Grab those Tap Shoes and Start Tapping (you’ve got a year to practice)

Shucks. My detailed coverage of Tucson’s first ever celebration of National Tap Dance Day on May 25 was rudely thwarted when the Tucson Citizen closed before my story could run on the cover of Calendar.

Career dancer and entrepreneur Krystyna Parafinczuk had lots of happy feet tap, tap, tapping all over the Proscenium Theatre stage on the Pima Community College west campus that weekend, then again downtown the following Monday at the Hotel Congress. She was overjoyed to hear so much sole-ful activity.

Joining in to help create the event were Colleen Kelly Beaman, Kris Shaw and Frank Trent. Among the participants was Trent’s tap dancing troupe of senior women, Tap Sensation.

But all that rhythmic footwork was just prelude to May 25, 2010, when Parafinczuk will be back with her enthusiastic colleagues to celebrate the 20^th anniversary of National Tap Dance Day. This event also honors the birthday of famed tap dancer Bill “Bojangles” Robinson.

So plan on being a part of the action. Pull out those old tap shoes from the back of your closet, brush up your skills and start practicing with attitude. It is sure to be one noisy party that will click with all the Baked Apple’s snappy tappers.