Shelley Oliver Tap Dancers with The David
Leonhardt Jazz Group
Internationally acclaimed tap dancer Shelley Oliver leads a highcaliber ensemble of dynamic female dancers tapping to the
music of jazz master pianist David Leonhardt. Their
performance includes dance routines from the 1920s and 1930s
in addition to original works set to jazz classics. Noted for their
lightning speed footwork and rapid fire taps, sophisticated
musical arrangements, strong visual choreography, inventive
improvisation, synchronized ensemble dancing and stunning
solo work there is a dynamic interaction among dancers and
musicians. The Shelley Oliver Tap Dancers have taken tap to a
new level of rhythmic and percussive excitement.
www.shelleyoliver.com
The Shelley Oliver Tap Dancers is a high caliber ensemble of five women
rhythm tap dancers with wide scale audience appeal. As artistic director, Ms.
Oliver creates choreography to both original music and new and creative
arrangements of jazz standards. The choreography is rhythmically driven and is
an expression of her musical ideas as well as a visual dance form. The group is
dedicated to preserving the traditions of the art form and performs new and
historic jazz tap routines that are exciting and entertaining to the audience. They
perform on stage with the David Leonhardt Jazz Group a world renown music
ensemble.
True to the traditions of both jazz music and jazz tap dancing, the performances
include dynamic improvisational elements, synchronized ensemble dancing and
stunning solo work. Each dancer in the ensemble is a strong soloist skilled in
jazz tap improvisation with diverse professional experience. Through
sophisticated musical arrangements and strong visual choreography, there is a
dynamic interaction among dancers and musicians that develops during each
performance. This gives each performer the chance to express their personal
style and artistic vision and enhances the audience’s appreciation and
enthusiasm.
Shelley Oliver is an internationally known dance educator with over twenty years
experience as a teacher and performer. She has produced a highly popular
series of five CDs for tap students and enjoys doing audience development and
introductory programs on tap dance as well as arts in education activities
residencies and master classes.
A special Family show can be presented for an entertaining and educational
evening for kids and parents.
The Shelley Oliver Tap Dancers has performance and production qualities of
the highest standard and the group consistently draws raves in concert halls,
theaters, clubs and festivals. They provide an exciting evening of sophisticated
music and dance that is first-rate.
The Shelley Oliver Tap Dancers Concert Highlights 3 &1/2 minutes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nc-XVQExQbc
Shelley Oliver Tap Master class http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hAIgMmoixY
Shelley Oliver Solo Dance “Starlight Interlude”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGpE6eESQBw
"Jazz And Tap For Kids" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8v692gtF1jw
The Shelley Oliver Tap Dancers “Reverberations”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65NoT-J7UM4
Shelley Oliver solo Stop Time sequence
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3V9FRLAjQQ
Shelley Oliver Ode To Bojangles
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDEiIaAQQtg
Shelley Oliver Tap Dancers “Bedrock”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zPXa9o2p5s
Shelley Oliver Tap Dancers “Metal On Wood”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRLt_Zfl0LM
Shelley Oliver Tap Dancers “Funk Monk”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSuscvhOwus
Shelley Oliver Tap Dancers “Woodside”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUZJKw9nL30
CRITIC QUOTES
“From beginning to end it was spellbinding!
… by Shelley Oliver and her troupe
gave us a night to remember.” Publicity Examiner
“Oliver and her associates are serious artists. When they sink into a groove and
let the music carry them away, the audience is transported.” Newark Star
Ledger ROBERT JOHNSON
“Miss Oliver bursts out with impetuosity, alternating between the deadpan and
the coquettish.” Anna Kisselgoff, New York Times
“Shelley Oliver is a vivacious gamin, a fast mover.” Hilary Ostlere, The
Westsider.
“...a lively overall use of the body” Sally Banes, Dance Magazine
“ ...personable and fluid, not only is she concentrated on her feet she uses the
whole body to advantage.” Jeannie Schulman, Backstage
“...adept at tossing off cascades of crisp, sassy, unison rhythms...
Burt Supree, The Village Voice
“Oliver has...lightening-speed footwork..., more exuberant, more explosive and
more expansive than the old style of tap.” Marty Munson, Morning Call
“...stupendously performed...with action-packed footwork by Miss Oliver”
Anna Kisselgoff, New York Times
“Oliver’s...smooth brightness” Deborah L. Knaff, Press Enterprise
“Oliver’s command of her long limbs...rapid-fire taps happening right underneath
her...
... entertaining in an extended improvisation.” Kathryn Williams, the Morning
Call
“...warm, frank, flirtatious Oliver” Deborah Jowitt, Village Voice
“All Star Tap drew raves...their sense of rhythm was so thorough.”
Liz Woodbury, The Chronicle
“In her nostalgic tribute to Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, Oliver struck poses so
reminiscent you could practically hear...the great hoofer”
Kathryn Williams, Morning Call
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