARA FRICKER, OLIVIA LEVITSKY
Music: “Stick Around” composed and performed by Chris Bryan; arrangement by Katie Budris and Chris Bryan
VOODOO
Choreography by TARA TUCCI
Dancers
RU Hoofers Club, Rowan University ANGELINA FORCELLA, TARA TUCCI
Music: “Voodoo People” by 2Cellos
LEVANTA
Company Premiere
Choreography: KAT ECHEVARRÍA RICHTER
Dance Captain: DEONNA POWELL
Dancers
KATIE BUDRIS, JULIA GREGG, KATHERINE MOORE, DEONNA POWELL, MEG SARACHAN
Understudies
MADS BRAVERMAN, TAMERA DALLAM, OLIVIA LEVITSKY
Music: “Baianá” by Barbatuques; “Levanta e anda” by Emicida featuring Barbatuques
Note: This work was comissioned by and premiered at Stockton University in 2021
THE CHASE
Choreography & Performance by MIA VALERIOTE
Music: “Playing God” by Polyphia
FANTASY
World Premiere
Choreography by STAR DIXON
2025 Guest Choreographer
Dance Captain: CAITLYN CROMPTON
Dancers
MADS BRAVERMAN, CAITLYN CROMPTON, AUBREE HANKINSON, JULIANNA HERRERA, MEG SARACHAN, SARAH TAYLOR
Understudies
JULIA GREGG, KATHERINE MOORE
Music: “Fantasy” by Earth, Wind, and Fire
PREMIERE NOTES
Next Big Thing
Choreography by TAMERA DALLAM
Tamera Dallam’s “Next Big Thing” marks her frst work of choreography for The Lady Hoofers. This high energy piece flls every bit of free space in Jon Mero’s music with rhythm. Through this large ensemble piece, dancers serve a heavy dose of musicality, sass, and funk to bring the audience into this celebration of tap dance.
Charleston
Choreography by KAT ECHEVARRÍA
RICHTER
James P. Johnson, an American composer and stride piano player, wrote The Charleston in 1923. Our interpretation draws upon vernacular dance to evoke the rhythms of the Roaring 20s and to pay tribute to musicians like Johnson and Jelly Roll Morton, who propelled America from Ragtime to Jazz.
Beyond the Sea
Choreography by KATIE BUDRIS
This classic 1950’s song, made famous by Bobby Darin, inspires a classic duet complete with fan kicks, swing partnering, and syncopation. In 1950’s vintage swimwear, the dancers playfully glide across the stage in a firtatious and lighthearted summer fing.
Levanta
Choreography by KAT ECHEVARRÍA RICHTER
Choreographer Kat Echevarría Richter has long been a fan of the Brazilian body percussion group Barbatuques, and of their song Baianá in particular. This piece was commissioned by Stockton University and originally performed on the Atlantic City boardwalk in 2021. Due to the pandemic, the original cast learned the entire piece of video (which Kat recorded on her back patio). Fortunately, one of those student dancers found her way to The Lady Hoofers after graduation and she was able to recreate the original choreography for its company premiere.
Fantasy
Choreography by STAR DIXON 2025 Guest Artist Commission
Sometimes a song can make all of your worries go away in that moment. From a very young age, “Fantasy” by Earth, Wind, and Fire has done that for guest choreographer Star Dixon. With the climate of the world right now, this piece is meant to ofer some sort of release for four minutes.
DIRECTORS & CHOREOGRAPHERS
Katie Budris (Managing Director / Choreographer) hails from Chicago, Illinois where she trained in multiple forms of dance and began cultivating her love for tap as a founding member of Footprints Tap Ensemble. She minored in dance at NASD accredited Hope College where she performed with InSync Dance Theatre, Michigan’s only professional tap and jazz company (now H2Dance Company). Katie’s prior tap performance credits include: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, The Nutcracker on Broadway, Walt Disney World’s 25th Anniversary Celebration, Dance Chicago, Chicago Human Rhythm Project, and Chicago Tap Theatre’s Liason. Katie joined The Lady Hoofers in 2012 and quickly advanced to Assistant Director, and in 2015 to Managing Director. Her choreography “Unchain My Heart” was selected for performance at the DanceUSA Conference in 2013. In addition to directing The Lady Hoofers, Katie is an Associate Teaching Professor of Writing Arts and Program Coordinator for the Master of Arts in Writing at Rowan University.
