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International Tap Dancing Day

Editorial Review

Editorial Review

24 May '08
City Square to Queensbridge Square
Melbourne

Starting at 11am, the Glamour Kittens tap out the 'March o' Glamour' as they hot-foot their way from City Square to Queensbridge Square dressed in their finest polka-dotted, 1940s 'candy girl' dresses.

More than 200 tap dancers will perform for an hour at Southbank. Numbers are set to a diverse range of music, including tracks from Duffy and Kay Starr, as well as music from hit movies Hairspray and Swingers.

The highlight of the afternoon is the performance of the tap dancer's anthem, the 'Shim Sham Shimmy': a traditional tap routine that is performed all around the world on International Tap Dancing Day.

US Congress declared 25 May Tap Dancing Day to commemorate the birthday of the so-called 'grandfather of tap', Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson, who is probably most well-known for his partnership with Shirley Temple on the dance floor. The day quickly became International Tap Dancing Day and was first celebrated in Australia in 2002 by Glamour Puss Studios and Funktap.

Since then, Glamour Puss has been a major participant of this day every year, with performances on the steps of Parliament and at Federation Square. As the Headmistress O' Glamour at Glamour Puss Studios declares, "When 200 candy-coloured, polka-dotted Glamour Kittens get together for a soiree, it is a sight more delightful than a plate of fairy bread at a four-year-old's birthday party."

Patrick Tangye