Tamera Dallam (Artistic Director) put on her frst pair of tap shoes in 2004, and hasn’t stopped tapping since. Tamera has choreographed several award winning competition dances and has performed as a dancer at Disney World and on Carnival Cruise Lines. Tamera spends her free time traveling up and down the east coast attending any tap festival she can fnd. She has taken master classes with Chloe Arnold, Jason Samuel Smith, Dianne Walker, Sarah Reich, and the Syncopated Ladies. She currently teaches multiple levels of tap at Parkside Academy of Music and Dance and works as a senior level Registered Behavior Therapist at Helping Hands Family.
Star Dixon (Guest Choreographer 2025) is an assistant director, choreographer, and original principal dancer of world renowned Chicagobased tap company, MADD Rhythms. She has taught and performed at the most distinguished tap festivals in the country including The L.A. Tap Fest, DC Tap Fest, RIFF Dallas, Chicago Human Rhythm Project’s Rhythm World, and MADD Rhythms own Chicago Tap Summit. She has performed internationally in Poland, Japan, and Brazil to name a few. Performance venues include Jacob’s Pillow, Kennedy Center, and the Lincoln Center. Outside of MADD Rhythms, she’s performed as a guest with such companies as Michelle Dorrance’s Dorrance Dance and Savion Glover’s All Funk’d Up. Most recent awards include 3arts Make a Wave 2019, Chicago Dance Makers Forum lab artist 2022, Chicago Reader Best Dancer 2021 and Best Choreographer 2022.
Michael J. Love (Guest Choreographer 2023) is an interdisciplinary tap dance artist, scholar, and educator. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Dance at Ursinus College. Prior to joining the dance faculty at Ursinus, Michael was a 2021-2023 Princeton University Arts Fellow and Lecturer in the Program in Dance at Princeton’s Lewis Center for the Arts. His work has been supported
and presented by Fusebox Festival and ARCOS Dance and he and frequent collaborator Ariel René Jackson were co-recipients of the 2021 Tito’s Prize. His embodied research intermixes Black queer feminist theory and aesthetics with a rigorous practice that critically engages the Black cultural past as it imagines Black futurity. Love holds an M.F.A. in Performance as Public Practice from University of Texas at Austin.
Kat Echevarría Richter (Founder / Artistic Director Emeritus / Choreographer) is a writer, tap dancer, choreographer, educator, and dance historian. Her professional training began with the New Jersey Tap Ensemble under the direction of Deborah Mitchell and continued under Junior Laniyan of the London Tap Jam. In 2005, she received a scholarship to Oxford University, and later returned to the UK to complete her graduate work in dance anthropology. Kat co-founded The Lady Hoofers in 2011 with Too Darn Hot, an all-female, all-tap revue for the Philly Fringe Festival. Since then, her choreography has been praised by Lew Wittington of the Philadelphia Dance Journal for “tell[ing] great stories in tap and step idioms, less reliant on tricks and traditions and more on innovative tap artistry.” Kat also teaches dance history and all levels of tap technique at Stockton University, writes for Dance Magazine, and regularly presents and publishes her tap research. Kat served as Artistic Director of The Lady Hoofers until 2024. During her time with the organization, she wrote and co-produced The Tapcracker, choreographed a number of critically-acclaimed works for the ensemble, and directed The Lady Hoofers’ Outreach Residency Program. She is currently an MFA fellow studying Creative Writing at Rutgers University Camden.
Dolores Sanchez (Guest Choreographer 2017) is a passionate and empowering choreographer, educator, and performer well-versed in tap dance, contact improv, capoeira, and street jazz. She has served as faculty at Peridance Capezio Center, Steps On Broadway, and Broadway Dance Center in New York City. She was an Adjunct Professor at Pace University for The Commercial Arts Dance Program and has been a Guest Teaching Artist at Hope College and Molloy College. Dolores has worked with and/or performed under Chloe Arnold, Michelle Dorrance, Ali Bradley, Joseph Webb, Jared Grimes, Sam Webber, Dianne Walker, and Derick K. Grant. She was a member of Chloe Arnold’s Apartment 33 from 2014-2017, a recipient of a New York Live Arts Fresh Tracks Residency 2018-2019, and is the Founder and Artistic Director for her NYC-based tap company, The Dolo Project. She is an Artist in Residence with the American Tap Dance Foundation and a guest Teaching Artist with New York City Center and Flamenco Vivo. She has taught in Guadalajara, Queretaro, Madrid, New Mexico, and all throughout the New York tri-state area. Dolores is currently a graduate student at the University of New Mexico.
The Lady Hoofers’ Outreach Residency
We are also in need of donations replenish our Outreach and Scholarship fund. Can you help us with a gift today?
Scan our QR code to support by selecting: “Use this Donation for Outreach,” or speak to our staf in the lobby to make a contribution by cash or check.
After more than a decade of working with the ffth grade at Mofet Elementary School, this season we expanded our outreach to include the fourth grade as well!
Now, we are searching for new partners to continue growing our outreach eforts. If you know of a Philadelphia school or community partner that would beneft from free tap classes, please reach out to Emily at emily@ladyhoofers.org
Outreach Coordinator Emily Leddy
Teaching Artist Gregory Williams
Scan to support by selecting: “Floor Fund.”
As many of you know, we launched our frst Capital Campaign in 2022 to purchase our own portable tap foor. With the generosity of our supporters, we completed Phase II of our fundraising last March when we reached our initial goal of $20,000. Thank you!
Our foor is currently being constructed by Tony Hernandez, widely known as “Tony the Tap Floor Guy.” These hardwood, interlocking panels will amplify our sound, provide joint support for our dancers, and can be laid out in a variety of confgurations to ft on any stage.
We are currently in Phase III of our fundraising eforts to raise $10,000 to cover shipping costs from California and to help with initial storage costs for the foor. An anonymous donor has ofered to match up to $5,000 in contributions to this fnal phase of our campaign, and we are so close! Will you help us meet our goal?
JUNE 29,
THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS
THE HOOFERS CLUB ($5,000+)
Anonymous Donor
James & Karen Keagle
MABEL LEE SOCIETY ($2,500-$5,000)
Anonymous Donor
The Braverman Family
Paulette Singleton
JENI LEGON SOCIETY ($1,000-$2,500)
Anonymous Donor
Pamela Adams
Chris Blowitski
Susan DiTaranto
Debi Echevarría & Steve Richter
Drs. Barry & Debby Lurie
Meg Sarachan
ELEANOR POWELL SOCIETY ($500-$1,000)
Rebecca Craik
CORA LAREDD SOCIETY ($100-$500)
Whitney Bailey
Carol Barnes
Deanna Beier
Rebecca Bohley
Carol Broadbent
Chris & Jan Budris
Katie Budris & Chris Bryan
Tamera Dallam & Bill Randolph
Pamela & Scott Dimeler
Marc Donahue
Martha Kubik
Pearl Lee
Kathleen McGrann
Lily Montalbano
Mary Pachuta
Laura Penhale
Kat Echevarría Richter & Mike Montalbano
Amy C. Smith
Gregory Williams
ALICE WHITMAN SOCIETY ($1-$100)
Anonymous Donor
Leslie Allison
Nancy Ames
Elizabeth Beatty
Andrea Belkin
Linda Bianchi
Britney Kennedy Bobrow
Jane Bulman
Tari Clark
Quinn Drew
Kimberly Erskine
Susan Frambes
Ruth Fricker
Lee Giles
Jennifer Hankinson
Caren Hosansky
Gary & Tanya MacGregor
Dekka Michael
Katie Moore-Derkits
Laurie Nelson
Belinda & Claire Raia
Martha Schwartz
Chloe Shupe
Jacque Smith
Ashley Stoneburner
Megan Zor
CORPORATE SUPPORT
Charities Aid Foundation America
Gilbane Building Company
IAT Insurance Group
Laborers’ International Union of North America, Local 413
Travelers
The Trestle Inn
US Bank
Vanguard Charitable
INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT
Philadelphia Cultural Fund
Pennsylvania Council on the Arts
IN-KIND SUPPORT
Bowman Dance Company & School
Capezio
Dance Works of Quakertown
Defnitely Dance
Delaware River Waterfront Corporation
Traveling Tutus, Inc.
Wegmans
VOLUNTEERS
Heather Anderson
Whitney Bailey
Lauren Bellinghieri
Rebecca Bohley
Susan Braverman
Tari Clark
Jackie Deviney
Ruth Fricker
Kelly Fritz
Sherri Gregg
Jennifer Hankinson
Danielle Kline
Debbie Knight
Heather Knob
Tifany Kramer
Jennafer Krissinger
Tanya MacGregor
Emily McGill
Laura Penhale
Stephanie Riley
Yessica Sanchez
Amy C. Smith
Frankie Stokes
Rita Whalen
The Lady Hoofers Tap Ensemble is a 501(c)(3) non-proft organization; all contributions are tax-deductible.
Support our mission:
• Cash or check donation at the merchandise table in the lobby
• Online at ladyhoofers.org
• Venmo @theladyhoofers
For our mailing address, or for assistance setting up a monthly recurring donation, please email: emily@ladyhoofers.org
ABOUT OUR GIVING LEVELS
Our giving levels pay tribute to some of the trailblazing heroines of tap history. From vaudeville to Hollywood, from the Apollo Theatre to the Cotton Club, these women were the original lady hoofers.
Hoofer (noun): slang for a professional tap dancer, known for their skill and “tap or die” attitude.
Mabel Lee (1921-2019) - a dancer during the Harlem Renaissance, Mable Lee is known for her contributions to the world of vernacular jazz dance and her advocacy for social change and inclusivity, particularly Asian American representation.
Jeni LeGon (1916-2012) - one of the frst Black women to become a solo tap dance artist, Jeni LeGon also challenged gender roles by performing in pants.
Eleanor Powell (1912-1982) - widely considered the only woman who could outdance Fred Astaire, Eleanor Powell was one of MGM’s top dancing stars during the golden age of Hollywood.
Cora LaRedd (10980-1968) - a Black dancers, singer, an comedian, Cora LaRedd regularly performed as a soloist at the Cotton Club, often for all-white audiences.
Alice Whitman (1900-1968) - the youngest member of the Whitman sisters, an ensemble of four Black tap dancers, “Baby” Alice Whitman was considered the “Queen of Tap” in the 1920’s and 1930’s.
Supporter List 4/2024 - 4/15/2025
Upcoming Events
National Tap Dance Day Jam - FREE!
Thursday, May 22nd, 6:30pm at Cherry Street Pier
Featuring the Dan McCain Quartet!
Youth Ensemble & First Company Auditions
Sunday, June 15th
Bowman Dance Company & School, Norristown, PA
The Arts on Center Stage - FREE!
Thursday, August 7, 6:00pm at Philadelphia City Hall
Summer Tap Intensive
Saturday, August 16 & Sunday, August 17
Bowman Dance Company & School, Norristown, PA
The Tapcracker
Saturday, December 13 & Sunday, December 14
Suzanne Roberts Theatre
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